The Van Wert County Courthouse

Thursday, Mar. 28, 2024

New folks, new camps, new events and exhibits!

By Hope Wallace 

Call for entries! Call for entries for our 59th Annual June Art Exhibit has gone our and we want your art! Art check-in days are scheduled for May 23 and 24 from 1–5 p.m. We encourage all regional and national artists both amateur and professional to enter the exhibit and competition. The exhibit itself opens on June 13 at 6 p.m. with an opening free, public opening reception. The Dan Smyth Band of Fort Wayne will play and a cash bar will be available. This band has a jazz background, which has jammed into something a bit less mellow. They often play Columbia Street West, Country Heritage Winery, the Botanical Gardens Roots concert series. Members are: Dan Smyth, Ed Renz, Casey Stasifer, and Colin Boyd. Big groove, funky funk, jazz-rock.

Austin Anderson, Facility & Grounds Attendant, and Gallery/Event Coordinator Kendra Bilimek have recently joined the Wassenberg Art Center as its newest employees. Both began their new roles this month. (Photo submitted.)
Austin Anderson, Facility & Grounds Attendant, and Gallery/Event Coordinator Kendra Bilimek have recently joined the Wassenberg Art Center as its newest employees. Both began their new roles this month. (Photo submitted.)

We wish to welcome Kendra Bilimek and Austin Anderson, both of Van Wert, as our newest, part-time employees! Kendra will fill the role of Gallery Coordinator and will be responsible for managing private rentals and assist with art center receptions and events. Kendra has a degree in Accounting and Finance from Ashland College and has worked as a facility manager at their campus recreation center. Austin attended Indiana Purdue of Fort Wayne and is currently employed by National Door and Trim. Austin are already immersed in projects and have added yet another level of positive energy and growth to the Wassenberg Art Center. Stop in and say hi!

Summer Camp II! Our regular summer camp will be scheduled this year from July 21–23 for ages 6–15. We will be exploring perspective, Native American art through using Faces of Little Bighorn Collection, melting crayons and studies into children’s author and illustrator, Shel Silverstein. Ages 6-10 are10 a.m–noon, ages 11-15 are 1-3 p.m. Sign up soon this goes fast! Costs are $30 for art center members, $35 regular.

A digital photograph from the Brownie In Motion project by Columbus, Ohio based photographer Stephen Takacs. (Photo submitted.)
A digital photograph from the Brownie In Motion project by Columbus, Ohio based photographer Stephen Takacs. (Photo submitted.)

The super-unique Brownie-in-Motion summer camp will be held between June 17, 18, and 19 for ages 8-15 and will feature  a huge operational Brownie Camera. This camera, which you can literally walk into, was built by Stephen Takacs of Columbus. Stephen is a professional photographer and lecturer from Ohio State University and will be exploring the ancestor of today’s point and shoot and smart-phone cameras with the young people in the Van Wert area. The campers will make pinhole cameras and learn about camera obscura among other things. Students will even get to use the giant Brownie, which makes…giant photos! You can read more about Stephan on this online article: http://www.lomography.com/magazine/278681-an-interview-with-photographer-stephen-takacs. Give us a call if you would like to reserve your child’s spot. Cost is $40 members and $45 non-members. Limited space!

Please sign up early for our summer camps they fill up very quickly! We don’t like to turn anyone away. Also, needs-based scholarships can be made available if a young person wishes to participate and there are financial boundaries. Please contact the director.

We have something new in store for everyone on July 11! This mystery event will coincide with our exhibit, Art from the Fort, which will begin at 2 p.m. and maybe, just maybe play on into the night! The exhibit features five prominent artists Gregg Coffey, Mindy Penneycoff, Terry Ratliff, Joel Fremion and Gary Travis from our neighbor city Fort Wayne. Vroom Vroom.

A new drawing class will be added beginning on June 5, 12, 19, and 26 from 10 a.m. – noon. Instructor: Pat Rayman. The class will learn how to improve drawing skills and learn new techniques using a variety of materials. Materials required: drawing pad or paper, drawing pencils, kneaded eraser, colored pencils, ink pen and oil pastels (provided if required).

Our ongoing watercolor class continues on Tuesday mornings from at 10 a.m.–noon and the instructor is 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.

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.

 

POSTED: 05/20/15 at 1:16 pm. FILED UNDER: What's Up at Wassenberg?