56th Annual June Art Exhibit opens June 9

By Hope Wallace

Saturday from 6- 8 p.m. we will host the opening of the 56th Annual June Art Exhibit with a public reception at the Wassenberg Art Center. The exhibit runs through June 29. There will be approximately 100 pieces of artwork from regional and national artists on exhibit and for sale. Works by practicing professionals and amateurs that represent and communicate our cultural identity will be celebrated with a pulled pork barbeque from Collins Fine Foods, a wine and craft beer tasting, homemade potatoes, coleslaw and strawberry shortcake kabobs.

Live music will be provided by the Reese Dailey Band. Like the artists we represent, this band is top-notch. RDB, whose command of the stage is well known throughout Ohio, is a hands-down favorite at Lake Erie’s Put-In-Bay. The band consists of Dailey, bass Dan Langguth, rhythm/lead guitarist/vocalist Mike Cleveland, and drummer Chuck Mauk. Both Cleveland and Mauk grew up in Bryan, Ohio. Together, these boys make up a pivotal group of American musicians whose uncompromising style firmly states their Erie-Midwest flatlands identity. Reese, a dynamic guitarist with a seemingly endless flow of lyrical leads combined with his deep, rich vocals is able to produce a sound that holds listeners attention. This band’s combined work includes openings for national bands, solo concerts and a couple of members have provided music for movies and television. The band’s first CD was released July 2011, (Olympia Records) and they are a regular on Toledo’s WIOT’s Man Cave show. Admission to the exhibit is free due in part to our generous sponsors, Van Wert Federal Savings Bank, Cooper Farms, Van Wert County Foundation Collin’s Fine Foods and Walmart. We are honored to represent high-end, quality arts right here, in our own neck of the woods and we hope to see you here celebrating.

Thank you to those who purchased art from our 30 x $30 art fundraiser! We are able to purchase some sorely needed supplies for our kid camps. If you missed us at the art festival you are in luck! We still have several awesome works to choose from. Just give us a call or check out our website and/or Facebook to see what may still be available.

Our summer art camps are really starting to fill up. Camps are scheduled through July. If your child has an interest in attending, sign up soon. We don’t like to turn people, especially kids, away! Our new Lunch & Learn programs are a great way to take a break from the workday and lunch with an interesting presentation or quick project. Regular classes for both adults and youth are also available with very reasonable rates. Oil painting, drawing, ceramics and a multitude of one-night classes featuring unique, fun projects, give us a call, email or check our website for more information.

Wassenberg Art Center’s general office hours during exhibits are: Tuesday–Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Admission to the Wassenberg Art Center is always free. Contact us at 419.238.6837 or email info@wassenbergartcenter.org, and for class sign-up options and additional information visit our website at wassenbergartcenter.org.