Storm forces exhibit schedule change

By Hope Wallace

We here at the Wassenberg Art Center planned an installation art exhibit due to open this Saturday. We had planned to have visitors walk into an undersea wonderland of fused glass and floating copper and bronze sculptures. We had planned to showcase beautiful blown glass by one of northwest Ohio’s best glass artists. We had planned another fun public reception with wine, craft beer and hors d’ouvres. Twenty minutes of monstrous winds and lightning that left 20 people dead and a swath of destruction 700 miles wide, reminded us that, plan as we may, we are most assuredly NOT in charge.

At this time the Wassenberg Art Center remains without power. Artists from our last exhibit are picking up their work by appointment and we are working out of my house, which thankfully does have power and internet access.

Sadly, our exhibit with sculptor Judith Greavu and Matt Paskiet of Firenation Glass that was scheduled to open on July 7 has been postponed to our 2013 schedule. Stay tuned for more particulars. On a positive note, we’ll be able to host this exhibit for a longer time period and will soon be offering Paskiet’s art glass in our gift gallery. We wish to thank Judith and Matt for all of the hard work they put into preparing for this exhibit and we look forward to hosting them in the future.

Our summer camps, at this point are still on schedule as we took a break to accommodate the July 4^th holiday. Please refer to our website or Facebook for any updates. Providing we have power we will continue with the camps. We also have a few openings left, so book online or email us to reserve your child’s spot.

The exhibit scheduled for August 11-September 5 is still on track and we’ll be hosting wife and husband team Mille Guldbeck and Jens Svendsen. Mille is a professor of painting at Bowling Green State University and Jens holds an MFA in Fine Art and an RN in psychiatric nursing. Jens has also taught art at BGSU and currently works with adults with autism. Mille completed her education in painting at the Jutland Fine Arts Academy in Denmark and received her MFA from the University of Iowa. Prior to that time she had lived and worked in Europe, completing degrees in Anthropology, Painting and Printmaking. Art galleries worldwide represent Mille’s work.

Jens’ drawings tend to be focused around portraiture and animals, and are often rendered on corrugated cardboard or brown paper grocery bags. He specializes in drawing and has a background in 3-D and printmaking. His work resides in private collections in the U.S. and Denmark. Together, Mille and Jens will pay tribute to the significance of the Peony to Van Wert and the importance of the American Garden. As always, this exhibit is free to the public and we will host a free public reception on August 11, from 6-8 p.m.

The Wassenberg Art Center’s hours during exhibits are: Tuesday through Sunday 1–5 p.m. and you may contact the art center at 419.238.6837, by email: info@wassenbergartcenter. org or via our website at: wassenbergartcenter.org. During the storm recovery you may reach us at: 419.572.9942. The Wassenberg Art Center is located at 643 South Washington Street in Van Wert.