June Art Exhibit opens with a jam

By Hope Wallace

Thank you to everyone who attended our 56^th Annual June Art Exhibit’s opening reception party! We believe a huge party is the one of the most appropriate ways to celebrate and showcase the artwork of these artists we are so proud to represent. We are delighted at how many of you seem to share this mindset. We also like to thank the many hard-working individuals it requires to launch this reception, our staff, volunteers and board of directors worked tirelessly to create a fun time for everyone. Musical entertainment — the Reese Dailey Band — did not disappoint and we are looking forward to seeing them again soon.

Most importantly we’d like to thank the almost 200 artists who came from a large regional area including Indianaof Toledo, eastern Ohio, Michigan and as far as Colorado to participate in this proud tradition. It is always my favorite part to announce awards. Honorable mentions went to: Ruth Green, Decatur for The Alley Cat in Me; John Rausch of Wapakoneta, Reclining Nude; Allen Hutton of Toledo for Tuttles; James Harp of Payne for Tea for Two. The David Humpherys Miller award for best oil painting was awarded to Austin Cartwright of Fort Wayne for The World Waits for You. One of the three Wassenberg Art Center awards went to Janealla Smalley of Findlay for Who Needs a Boat? Another went to Gwen Gutwein of Fort Wayne for Too Big and to Larry Golba of Toledo for Poppy Avenue. The Ross-Wallace Memorial Award went to Gary Hovey of New Knoxville for a sculpture of a bear created out of welded spoons, Ursus Minor. Marilla Connors Memorial Award supports the best watercolor and was presented to Doug Eblen of Celina for Sedona Sunrise Special. Art-to-Art Palette Awards went to Mike Kozumplik of Sherwood for jewelry and Erin McMillan of Van Wert for a glass vase. The Robin Carol Cartwright Award for best rendition of children or animals went to Mike Taylor of Van Wert for his portrait of a spunky black and white dog, Gabby. The Marguerite Fryer Award is awarded to a Van Wert County resident and went to Mike Klutka of Grover Hill for his wooden jar entitled Santa Fe. Douglas Edward Koch Memorial Award went to John Rausch for a charcoal drawing, Male Nude Reclining. Laura Barnhardt Corle of Findlay won the Vera Woodruff Wassenberg Award for her tiny, highly detailed watercolor of a Hancock County Moonrise. Isaac Smith of Bowling Green was awarded The Charles F. Wassenberg Award for a colored pencil drawing entitled Red Ring of Death and the Van Wert County Foundation’s Grand Award was awarded to Allen Hutton of Toledo for Autumn Shadow. Hutton has a natural ability to look at common everyday scenes we pass by without a second glance and turn those scenes into the interesting play on light and composition that they actually are. These scenes not only deserve a second glance but Hutton’s techniques demand a longer study.

Take a moment out of your busy to stop by and explore these artists’ works. Many are for sale and you can rest assured your purchase will invest in our history, our future and support the people who keep our identity and freedom of expression alive in our society.

The Wassenberg Art Center’s 56^th Annual Art Exhibit is sponsored by the Van Wert County Foundation, Van Wert Federal Savings Bank, Cooper Farms, Collin’s Fine Foods and Walmart.

A few of the 30 x $30 donated art pieces are still available. These proceeds benefit our summer camps for youth. Just give us a call or check out our website and/or Facebook to see what may still be available.

Some of our summer art camps have already started but there are some scheduled later with openings and are scheduled through July. If your child has an interest in attending, sign up soon. We don’t like to turn people, especially kids, away! 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.

Wassenberg Art Center’s exhibit 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. For class sign up options and additional information you may also visit our website at wassenbergartcenter.org.