Badlands & Brownies opens Friday

By Hope Wallace

Photography exhibit Badlands & Brownies opens Friday at 6 p.m.! Badlands & Brownies is an exhibit of two unlikely yet similar, young photographers from each end of the United States who refuse to let traditional techniques become extinct. These two photographers will exhibit their twists on traditional media of varying subjects. While driving on a trip out west with my grandson, we noticed a photographer with a 4 x 5 format film camera set up alongside the road in the Badlands. We pulled over and introduced ourselves. Fast forward two years later, national photographer Mark Lanning Jr. is exhibiting at the Wassenberg Art Center. Stephen Takacs’ work was discovered in the

OSU steam factory in the vast art studios at 400 Rich St., Columbus during a tour on arts revitalization. From two ends of the country come a flowing body of work we can’t wait to share with you. First we will host a demonstration of the walk-in Brownie-in-motion camera obscura, created by photographer and artist, Stephen Takacs of Columbus. Following Stephan’s presentation, Changing Elements Band will take the stage with their chill sounds. So sit back and join us, free entry, food and cash bar.

Are we having fun at 4-Fridays Farm & Art Market or what? This Friday we host the third installment of this lunchtime, healthy event. 4-Fridays happens on Aug. 12, and then again on Aug. 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Our foodie friends Gibson’s BBQ, ChopShop Kabobs, and Black Angus will be on-site to tame the lunchtime tum. Entertainment will include: Dan Dickerson & the Harp Condition, and hooping artist Mikila will be selling professional hoops and providing demonstrations. Also on Aug. 12, OSU instructor, Stephen Takacs will be have his walk-in model of a Brownie camera on-site and will later, at 6 p.m. give a detailed presentation at the beginning of the Badlands and Brownies opening reception. Aug. 19 will feature Van Wert’s own Real Human Robot with some electronic tunes dance demos, mini lessons and line dancing! The Van Wert Health Department, Van Wert County Hospital and the Wassenberg Art Center have been working together for over a year to bring Van Wert an alternative market and lunch option. Sponsors for this event include: Lee Kinstle, Statewide Ford, Taylor Auto, AgCredit, Van Wert County Hospital, and Greve Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge.

Watercolor Techniques is an ongoing Tuesday morning class for adults 18 and older, 10 a.m. to noon. Monthly fee is $35 art center member price/$40 regular price. Instructor: Pat Rayman. Materials required. Online sign up available.

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

Acrylic Painting: Instructor: Pat Rayman, $40 art center member price, $45 regular price. Adults. Want to learn how to master one of our favorite mediums? Acrylic painting taught by Pat Rayman will commence on Fridays in August, 10 a.m.  Cost of the class will be $40 art center members/$45 regular. 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. Online sign up available.

Daytime Drawing Class: A morning drawing class to be held on Fridays, beginning on Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30 from 10 a.m. until noon for adults 18 and above. Instructor Pat Rayman will demonstrate new ways to improve drawing skill to produce more dramatic results. Materials needed are: a sketchbook or drawing paper, drawing pencils, HB and 2B a black pen (fine or medium point) and colored pencils. 
Materials needed are: a sketchbook or drawing paper, drawing pencils, HB and 2B a black pen (fine or medium point) and colored pencils. Online sign up available.

Evening Pottery Class: Evening pottery classes will resume beginning Sept. 7, 14, 21, 28 and October 5 and 12. Basic through more advanced techniques will be featured by instructor Maria Coward. Maria has a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts Degree from Indiana Univesty/Purdue University,where she concentrated in ceramics and printmaking. Come with project ideas, and let Maria help you realize them, or let her show you how to throw a bowl on a pottery wheel! Class fee includes 25 lbs. of clay. Additional clay may be purchased. Materials suggested: Pottery tool kit, 1 gallon bucket, spray bottle, clean-up sponge. An additional/optional materials list with more detail will be provided to you upon sign-up. $70 members/$75 regular.

ArtReach (ages 11–7 and 12–15) We are again offering our popular ArtReach after school art program! Starting on Tuesday, Sept. 6 for ages 11–7, and Thursday, Sept. 8 for ages 12-16 will be offering this after-school art program for the duration of the school year. Students will receive a snack and then get down to creating! Parents can drop off their youngsters after school and pick them up at 5 p.m. Our program provides students with a much needed boost in visual art instruction, which has been proven to boost critical thinking and math skills.

Instructor Diane Bendele earned her bachelors degree in art education from Bowling Green State University and her Masters degree in education from Ohio State. As an art educator for 35 years, she has worked with students of all ages in the traditional classroom setting as well as the online classroom. She has organized student art exhibits, and served as judge for art shows. Diane has been commissioned to create interior and exterior murals. She has exhibited her work at Delphos Area Art Guild shows, American Gallery of Sylvania Ohio, BGSU, Delphos Postal Museum, and Art Space Lima. Diane works in acrylic and oil paints as well in fibers and concrete sculptures.

Cost for the program is charged monthly and is $40 for Wassenberg Art Center members and $45 for non-members during the regular school year. Most supplies will be provided. All holidays and cancellations will follow Van Wert City School schedules.

An online registration is also available on our website. Spaces are limited and fill up quickly. Need-based scholarships are also available on a limited basis. Please contact the Wassenberg Art Center for more information.

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.