Art Renaissance Weekend, Sept. 7,8,9 2007

by Jennifer Lawrence

In 1992, several non-profit organizations worked together and initiated the first Art Renaissance Weekend in Brown County. This September event has grown to be an annual landmark weekend for the arts featuring historical exhibitions, lectures, paintouts, and master classes.

This year, Arts Renaissance Weekend offers a full range of activities for art and music lovers alike. The Peaceful Valley Chamber Players will kick off the festivities by presenting a chamber music concert Friday night, September 7, at the Nashville United Methodist Church. The 7:00 p.m. concert will be followed by a wine and cheese reception at the Brown County Art Guild. For more information call (812) 988-6185.

Due to its tremendous popularity the Brown County Art Gallery Foundation will reprise “Pumpkins and Puppies,” a special exhibit of animal and autumn themed paintings, whose sales will benefit the Brown County Humane Society. In conjunction with the Brown County Humane Society Adoption Fair, this special exhibit will run Saturday, September 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 9 from noon to 5:00 p.m. For more information call (812) 988-4609.

Saturday night, September 8, Indiana Heritage Arts will present An Evening with Mary Ann Davis at the Brown County Art Gallery. The 7:00 p.m. program will feature a demonstration by the IHA prize winning painter, and at the end of the evening her painting will be auctioned and the proceeds will benefit the IHA. Additional artwork by this Indianapolis artist will also be available for purchase. Davis was one of ten artists chosen to paint for Painting Indiana, The Changing Face of Agriculture. She has worked as a designer in the graphic design field since 1978 and founded Davis Graphic Design in 1991. For more information call (812) 988-4609.

The Brown County Art Gallery will be holding a 2008 Calendar artist signing party on Friday, September 7 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. You will be able to purchase the calendars and have them signed by the participating artists.

The Brown County Art Gallery will also host an exhibition and sale of Indiana Artists: Past and Present in the Klein Gallery. Proceeds will benefit the Brown County Art Gallery.

The Brown County Historical Society will be celebrating the “100th Anniversary of The Art Colony of the Midwest” with a special exhibit titled: First Time Showing of Portraits by Kenneth Reeve. Mr. Reeve is well known for his detailed watercolors of rural scenes, but this exhibit presents forty-five pastel portraits produced during 1963–66. In the past, artists would often gather to paint portraits using local residents as models. Some of the models in this collection are identified but others are not. This should make it a particularly interesting exhibit for local residents. Ken and his wife, Helen, have moved from Brown County and are now living in Midlothian, Virginia. The exhibit will be held at the Historical Society Administration Building, 1934 SR 135 N., Nashville. It is open to the public 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. September 4–7, and 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. September 8–10. For more information call (812) 988-2919. The exhibit is funded in part by the Brown County Community Foundation and Psi Iota Xi Sorority.

The 19th Annual Great Outdoor Art Contest at the T.C. Steele State Historic Site will take place on Saturday September 9th from 7:00–3:00 p.m. The event celebrates the birthday of famed “Hoosier Group” artist T.C. Steele and gives today’s artist a unique insight into Steele’s artwork and the turn-of-the-century plein air method of painting that he practiced. Starting at 7:00 a.m. and using their own supplies, contestants create an original work of art in any medium, while enjoying live entertainment and free refreshments. A jury of judges determines the winners in three age and medium-use categories, and awards are presented at 3:00 p.m. Pre-registration is required to enter, and artists of all ages are welcome. While there is a $7.50 registration fee for adults, admission is free for artists 18 and under. For more information, call (812) 988-2785.

In addition to the not-for-profit events taking place that weekend there will be many exhibits, sales, and auctions. during September.

The Small Painting Society of Brown County will have a show in the Waldron Gallery of Brown County beginning September 8 through the end of the month.