Come to the WAC on Valentine’s Day

We all can do with a reminder now and then of an organization’s mission and I do enjoy those “oh yeah!” moments. For quite some time, I have been a fan of a genre of art that is termed loosely, Outsider Art. Why do I like it and find it incredibly vital? Outsider Art gets down to business immediately because is free from the constraints of conventional art techniques and disciplines which while wonderful tools, can at times, thwart the creative streak in all of us.

Rebecca Hoffman, director of the Outsider Art Fair in New York, has a great way of explaining this art term. “I utilize the term ‘outsider art’ as an umbrella for a lot of different categories,” she explained to HuffPost. “Primarily, what we term outsider art is self-taught or non-academic work. So, that could be somebody who is a mathematician who has taught himself how to paint. That could be somebody who [has severe autism] and expresses himself through drawing. That could be a member of an aboriginal tribe in Western Australia, a herdsman for her entire life, who painted prolifically for her final 14 years of life. That could be someone who was drawing to escape violence in New Orleans. It could be someone who took to marble carving to express all of the diverse experiences he’s undergone.”

Outsider art is gaining more and more acceptance, as it should be. Remember, Van Gogh only sold one painting during his lifetime and would have been considered in many ways an “outsider-type” artist. Most importantly to me, this genre reflects directly to what art and creativity are really about; lifting up the human spirit through the basic instinct to create, anything…something.

The quintessential quartet, art, chocolate, music and wine! Join us this Friday for the Main Street Van Wert Chocolate Walk! Just in time for Valentine’s Day, come to the art center between 6 and 8 p.m. and pair gourmet chocolate with great wine, the music of Eddie Saunders Jr. plus the147^th Annual American Watercolor Society exhibit which will be on view until Feb. 22.

It’s back! Due to popular demand for our unique events, we’ve decided to throw the Second Annual Big Wassky! Same fun event, different goings on–of course!

There is no need to travel to the city to have a memorable St.Valentine’s Day. Saturday, Feb. 14 doors will open at 7 p.m. Grab your roaring twenties attire, your friends, your main squeeze and get here! Earl P. and the Family Tree, Bryan, will rock the Wassenberg until midnight with rock, blues and maybe a lil country thrown in. These characters are worth the trip. We will serve gourmet, lasagna homemade by our dedicated board member chefs, antipasto and other treats. This speakeasy (no password required – we promise not to rough you up) will feature our friend, Luck-tech photo booth plus, we’ll throw in a few surprises here and there. Costs are: $15 per person, $25 per couple. A limited number of private tables for 8 persons are also available for $125.

Our new round of art classes are filling quickly so if anyone is thinking about satisfying their creative streak to sign up soon! Thank you for such a great response.

Make a “take-home, stained glass, project that you can be proud of. Beginning on Thursdays, February 5–March 12, from 6:30–8:30 p.m. we will host another stained glass class for ages 15–125. This six-week class, taught by Jerry Mazur will cover leading techniques, copper foiling, other items and costs $55 members/$60 non-members.

Our next Vine & Palette session will be on Tuesday, April 7 from 6:30–9 p.m. The event includes all painting materials and first glass of wine. Participants may bring a snack to share if they wish. We even provide aprons, because we like to get messy! The cost is $30 for members and $35 for non-members. (21 and over)

Need a great party idea? Vine & Palettes can be designed for private and corporate parties and a Snack/Pizza & Palette version is available for young people. Give us a call to find out more.

Paint Paint Paint! Since our Vine & Palette class won’t be available until April we invite you to join our regular Acrylic Painting Class (ages 15–125) beginning on February 10 through March 3 from 5:30–7:30 p.m. will be conducted by widely-shown artist and instructor Kathy Funderburg. Kathy attended University of Kansas and the Art Institute of Pittsburg. She has worked for major corporations in graphic design, illustrated children’s books, and designed a line of greeting cards, which was later purchased by Mary Kay Corporation. Kathy has exhibited her drawings and paintings around the country and has become a popular educator in private instruction, workshops and as an instructor at Defiance College. Cost of this course is $35 members/$40 non-members. Materials fee $20 or you may provide your own.

February 11 – April 1 from 6–8 p.m. Our Basic Pottery with well-known area potter Brandon Knott is already full, thanks everyone! We will be sure to bring this popular class soon. In the meantime, check out what other options we have.

Watercolor class continues on Tuesday mornings starting at 10 a.m. This is an ongoing class is taught by Pat Rayman. Persons are encouraged to jump in anytime and the class is sold in monthly increments. $35 for members and $40 for non-members. We will also be offering a daytime acrylic class with Pat beginning in March. Stay tuned for details.

Sign up soon. All classes are kept small for more in-depth attention.

For more information on exhibits or to sign for classes and events visit wassenbergartcenter.org. The Wassenberg Art Center is located at 214 S. Washington St. (former Van Wert Armory). We can also be reached by telephone at: 419.238.6837, email: info@wassenbergartcenter.org and our website is: wassenbergartcenter.org.