“Paws de resistance” reception raises the woof

By Hope Wallace

“Paws de résistance” opened on March 12 with a reception to which dogs were invited. This art exhibit features one of our favorite things in the world, pets. Awards were presented to Collene Hitchcock, Antwerp; – First place. Pat Rayman, Ohio City – Second place. Val Sluterbeck, Van Wert – Third place. Honorable Mentions were awarded to: Kay Sluterbeck, Pat Rayman, and Katie McGrath. An adoption table for the Van Wert County Humane Society was present for those in the market for a new furry friend.  Music was provided by local jazz musicians: Weston Thompson- sax, Dan Parrett- drums, Frank Stemen- bass, Rod Sroufe- bigger bass.

On April 17, we will open the Annual High School Invitational at 1 p.m. with an opening reception and award presentation. Students will be providing the live music and refreshments will be provided. If your young artist is within a 30-mile radius of Van Wert, please see your high school art instructor for details. Students do NOT currently need to be enrolled in a high school art class.

Call for entry! Winds of Change Exhibit. The wind can be exhilarating. It can also be challenging. So can change. Wassenberg Art Center is challenging artists to contemplate the breezes that tickle our imaginations. We’ll be accepting wind-themed artwork in painting, drawing, photography, and sculptural mediums. Artists are encouraged to consider the effect of wind and wind-based clean energy in their lives and in the regional landscape. Do you make mobiles, kinetic sculptures, or wind-swept landscapes? This exhibit is for you. Please submit your work, entry form, and fee before the May 1 deadline. You may enter up to 4 pieces. All works meeting submission requirements will be judged for the following cash awards: First Place: $400, Second Place: $150, Third Place: $75. Please call the art center or visit our website for more information. Entry deadline is May 1, 5 p.m. The exhibit opens on May 7 and a closing reception is scheduled for Friday, May 27, 6–9 p.m. Featured performer, international blues musician Radoslav Lorkovic, of Chicago, will be returning to provide live music on our baby grand and his accordion.

Call for entry! For 60 years the Wassenberg Art Center has hosted the Annual June Art Exhibit. Some of the first June Art Exhibits were hosted right here in our still new-to-us home, the former Van Wert Armory. While we embrace change, it’s good to come home to one of our favorite comforts, the Annual June Art Exhibit. Entries will be accepted Saturday & Sunday, May 13,14,15, from 1 – 5 p.m. Entry is open to all artists 18 and older. A non-refundable fee of $25 for Wassenberg Art Center members or $30 for non-members entitles the artist to submit up to three entries. Almost $2000 in total cash prizes will be awarded. Please call the art center or visit our website for more information. 
This exhibit opens on June 11 with a reception, featuring the return of, by popular demand, of The One-eyed Show of Saint Mary’s! T.O.E.S. performed last year here behind the Wassenberg Art Center for Eats on the Streets.

Quack! July 9, Town Creek Live (formerly Eats on the Streets) will be back for its second year! This year due to last years overwhelming response, we will have more ducks on hand, many more gourmet food trucks, two bands, a dj, and an interactive art exhibit. Of course there will be the 2^nd Annual running of the Duck Derpy along with performers and other activities. Please stay tuned for more details. Quack!

We don’t just exhibit art, you can learn it or simply make something. Creating is basic human nature and people are happiest when creating whether it’s a great meal or a masterpiece. Join us to tap into your creative happy nature. We have some great offerings.

ArtNight, Free! Thursday from 6–9 p.m. bring a friend, listen to some music, drink some wine and be a maker! We might even have a few projects you can work on if you have creator’s block!

Watercolor Techniques (ongoing) Tuesdays 10 a.m.–noon, ages 15–150. Instructor: Pat Rayman Students will 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.

Evening Pottery Class with Megan: Wednesday March 23, 30, April 6, 13, 20, 27 from 6–8 p.m. Instructor: Megan Thomas. Megan has a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts Degree from Bowling Green State University where she concentrated in both 2D and 3D studies, graduating with a degree in ceramics. She is also serving as our new Event and Programming Coordinator and art instructor and has exhibited and sold work in Ohio, Louisiana, and Maine. Cost of the class is $70 members/$75 regular. Includes basic materials and new stock glazes. Some materials required. This is a 6-week session.

Evening Drawing Class with Megan: Thursdays March 24, 31, March 24, 31, April 7, 14, 21, 28 6–8 p.m. This six-week course is for anyone who would like to dabble but have had trouble putting pencil to paper. There are NO mistakes so give it a try. You will be surprised at the results. Materials required: drawing pencils, kneaded eraser, drawing pad, ink pen and colored pencils.
$50 members/$55 regular. This is a six-week course.

Acrylic Painting Class Fridays April 8, 15, 22, 29, 10 a.m. to noon.  Instructor: Pat Rayman. $35 members, $40 regular. Do you want to learn how to master one of our favorite mediums? Acrylic painting taught by Pat Rayman will commence on Friday, April 8 at 10 a.m.  Cost of the class will be $35 members/$40 non-members. Materials required: 8″x10″ canvas paper pad, canvas boards, stretched canvas or artist panel boards (one per class) at least (5) tubes acrylic paint, white, black, red, blue and yellow, a drawing pencil, palette (we use foam or paper plates), kneaded eraser.

For more information on exhibits or to sign up 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.

 

 

 

 

 

Canine guests enjoyed the opening reception of the paws de résistance exhibit at the Wassenberg Art Center as much as their humans did.  (Photo submitted.)