Youth, Art and the Future

By Hope Wallace

The Fort Wayne Museum of Art sponsored and hosted an awards ceremony for young artists of the region. The 2012 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is a national program for middle andhigh school students to compete and showcase some of their best work. Students are recognized with gold key, silver key, honorable mentions and gold key portfolios. For the art competition, schools from 26 counties, starting near the Toledo area and spreading west through Fort Wayne and south, were included our areas region. The writing category includes 35 counties and included Van Wert County. This is a program is a big deal and students who are awarded honors in this competition are favored for college acceptance and scholarship opportunities.  The artwork is exhibited at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art until April 8 and the creative energy present in the works are inspiring and a testament to the quality our future leaders. Van Wert County is included in the Fort Wayne region. I would like to challenge our community to explore this and similar outlets for artistic challenges for our youth. Competition does not end in athletics. Artists and writers can be fiercely competitive, which in turn expands their parameters for excellence.

With this in mind, the Wassenberg Art Center is announcing a new and resurrected tradition, The 2012 Wassenberg Art Center High School Invitational. Area high schools within an approximate 35 mile radius will be receiving invitations and calls for entry in

the mail within a few days. We enthusiastically encourage the high schools and their art teachers to prompt art students to submit their work for cash prizes and honors. We are very excited to begin helping the future of our culture through creative expression in our youth.

The Indiana Wildlife Artists and Clyde Burt’s ceramic murals will be on exhibit through February 24. We’ve had, and continue to have, an overwhelming response to both and wish to thank everyone who has supported this exhibit.

A new class has been added to our lineup.  It’s called “Mini Oil Me!” Taught by Sally Geething, this one-time class will let your explore the classic techniques of oil painting.  You will take home a finished painting by the end of the evening and have a great time making it! All materials are included and discounts are available for Wassenberg Art Center members. Give us a call or email us and we can send you a schedule. You may also check out our website at wassenbergartcenter.org for further information about our class offerings.

Contact the art center at 419.238.6837, by email to wassenberg@embarqmail.com or via our website at wassenbergartcenter.com. The Wassenberg Art Center is located at 643 South Washington Street in Van Wert.