Ch-ch-ch-changes

By Hope Wallace

Through the support of the Van Wert County Foundation the Wassenberg Art Center is pleased to announce that we are purchasing the Van Wert Armory as our new home. This move will allow us to better serve our members, the downtown district and outlying areas. We wish to thank the Van Wert County Foundation for their perseverance in saving a historic building with a deep, nostalgic connection to the community and for creating a place the visual arts can grow and better serve everyone. We’d also like to thank the residents of Van Wert our friends and members for being behind us. In addition we applaud Donald Lippi and his family, for their willingness to work with the project.

In our gallery right now is the story of the Peony and a tribute to the American Garden Learn the story of the Peony through an illustrated mural depicting its roots in Greek Mythology. This show runs through September 5 and features artist couple, world-renowned 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. Mille’s work is represented by galleries worldwide. 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. Admission to this exhibit is free and is sponsored by 1^st Federal Savings & Loan of Van Wert.

We are registering for our fall classes and consist of painting, Anime, sgraffito ceramics, Beginning Photoshop and many other 1 – 2 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 human proportion, portraiture and perspective. With an extended school year check out our options for youth.  You don’t have to be an artist to enjoy making stuff. You can sign up several ways, by calling us, emailing or you can register online. Easy!

We’d like to see you at the Van Wert County Fair! Check out what our volunteer artists have been doing to help spruce up the old treasurer’s office. Jack Merriweather of Paulding and Weston Thompson of Van Wert have been busy working under the direction of our instructor Matt Temple to create some interesting window covers for the building. Don’t forget to visit us at the Arts and Photography exhibit featuring artists from our area. Even better? Volunteer your time to sit with the exhibit and answer any questions visitors may have regarding the art center, our programs and all the good things in our future. Did you know that after 10 hours of volunteer time you are eligible for a free Wassenberg Art Center membership? That can add up to some decent savings on class and program fees. Give us a call at the art center to sign up!

We can’t wait for 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 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. Applications are available here at the art center and is open to everyone over 18, not simply plein air artists.

The Wassenberg Art Center is located at 643 S. Washington Street in Van Wert.  Call 419.238.6837 or e-mail wassenberg@embarqmail.com to register for classes or for more information.