A new look for the art center logo

By Hope Wallace

If you have seen any literature pertaining to The Wassenberg Art Center lately, you may have noticed that we have a new logo. Logos are more than just a way for people to recognize an organization or company — they are also symbols of what that organization stands for. A lot of planning went into creating a logo to represent the art center’s mission and goals.

Before the design of a logo could be considered, the Wassenberg’s official mission statement needed formalization. It is as follows:  “The Wassenberg Art Center endeavors to be a catalyst for creative expression and the study of arts and architecture. Through an open and diverse approach, Wassenberg programs are offered as an outreach and to inspire interaction and appreciation of the visual arts to all area cultures and communities.”

Everything in the logo symbolizes the Wassenberg’s activities, but one of the strongest is an emphasis on ART. We are the Wassenberg ART Center! The big ART in our logo represents our commitment to promoting and encouraging the arts.

The corner graphic represents the solid foundation provided by Charles Wassenberg’s legacy to ensure a continued resource for the community to engage in and appreciate art.

The arc through the center of the ART, connecting all other parts of the design, represents outreach and embraces any and all who are interested in and wish to participate in creative endeavors. People new to the community or from surrounding areas may not be familiar with the Wassenberg name, so emphasis is placed on the word “art” while keeping the tradition of a timeless provision by Wassenberg in the classic fonts used in the words “Wassenberg” and “Center”.

The mission statement above clarifies the provisions of Mr. Wassenberg’s will by making it clear that the Wassenberg Art Center will be a vehicle for continued creative expression and a resource for the study of the arts/architecture. Diversity is spelled out specifically to encourage new participants and avoid exclusivity. (The current exhibition of artwork by artists with disabilities exemplifies this openness to diversity.)

Art is a universal language which brings people from different backgrounds together and can help unite us all. If I like Mozart and you like Mozart and we know this about each other, and even if we come from very different backgrounds, this common ground is one element that may help prevent us from killing each other. Art can be a very powerful voice for understanding.

I hope you will visit the Wassenberg Art Center often to join with us in enjoying art of all kinds.  Our current exhibits, “It’s In the Cards” and “The Art of Therapy” focuses on two very different types of art which both encourage interaction.  These shows, sponsored by Vancrest Health Care Center, will run through May 7.  Exhibit hours are 1-5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays) and admission is free.

The Wassenberg Art Center is located at 643 S. Washington Street in Van Wert, Ohio.  Contact us by phone at 419.238.6837 or by e-mail at wassenberg@embarqmail.com.  Check the calendar on our website, www.vanwert.com/wassenberg, for current activities.

You are more creative than you think

By Kay Sluterbeck

When you think of yourself, does the word “creative” come to mind, or do you reserve that word to describe people who “make art”?   Creativity is actually what we do with our abilities.  You probably take your creativity for granted, but if you have planned a party, decorated a room, or organized a business event, you have been creative.  Even picking out the clothes you are wearing today was a creative action.

You can expand your creativity, and that includes your ability to make art.  First, remember that what you believe is what you become.  If you think you have no talent, then you won’t have talent.  Author Richard Bach says, “Argue for your limitations and sure enough, they’re yours.”  People who want to be creative are more likely to make themselves creative — and stay that way.

Once you’ve decided you want to be more creative, don’t expect a fairy godmother to appear and bop you with her wand — “Presto!  You’re creative!”  Creativity doesn’t just happen; you have to make it happen.  To be creative, you need courage, positive thinking, flexibility and the desire to change.

Begin with small steps.  You could start by changing your daily routine.  Do something different, even if it’s as simple as trying a new ingredient in an old recipe.  Is there an attraction in your town that you’ve never visited?  Go visit it.  Have you ever eaten dinner by candlelight?  Try it, even if you live alone.  Do you want to learn to draw or paint?  Take a class, visit a museum or gallery, go to a craft fair or hobby show, read a book from the library.  Expand your senses:  smell flowers, try new foods, listen to new music.

Above all, give yourself permission to be creative and have fun with it.  Sometimes adults think creative behavior isn’t acceptable or dignified.  Maybe there’s a little voice in your head saying “act your age.”  Age has nothing to do with creativity.   George Bernard Shaw, the great playwright, said “We do not stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”  For example, a member of the Wassenberg Art Center who exhibited her work in a two-artist show recently didn’t start drawing or painting until she was in her late 60s.  Her first efforts weren’t what she hoped for, but she enjoyed the process, so she kept at it.  After a few years her work was so good that she began winning awards.  Then came the invitations to exhibit.  She’s in her 70s now and painting every day — in fact, she’s currently working on pictures for another exhibit.

Here’s a suggestion to recover some of the creative energy you had when you were a child:  Make an autobiographical collage.  Cut pictures from magazines of things you enjoy.  Photocopy old pictures of yourself as a child, as you are now, and cut out more pictures to represent your hopes for the future.  Include things you hate, and things you like.  Paste all these things to a piece of poster board with white glue (Elmer’s or School Glue, or use a glue stick). There is no right or wrong way to arrange the pieces.  Now grab some crayons, ink, colored pencils, watercolor — whatever you want — and add color, drawings, and decorations.  Throw on some stickers, yarn, glitter, etc.,  if you feel like it.  Above all, have fun.

When you finish one collage — start another.  You can make a collage of your hopes and dreams, places you enjoy, or things you’d like to do sometime.  Make a new collage every week, or every month, or every day.  Save your collages because you can use them for creative imagery later.

Try to make creative thinking a part of your everyday life.  Do unexpected things; change your usual routine; ask questions.  Change makes you more observant and gets your creative ideas flowing.   If you discover that you enjoy something specific, do more of it and see where it takes you.  You’ll find that being creative is full of rewards you never dreamed of.