June show opens with food, fun and music

By Hope Wallace

If you happened to be around South Washington Street after the Peony Parade last Saturday night you may have been privy to a rock concert on the lawn of the Wassenberg Art Center, celebrating our award-winning artists at the 57^th Annual June Art Exhibit. This will be the last June show reception held at the Charles Wassenberg home, because next year it will be held in the Van Wert Armory. We think we sent the event off in grand style. The reception included a delicious array of refreshments, with barbecued pork provided by Collins Fine Foods.  Many thanks to all our volunteers who assisted with kitchen duty for the event.

After the winning artists were presented with their awards, the music began.  This year’s reception featured the music of No Such Band. John Reichle and Keith Schwab of Montpelier, Mike Cleveland, Toledo, Kevin Maynard, Bowling Green and Dave Raker, Edgerton provided classic rock and roll and blues for the audience on the front lawn. No Such Band gets its name due to the fact that these guys are a group of friends who have been playing together off and on since they were teenagers. They never rehearse. Years of producing music together results in not only well-synced performances but also a warm and relaxed concert.

The June exhibit features artwork, sculpture and jewelry created by artists living primarily from this region, as well as from northeast Indiana and as far away as Colorado. The show is sponsored by the Van Wert County Foundation, Van Wert Federal Savings Bank, and Taylor Auto Sales.

Van Wert County Foundation Grand Award: Isaac Smith of Bowling Green.

Charles F. Wassenberg Award: Allen Hutton of Toledo.

Vera Woodruff Wassenberg Award: Doug Eblen of Celina

Douglas Edward Koch Memorial Award: Jane Dippold.

David Humphreys Miller Award: Deborah Curtis.

Marguerite Fryer Award: Pat Rayman of Ohio City

Robin Carol Cartwright Memorial Award: Meghan Hager.

Marilla Connors Memorial Award: John Trumbull of Sylvania.

Wassenberg Art Center Award: Ed Corle of Findlay.

Wassenberg Art Center Award: Helen Buescher of Decatur, Indiana.

Wassenberg Art Center Award: Laura Barnhardt Corle of Findlay.

Art-to-Art Palette Journal Award: Chelsea Younkman of Bowling Green.

Art-to-Art Palette Journal Award: Jaye Bumbaugh.

Gertrude Sluterbeck Memorial Award: Isaac Smith of Bowling Green.

Honorable Mention: Chelsea Younkman of Bowling Green.

Honorable Mention: Norman Bradley of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Honorable Mention: Doug Eblen of Celina.

Honorable Mention: Carolyn Stachera of Fort Wayne.

The 57^th Annual June Art Exhibit features fine quality artwork at reasonable prices and will be on display until June 28.

If you have any questions regarding exhibits, classes or programs or would like to get involved please call the Wassenberg Art Center at 419.238.6837, email info@wassenbergartcenter.org or you may register online at: wassenbergartcenter.org. Hours during exhibits are Tuesday through Sunday 1-5 p.m. The Wassenberg Art Center is located at 643 S. Washington St. in Van Wert.