30 x 30 fundraiser paintings now on view

By Hope Wallace

We have a stack of paintings and artwork on display here for our first 30 x 30 Art Fundraiser. The Van Wert Community and region should be very proud of the vast array of skill sets we have in our area. This fundraiser is helping purchase supplies for our expanded summer camps and much needed updates such as ceramic studio equipment. The thirty original paintings donated by 30 artists will go on sale June 1 and 2 at this year’s ArtRageous Festival for only $30! They are now on display on our website, Facebook, and here at the art center. After that they will be placed at our information booth during ArtRageous art festival located in Fountain Park, Van Wert. Where else can you invest $30 in original art by professional artists who typically sell their work for hundreds and thousands of dollars? Stop by our booth at ArtRageous and see how a community art center can benefit your community. We’ll offer information on membership, upcoming exhibits, our art classes and programs.

The start of our summer art camps is just around the corner. Register early to guarantee your child’s place, as space is limited. Our new Lunch & Learn programs are a great way to take a break from the workday and lunch with an interesting presentation or quick project. Regular classes for both adults and youth are also available with very reasonable rates. Oil painting, drawing, ceramics and a multitude of one-night classes featuring unique, fun projects Give us a call, email or check our website for more information.

Right now sitting in the galleries waiting for jury day is the artwork for our 56^th Annual June Art Exhibit. Check-in days were held this past weekend and again, I am struck by the high quality and quantity of skilled artisans who call this area home. We should be very proud of their work, which is, in turn a true representation of our identity.

The 56^th Annual June Art Exhibit runs from June 9-29. In addition to presenting cash awards to winning artists at 7 p.m. there will be a pulled pork BBQ, wine/craft beer tasting and we’ll jam to the tunes of the Reese Dailey Band (RDB).

RDB is made up of Dailey, drummer Chuck Mauk, bass Dan Langguth and rhythm/lead guitarist/vocalist Mike Cleveland and together make up a pivotal group of American musicians whose uncompromising style firmly states their Erie-Midwest flatlands identity. Reese Dailey Band is Lake Erie’s Put-in-Bay favorite and commands any stage throughout Ohio and beyond. Reese, a dynamic guitarist with a seemingly endless flow of lyrical leads combined with his deep, rich vocals is able to produce a sound that holds listeners attention. This band’s combined work includes openings for national bands, solo concerts and a couple members have provided music for movies and television. The band’s first CD was released July 2011, (Olympia Records). Like our regional artists, this band is top notch. We are fortunate to represent high end, quality arts right here, in our own neck of the woods and we hope to see you here celebrating. Thank you to our sponsors, they rock! Van Wert Federal Savings Bank, Cooper Farms, and the Van Wert County Foundation, Collin’s Fine Foods and Walmart®.

Wassenberg Art Center’s general office hours are: Tuesday-Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Admission to the Wassenberg Art Center is always free. Contact us at 419.238.6837 or email: info@wassenbergartcenter.org, or for sign up options and further information on classes visit our website at wassenbergartcenter.org.