Found-objects sculpture exhibit opens Aug. 15

By Hope Wallace

What brings you joy? Is there something you do that makes time merely a measurement? What sparks that kind of creative work in a person? Sometimes a garage sale find is all it takes. From an out-of-date item to something reworked to become relevant and/or functional is a great example of the creative process. Many things fall into the category of art and debate will continue while there are more than two people on the planet of what is art. Art is the result of the basic human need to create. People are happy when they make stuff. We see examples of that here everyday and that is a good job to have.

With that thought and more found objects on Aug. 15 we will be feature Indiana artist, sculptor, Robert Millard Mendez. This exhibit opens on Aug. 15 and runs through Sept. 27. From an early age, Mendez was enthralled with mechanics and motion and with over 400 exhibitions across the U.S., this artist is growing a large following. A professor in the Department of Art at the University of Southern Indiana, Mendez will give a brief talk about his work and after that we will bring Matt Keeler and his Blues Revelers on stage. The Revelers are a one-of-a-kind folk, Celtic, blues and bluegrass band with their own take on things. This is the second time we’ve invited the Blues Revelers. Entry is always free and includes a taco buffet and cash bar. Brought to you by generosity of Wells Fargo Van Wert.

The Van Wert County Fair is hot on our heels! We encouraged amateur and artists from all walks of life to enter their work. The Wassenberg Art Center is announcing a new, Grand Wassenberg Art Center Award valued at $200 in addition to the traditional awards given in the past.

The Wassenberg watercolor class continues. Instructor Pat Rayman has returned from an inspiring trip to New England, which included some time at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. In this course, students learn some of the classic and time-tested watercolor techniques for a solid base and further their watercolor painting skills. Wet on wet, dry brush and other tricks will be demonstrated and explored. This class is ongoing but we encourage you to jump in anytime.  $35 members, $40 non-members

Materials required: Watercolors, watercolor paper (140 lb), brushes, palette (we use foam/paper plates), drawing pencil, eraser, permanent black pen.

Spaces are filling, sign up soon for the upcoming intense workshop with recognized watercolorist, Allen Hutton! We are beginning to book this class and we’d hate for you to miss out! We are also very excited to host this event by published watercolorist, Allen Hutton, Toledo, will be held Sept. 8–10 from 10 a.m.– 4 p.m. Allen will be showing us how to explore watercolor painting by sharing techniques and processes with attention to drawing and composition. Learn through painting demonstrations, discussions, hands-on painting and one on one support. Emphasis will be given to personal landscape and still life subject matter.

Hutton graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art with A BFA in Industrial Design. He is a regularly accepted artist in the Ohio Watercolor Society Exhibits, and has shown his work in group and solo shows across the country since 2002. He continues to be awarded in most of the exhibits he enters and will provide instruction on his unique style. Hutten strives to render the fleeting patterns of light and shadow with the simple purpose of preserving the reality of a landscape or still life in a particular moment in time and season. Costs will be $100 per day with a two-day minimum sign-up. Please give us a call soon for this unique opportunity to paint the world in a different light.

Material List

Reference material and or sketches

Drawing materials, pencils, drawing or tracing paper

Watercolor paper

Watercolor paint

Various watercolor brushes

Old toothbrush

Watercolor palette

Spray bottle

Scissors, X-acto knife or razor blade

Masking fluid and drafting tape if possible

Scraps of mat board and or watercolor paintings to recycle

Any other materials you like to paint with

Note: wear your old painting clothes

Call for Entries for the 38^th Annual Wassenberg Photography Exhibit are open until September. Wassenberg members should be receiving their prospectus shortly. Membership is not required, however and we encourage youth, amateur and professional photographers to enter this Wassenberg tradition! For more information call the art center or visit: http://www.wassenbergartcenter.org/announcements/38th-annual-photography-exhibit-call-for-entries for complete materials to enter!

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.