Jubilee Flower Show will be on display at WAC

By Hope Wallace

The Jubilee Flower Show will be in the house Saturday, June 4, 1–5 p.m. and on Sunday June 5 from noon–4 p.m. Come and smell the flowers! Entries are open to the public and it is not required that you are a resident of Van Wert County or member of a garden club. Entries are being accepted Saturday from 8 – 10:30 a.m. at which time the blooms will be judged. Please know the name of the variety you are entering.

While you are visiting the flower show, purchase a one-of-a-kind ceramic milk carton with your loved one’s picture on it. Far from lost our poster children, pets, significants are having fun. Proceeds fund youth art programs at the Wassenberg Art Center including need-based scholarships for art instruction and supplies.

We still have some spaces left in our expanded our Summer Youth Art Program.  This year the art workshops will span eight weeks! We have added an additional class for 6-9 year olds on Wednesday afternoons from 1–3 p.m. due to high enrollment. Classes begin June 8. Instructor, Maria Coward received an art degree with a concentration in ceramics from Indiana Purdue University in Fort Wayne. She taught kindergarten art at Van Wert Early Childhood Center in 2016. Her background in functional ceramics and jewelry-making has allowed her to develop a special eye for usable art. Classes meet Wednesday (ages 6-9 years) and Thursday (ages 10-18) mornings from 10 a.m. to noon. All materials supplied. Cost for a 4-week session is $30 members and $35 regular price. Interested parties may call the art center or sign up online at: http://www.wassenbergartcenter.org/announcements/summer-art-program

The selections have been made for our 60^th Annual June Art Exhibit and will be announced during the awards ceremony, during the opening party on June 11. We have a great show and since we are turning 60 years old this year we are planning a great birthday celebration. In addition to great artwork we will be featuring returning musicians T.O.E.S! (The One Eyed Show) Come jam, eat, dance and buy art with us on June 11, 6 p.m. Free entry, great food, cash bar.

Duck sales are now live for the second annual Town Creek Live (Formerly Eats on the Streets). Adopt your duck now for a chance to win $1000 and other prizes! Mark your calendars for July 9, 3 p.m. – midnight. We will have 11 gourmet food trucks, more ducks and not one, but two bands this year! Fire-performers Pyroscope will be here and have been instructed to get crazy. Sam Dell of Bryan will be joining us earlier in the day inside the gallery for live entertainment and we are welcoming the pipes of Aubrey Gebert, one of Van Wert’s youngest up and coming musicians! Dan Smythe Band (6-piece) of Fort Wayne begins at 5 p.m. and will be followed by the Holbrook Brother’s Band of Montpelier. This is an outrageous combo Van Wert’s own Real Human Robot will return to keep things lively. Ducks will go on sale shortly and this year’s recipient of our donation will be The Recking Crew! Ducks will be $5 each or $25 for a 6-piece quack pack. Buy a quack-pack and get some free flair, a “My duck is faster than yours” button!

Art Classes:

Summer Youth Art Program: Wednesdays/Thursdays June 8–July 27

Watercolor Techniques: Tuesday 10 a.m.-noon. Ongoing monthly sessions. $35 members/$40 regular price. Instructor: Pat Rayman. Materials required.

Evening Pottery: Wednesday 6 – 8 p.m. Ongoing, six-week sessions. Instructor: Megan Thomas. $70 members/$75 regular. Some materials required, included 25# clay.

ArtNight: Free. Thursdays 6 – 9 p.m. Ongoing. Cash bar.

For more information on exhibits or to sign up for classes and events visit: wassenbergartcenter.org. The Wassenberg Art Center is located at 214 South Washington Street (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.

Maria Coward will teach the Summer Youth Art Program at the Wassenberg Art Center. (Photo submitted.)

A chance to participate in the Ceramic Art Milk Carton fundraiser launched at Wassenberg Art Center to help fund youth programming will be available during the Jubilee Flower Show at WAC this weekend. (Photo submitted.)