Van Wert: Arts capital of small towns

This past weekend solidified my notion that Van Wert, Ohio, is indeed the arts capital of small towns, USA.  The brand new Wassenberg Art Center, now located in the newly remodeled Armory Building held its grand opening.  Congratulations to Hope Wallace and everyone associated with Wassenberg.  It is without a doubt the most beautiful former armory building in the country.

It will no doubt attract even more visitors than it has over the past 50 plus years.  And with the unveiling of the David Humphreys Miller Collection of the “Faces of Little Bighorn,” people are sure to come to Van Wert from all over the region and country.  Wassenberg Art Center is indeed a real visual arts showcase and Van Wert should be proud of it!  Thank you Van Wert County Foundation.

While Wassenberg was preparing and holding its grand opening, we at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center were having our premier concert of the year, featuring Trace Adkins Christmas concert.  We had a packed house and I understand many left our concert afterward and took in what was remaining of the RSVP Wassenberg open house.  Others attended Sunday afternoon’s open house for the general public.

This is quite a scenario for a city of 11,000 people and a county of 29,000.  I don’t know of many other similar communities who could boast of such a weekend of artistic value.  Throw in the mix that the Van Wert Civic Theatre was presenting a stage production of My Three Angels and Crestview High School was performing the musical Annie.  Phew!

Looking ahead, the Civic Theatre’s production goes through November 24.  Off Stage Productions is also celebrating 10 years of dinner theater in Van Wert.  That’s a lot of arts for our community!  If you love the arts in a small town environment, you can’t be much better served than in Van Wert, Ohio.

We not only present the arts, but we do it well.  Trace Adkins is a huge Country music star who is used to playing in large city arenas.  With this Christmas tour, he decided he wanted to play smaller, more intimate venues that are most often found in smaller cities.  Even at that, I believe Van Wert and the Niswonger may be the smallest on their tour.  HOWEVER, after their performance Saturday night at the Niswonger, the performers and crew were singing the praises of our venue, staff and volunteers.

Upon arriving at 8 Saturday morning, they were astonished to be met with a group of volunteers to help unload and set up the show. “Where are the union workers?” they asked. “We use volunteers here,” they were told.  They couldn’t believe we would give them volunteers to unload, set up and load out a show of their magnitude. The result? They were back on the road an hour and 10 minutes before they expected. They were elated and learned a lesson about Van Wert, Ohio.

As we enter the Christmas season, we just keep it coming with world-class music and entertainment.  The Sonos Hand bell Ensemble from San Francisco, Calif., comes to town on December 1.  Then legendary singer, entertainer and TV personality Tony Orlando performs on December 7.  Jazz saxophonist Dave Koz and Friends, featuring three more outstanding performers on stage with him, will perform on December 10.  Perhaps some of you saw the PBS special on TV-39 out of Fort Wayne this past weekend. Our own Chuck and Karen Koch were in the studio representing the Niswonger and plugging our concert with Koz & Friends.  Finally, we have Christian and Nashville artists Point of Grace coming to finish out our Christmas season.  They will be joined by our own Knight Vision from Crestview, adding background vocals to some of their beautiful Christmas arrangements.

There is certainly no loss for the arts in Van Wert, both visual and performing.  And we’re only getting started!

FINÉ.