The American Garden & Peonies Exhibit

By Hope Wallace

We’d like to congratulate our fellow arts organization and facility the Niswonger Performing Arts Center for bringing Van Wert outstanding performances for the past 5 years! They are celebrating their fifth anniversary and we are inspired by their continued work in supporting the cultural movement in this community.

The next round of late summer classes will consist of painting, Anime, Drawing, Beginning Photoshop and many other 1 – 2 evening classes that are short, sweet and easy on the budget. Wassenberg Art Center Summer Camps are winding down this week with Muppet Mania where students are creating their own muppets using some of the same Henson techniques we’ve grown up with and love. Claymation, Sculpture and Littles Camp II finished up last week with papier maché creations, hand illustrated stories, watercolor painting using magic markers and much more. This year the Wassenberg Art Center brought Van Wert eight Summer Art Camps for

students ranging in age from 5 -17. We have provided the opportunity for 3 Lunch & Learn Art programs and 13 classes that encompassed drawing, acrylic painting, watercolor painting, photography, ceramics, weaving and silk dye painting. That was just our spring schedule. Throughout the year our staff, through classes share their passion for art through our diverse class selection. You don’t have to be an artist to enjoy making stuff. You can sign up several ways, calling us, drop us an email or you can register online. Easy!

Our next exhibit begins on August 11 and runs through September 5 featuring artist couple, Mille Guldbeck and Jens Svendsen. Mille and Jens were struck by the historical and contemporary importance of the American Garden and the Peony to Van Wert. 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, 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. The exhibit opens with public wine reception on August 11 at 6 p.m. Admission to this exhibit is free and is sponsored by First Federal Savings & Loan of Van Wert.

Come and visit us at this years’ Ribfest and Paint a Pig! Our instructor Matt Temple constructed a large pig that will be decorated and used for display at future Ribfests. Do we see a trend forming?

August 14 brings us a chocolate and wine fundraiser event featuring chocolate and wine found around our own state of Ohio. Karen Koch returns with two of life’s favorite vices and will demonstrate the differences in types of chocolate and how to pair with food and wine. The wine will be furnished by the Winery at Versailles and Stoney Ridge Winery, Bryan. The tasting runs from 6:30–8:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit the art center so sign up soon to save your space. Yum!

If all that activity isn’t enough, there is more. We are also going to be celebrating the Van Wert Hot Air Festival by hosting a Plein Air Paint Out on Friday and Saturday September 7-8. Plein Air translates roughly to open air and there are painters who specialize in this technique. Attracted to the way light interprets our world plein air style painters often work very quickly to capture what we see out if the world. A painting sale will follow the paint out and cash prizes will be awarded. This is open to anyone and registration information can be found on our website and Facebook page. This competition is sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. Kevin Laing.

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. The Wassenberg Art Center is located at 643 South Washington Street in Van Wert.