High School Art Invitational

We have enthusiastic congratulations to hand out to many area high school students who competed in the Wassenberg High School Art Invitational. Thanks to our sponsor Cooper Farms and a large response from imaginative and skilled art students  and their instructors, we were able to expand our award categories and amounts this year. We received over 150 entries and our jurying panel had a very difficult time choosing notable works. All of the students’ work is stunning and reflects a continuing strong visual art presence in our surrounding area.

We awarded excellent work in both two and three-dimensional categories. First place in 2D went to Daniel Thompson, Van Wert High School, with his pencil drawing of a crowned Benjamin Franklin on the $100 dollar bill, which is entitled: American King. Katie Anderson, also of Van Wert High School received second place with her extremely detailed scratchboard portrait of a cat named: Daisy. Third place was awarded to Brandon Joseph, Parkway High School with his energetic acrylic painting of a top-hat-wearing entity entitled: Nightmare.

In the 3D category first place went to Cam Strunk, of Parkway High School for their ceramic vase: Tall Vase. Second place was awarded to Jackie Bruns, Parkway High School, for her ceramic portrait bust entitled: Du@listic Beauty. Third place went to Alexandra Kleman, Lincolnview High School, for her colored pencil encrusted mixed media sculpture of tennis shoes, titled “Prisma Studs.”

Honorable mentions went to the following individuals from the following school districts. Van Wert High School: Rebecca Johnson: Jensen, Domanique Grothause: Gentle Companion, Jacey Eikenbary: Destination California, Taylor Gaskill: I’m Out of your League, Nick Olson: Mickey. Parkway High School: Sarah Ridder: Mother, Cam Strunk: Zombie. Crestview High School: Justin Lare: Scrap Bike, Amanda Lobsiger: Bernard,  Moses Boroff: My Salad. Paulding High School, Emily Thielbar with Bird and Kennedy Mengerink: Crazyface from Lincolnview High School. Again we wish to congratulate and thank all the students who participated in this competition. Your work is inspiring, very well done and original. We want to see more! This exhibit will run through May 4 and we hope everyone takes a moment to honor our area students in their efforts by visiting.

On May 10 from 6–10 p.m. May 11 from 9 p.m.-12 a.m., May 12 from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. We are holding an all weekend scrapbooking crop as a fundraiser for the NEW Wassenberg Art Center! This is an excellent opportunity, for Senior moms, new moms, and all the rest of you who are woefully behind on your projects to finish them or make some great progress! All proceeds benefit the Wassenberg Art Center. Cost for the entire weekend: $50, Friday – $10, Saturday – $30, Sunday – $20. 
Sign up for the entire weekend or partial as priced. Payment can be made at or sent to the Wassenberg Art Center at 643 S. Washington St., Van Wert, prior to arriving to reserve your table. Snacks will be served on Friday night and Saturday we will have a continental breakfast, lunch, and dinner plus snacks. Sunday we will have a continental breakfast, snacks, and lunch. Water, ice and coffee will be provided or you may bring in any other drink of your choice. The event will be held at their current location. No alcohol, please. In addition there will be gift packs for all, a raffle table with $1 tickets or 6 tickets for $5, and scrapbook vendors.

Call for entries for our 57^th Annual June Art Exhibit are coming up soon. Check-in days for artwork are May 18 and 19^th from 1–5 p.m. here at our current location at 643 S. Washington Street. If you or someone you know would like a prospectus we have them available here at the art center, downloadable online or simply call. We will mail one out to you promptly!

In other good news we would like to welcome new Wassenberg Art Center Board members, Emily Hoskins and Kent Barheide, both of Van Wert. We look forward to working with them and bringing their energies, visions and experience to our dynamic Board of Directors.

If you have any questions regarding exhibits, classes or programs or would like to sign up please call the Wassenberg Art Center at 419.238.6837, email info@wassenbergartcenter.org or register for classes 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.