The Van Wert County Courthouse

Friday, Mar. 29, 2024

Mail art exhibit coming to art center

By Hope Wallace

Collaged postcard, part of the mail art of Saffron Goetschius of Iowa City, Iowa, which will be on display at the Wassenberg Art Center.  (Photo submitted.)
Collaged postcard, part of the mail art of Saffron Goetschius of Iowa City, Iowa, which will be on display at the Wassenberg Art Center. (Photo submitted.)

Our next “After Notes” is scheduled on Aug. 1 following the “Don’t Stop Believin’” concert in Fountain Park. Enjoy a refreshing drink and popcorn, but most of all enjoy the company. “After Notes” at Wassenberg Art Center is open until 10 p.m. or until everyone goes home.

If you haven’t had a chance to check out The Best of 2014, a national-level, traveling, multi-media exhibit curated by the Ohio Design and Craft Museum in Columbus. The world of craft (functional objects) has over time morphed into fine art. This is not your grandmother’s craft show. Van Wert is extremely fortunate to have been chosen to exhibit this body of work. It will be on view through Aug. 24.

After The Best of 2014 goes onto its next venue, we will be hosting an impromptu exhibit entitled The Symphony of my Heart. This exhibit will detail the life and loved ones of Saffron Goetschius of Iowa City, Iowa, through mail art. Mail art covers a wide variety of art which is not only sent through the mail, but also IS mail.  It includes decorated envelopes, “round-robin” mailings in which recipients decorate a traveling art piece, and mixed media collages on postcards. Some artists arrange their artwork so that the cancellation stamp becomes part of the work.

Saffron is originally from Indiana but lived in northwest Ohio for a considerable amount of time. These poignant and whimsical slips of communication will hang from the trusses in the Wendel Gallery, signifying fragile balance of life and relationship. The Exhibit will open Saturday Sept. 13, at 6 p.m. with an opening reception and run through Sept. 28.

Watercolor techniques class continues on Tuesday mornings, 10 a.m. to noon. This ongoing class is taught by Pat Rayman. People can join the class at any time.  A fee is charged monthly — $35 for members and $40 for non-members.

Classic Drawing Class will again be offered Aug. 8, 15, 22, and 29 from 10 a.m.–noon. Learn different and sometimes crazy ways to open up and have fun with drawing. The use of non-traditional tools make this class a hoot. Materials required. Cost is $35 members/$40 for non-members.

We still have some space for Vine & Palette taking place on Aug. 7. We often end up with a waiting list. Call soon if you would like to join us for the evening. The evening includes all painting materials and wine and participants may bring a snack to share if they wish. We take care of the rest. Wear a paint shirt or apron to protect your clothes. $25 for members and $30 for non-members.

Throw pots, learn slab techniques! September, 8-12 from 6-9 p.m. ages 15-adult. The Rev. Hal Schafer will be joining us as an instructor in our ceramics studio! Hal graduated from Mount Union University and learned to throw pottery at Culver Military Academy at the age of 14. He also attended the Academy of Art in San Francisco. We are super excited to have Hal on board. The cost for the class is $40 members/$45 non-members, all materials included.

Muwhahaha!  We have plans, creepy plans, big plans. Consider yourself busy on Oct. 31 because “it’s coming”.

The Wassenberg Art Center is located at 214 South Washington Street (former Van Wert Armory). We can be reached by telephone at: 419.238.6837, email: info@wassenbergartcenter.org and our website is: wassenbergartcenter.org.

POSTED: 07/30/14 at 1:10 pm. FILED UNDER: What's Up at Wassenberg?