Wassup at the Wassenberg Art Center 9/2/15

By Hope Wallace

We are reconnecting with an old friend: Art Night! We open up our doors, the paint and clay bins, maybe a wine bottle and turn on the tunes. Grab a friend and any project you are working on or start something new. You project can be a craft, painting, sculpture, whatever you are or feel like creating. Gather, relax hang out with friends and make stuff. An instructor will be on hand. We’re here to help. Best of all, it’s free. We will meet every Thursday evening at 6 –9 p.m. beginning Sept. 17.

ArtReach is back! Children ages 7-11 will start on Tuesday, Sept. 22 and those aged 12-15 will meet every Thursday beginning Sept. 24. The meeting time is 3:30-5 p.m. for both sessions.  Instructor Diane Bendele will return and has many cool projects lined up! Costs are $35 regular/$30 members per month and we follow the Van Wert City School calendar for holidays, weather days etc. To register a child, contact the art center.

Time is definitely running out. Digital entries for the 38^th Annual Wassenberg Photography Exhibit are being taken until the deadline of Sept. 8. If you still need a prospectus, please contact us. Membership is not required, 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 information on entering.

The public is invited to the Photography exhibit opening party on Oct. 11, 1-5 p.m. As always the event is free of charge and includes free food, cash bar, lively music and a warm welcome. Jerame Wheeler, a fantastic musician who has been playing guitar for over 20 years, will entertain at the opening Originally inspired by his father’s bluegrass band as a young boy, Jerame didn’t hesitate to form his own band called Locally Grown. Locally Grown toured Toledo area venues for over 10 years, and when their travels ended, Jerame continued playing solo gigs. His many years of experience as an entertainer lead him to be a very eclectic musician covering artists and bands from his father’s era to today. Kindly sponsored by: Citizens National Bank

Also coming up next week is our workshop with Toledo artist Allen Hutton. Hutton, a watercolorist, will teach a workshop Sept. 8–10 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. He’ll help participants 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 on landscape and still life subject matter.

The cost of the workshop is $100 per day, with a two-day minimum sign-up. Contact the art center to register.  Materials needed are:

Reference material (your own photos 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

Don’t forget that the Robert Millard-Mendez exhibit currently on display runs through Sept. 27. It’s a wild and whimsical exhibit; you’ll enjoy seeing how the artist has taken “found objects” and turned them into profound statements.

The art has been judged at Van Wert County Fair, and we thank our guest judge, Shauna Turner-Smith, Director of the Delphos Area Art Guild. Visit the display to see the work of our fine local artists, many of whom received ribbons and cash awards for their work.  This display includes the work of artists with various styles and skill levels, making it enjoyable for all.  We hope that every year more artists will be encouraged to enter the fine arts exhibit at the fair; it’s a great way for artists to break into the world of exhibiting their original work.  For the first time, this year we introduced a Grand Wassenberg Art Center Award valued at $200. This is in addition to the awards given traditionally.  We at the art center congratulate the winner of this award – you can see the winning piece at the display!

The ongoing Wassenberg watercolor techniques class continues, with instructor Pat Rayman passing on her wide knowledge of classic and time-tested watercolor techniques – as well as some innovative and fun methods of jazzing up one’s watercolor painting skills. This class for adult artists is ongoing but you can sign up and join the group at any time.  The monthly fee is $40 regular/$35 for members. Materials required: Watercolors, watercolor paper (140 lb), brushes, palette (If you don’t have a palette, foam picnic plates work well), drawing pencil, eraser, permanent black pen.

NEW CLASS — We will be offering an adult drawing class on Fridays beginning on Oct. 9 at 10 a.m..  It will be taught by Pat Rayman. A list of materials needed will be available prior to class. Cost of the class is $40 regular/$35 members.

For more information on exhibits or to register 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.