Hot Air, Prizes and Thanks

By Hope Wallace

The energy around the Wassenberg Art Center continues to build with preparations beginning in earnest for the 35th Annual Photography Exhibit, work-days at the armory, looking toward our Annual Members Art Sale in November and beyond that to a new season. I envision this business of creativity a little like the scenes in cartoons where there is a large ball of dust with arms, legs and faces appearing rapidly and randomly only to quickly disappear back into the ball of dust. There are many people and organizations who make all this good stuff possible and they deserve a gigantic thank you. The companies that sponsor our exhibits, professionals who assist us, our hard-working board of directors, volunteers, members, and Van Wert as a community are the real grist in this mill. Even if you simply think fondly of the Wassenberg Art Center, thank you. Your positive thoughts are appreciated and they are contagious.

This weekend the Hot Air Festival Plein Air Paint Out held Friday and Saturday September 7-8 yielded some great paintings! Congratulations to Nancy Hawkins of Columbiana, Ohio for taking both first and third place with her paintings of the Van Wert County Fair entrance and the Ticket Office. Michelle Walker, Wapakoneta, placed Second with her painting of French Fries. The competition was judged by William Mancuso, Assistant Professor of Art & Design at Ohio Northern and was sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. Kevin Laing.

The Hot Air Affair coloring contest winners are as follows. Congrats, kids, and good work! We can’t wait to see what you come up with next year.

Age Group 9-10:

First Place: Gage West, Middlepoint.

Second Place: Meghan Jenson, Van Wert.

Third Place: Delaney Keysor, Van Wert.

Age Group 6-8:

First Place: Leigha Shatzer, Elgin.

Second Place: Luke Miller, Van Wert.

Third Place: Noah Spector, Van Wert.

Age Group 9-10:

First Place: Lainey Spear, Van Wert.

Second Place: Lindsey Hatcher, Van Wert.

Third Place: Dakotah Nihiser, Van Wert.

Up to the Challenge winners were:

First Place: Michelle Mollenkopf, Van Wert.

Second Place: Jill Krugh, Van Wert.

Third Place: Danielle Fetzer, Delphos.

We’d like to highlight a couple of recent sponsors for our improvement fund, Koch Law Offices and Wells Fargo Bank, we really are grateful for the faith you place in us.

This season’s classes are underway with new ones starting all the time, so check out the website or give us a call. Don’t forget the 35th Annual Wassenberg Art Center Photography Exhibit will open on October 6 with a public reception. The color on the walls is astounding — don’t miss it!

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.