Festival of Flowers
PaintOut May 28, 2005

by Andrea deTarnowsky

Aspiring artists and art lovers are invited to take part in the 6th annual Festival of Flowers PaintOut at the T.C. Steele State Historic Site in Brown County on Saturday, May 28th.

The event will feature artists painting on the site grounds from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. As artists work, the public is invited to enjoy a day of relaxation and fun. This event provides a unique insight into the work of Hoosier Group impressionist and open-air artist Theodore Clement Steele (1847–1926), an artist greatly inspired by his natural surroundings. The day culminates in a judged art contest and an afternoon outdoor concert. Judging will begin at 2:00 p.m. and ribbons will be awarded at about 3:30 p.m. First place winning artwork will be displayed at the historic site, for all to enjoy.

Artists who wish to submit their work for judging must be pre-registered for a $5 fee. For more information on the PaintOut or to register, please call (812) 988-2785.

The afternoon concert offers an opportunity to savor a local musical group with a national reputation. Craig Brenner & the Crawdads will provide a lively interpretation of New Orleans rhythm and blues, jazz and boogie-woogie piano from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m.

Tours of Steele’s large studio and home, the House of the Singing Winds, are available from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a brief interruption during the afternoon award ceremonies. Nature lovers can experience the serenity of Steele’s estate by strolling the flower gardens, nature preserve, and winding trails.

The T.C. Steele State Historic Site is part of the Department of Natural Resources’ Division of State Museums & Historic Sites. The site is located one and one-half miles south of Belmont off Indiana State Road 46, between Nashville and Bloomington. Site hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sundays. Closed on Mondays and most holidays. There is an admission charge for guided building tours; outdoor activities are free of charge.

The Festival of Flowers PaintOut is presented with support from the Bloomington Area Arts Council, Inc., the Indiana Arts Commission, a state agency and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

For information, please contact:

Andrea deTarnowsky, T.C. Steele State Historic Site,

(812) 988-2785 or e-mail at <tcsteele@bloomington.in.us>.