Join us at this Saturday’s Exhibit launch

By Hope Wallace

Please join us Saturday to help kick off our next exhibit with a public wine reception on August 11 from 6-8 p.m. This show runs through September 5 and features 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. 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 from 6-8 p.m. Admission to this exhibit is free and is sponsored by 1^st Federal Savings & Loan of Van Wert.

Thanks to everyone who came out to Paint a Pig at this years Van Wert Rib Fest last weekend! We can’t wait for next year! The Pig will be bigger and made out of durable fiberglass ready for permanent installation. Who wants a colorful pig?

Chocolate AND wine. Two of our favorites! On August 14 we’ll host a chocolate and wine fundraiser event and taste chocolate and wine found around Ohio. Karen Koch returns with two of life’s favorite vices and will demonstrate the differences in types of chocolate and how to pair chocolate 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.  Sign up soon to save your space.

We are registering for our fall classes and consist of painting, Anime, Drawing, Beginning Photoshop and many other one- and two-evening classes that are easy on our crazy schedules and on the budget. We have a continuation of our Claymation Class, an extension on the art of Muppetry, traditional watercolor, acrylics, and the art of Animé/Manga — which teaches youth human proportion, portraiture and perspective.  You don’t have to be an artist to enjoy making stuff. You can sign up several ways, by calling us, emailing us, or you can register online. Easy!

We have Van Wert County Fair exhibit registration forms and can answer your questions regarding fair entries. Please contact the Van Wert County Fairgrounds for specifics.

Have you checked out the positive changes happening to the old Treasurer’s office at the north east corner of the Van Wert County Fairgrounds? Forward-thinking citizens of Van Wert have initiated a rehabilitation of the old building and we’ll be putting on our touches as well. We can’t wait to unveil this example of community pride.

If all that community action isn’t enough, there is more. We are also going to be celebrating with the Van Wert Hot Air Festival by hosting a Plein Air Paint-Out on Friday and Saturday, September 7-8. We hope this will be the first of many. 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 painters often work very quickly to capture what we see out in the open. A painting sale will follow the paint-out and cash prizes will be awarded. This is open to anyone. Registration information can be found on our website and Facebook page. Dr. and Mrs. Kevin Laing sponsor this competition. Applications are available here at the art center.

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.