Create Raku pottery during Clay Day in the Park

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 25, Clay Day in the Park will take place at the Brown County State Park Nature Center.

As an Indiana Arts Commission Arts In The Parks grant recipient, potter Larry Spears will offer the public an opportunity to do Raku. “One of the translations of Raku is ‘happiness through chance,’” Spears said. “I like that translation because it defines the surprise aspect of it (Raku).” The glazes and firing process can create an exciting range of color, a variety of surface interest and many one-of-a-kind pieces.

Spears will offer thrown and bisque-fired Raku ware to be glazed and decorated by those who wish to do so. Each piece is then placed in a kiln, with firing time ranging from 20 to 30 minutes. Removed from the kiln while still glowing, the pottery is placed in a container filled with combustible materials which instantly ignite. Then, potters proceed with the reduction process, covering containers and cutting off oxygen to the piece. Submersed in a water bath to cool, the piece is cleaned as a final step.

All supplies will be furnished; the IAC will cover the cost of the first 100 pieces of small bisque pottery. Thereafter, $10 will be charged.

For more information, call Spears at 812-988-1287, e-mail [email protected], visit spearspottery.com or Spears Gallery on Facebook.

Arts commission to teach about Arts in the Park

At 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14, in Brown County State Park, the Indiana Arts Commission will host a summer workshop designed to help artists create successful site-specific, community-based arts projects.

The Art of Community Engagement workshop will feature information from a professional peer artist, a naturalist and IAC staff.

While the workshop is free, attendance is limited to 30, so registration is required. To register visit IN.gov/arts/2659.htm.

To learn more about the Arts in the Parks and Historic Sites program, visit IN.gov/arts/2905.htm.

Marsh studio, gallery open house planned

HELMSBURG — Charlene Marsh Studio & Gallery, 4013 Lanam Ridge Road, will host an open house and exhibition from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 2 and 3. It includes new paintings on display and for sale. Snacks will be served.

For more information, call 812-988-4497 or visit CharleneMarsh.com

Seasons holiday art and craft show planned

The Seasons Conference Center will host a holiday art and craft show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26.

Free to the public, the event is a juried fine art and craft show which includes about 40 booths. Prizes will be awarded to artists for best 2D work, 3D work, and a vote for a People’s Choice Award. A light breakfast or lunch can be purchased during the event.

For more information, call 812-342-9238.

Artists sought for art commission projects

The Nashville Arts and Entertainment Commission is looking for artists of all ages for upcoming projects. Email Nancy Crocker at [email protected] for more information.

Artists sought to display work in local gallery

The Paint Box art gallery, 92 W. Franklin in Antique Alley, is seeking artists to display their work as panels become available.

Open since 1973, the gallery displays a variety of artwork.

For more information or to request an interview, call Sherry Barnett at 812-597-0039.

Gallery features three artists’ work in June

During June at Hoosier Artist Gallery, 45 S. Jefferson, the works of glass artist Julie Taborn, woodturner Max Monts and mosaic artist Sally Kinsey are featured.

Taborn has been creating fused glass art for 13 years. Glass is cut, stacked and arranged in artistic forms and fired in a kiln. Her work includes jewelry, functional and sculptural art.

Turning wood for 15 years, Monts is fond of making pieces from wood that has sentimental value for customers who want customized work.

Kinsey creates unusual decorative and functional 3D and 2D art.

IHA exhibit, sale continues at local gallery

The Indiana Heritage Arts continues its 38th annual art exhibition and sale through Saturday, July 2 at the newly expanded Brown County Art Gallery, 1 Artist Drive, Nashville.

There is no charge to view the show. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

More than 130 artists entered nearly 300 paintings to be juried into the exhibit. All are for sale. More than $20,000 will be awarded to artists and 20 awards of excellence and merit are given.

The People’s Choice Award of $500 will be presented at the close of the show to the artist garnering the most votes from the viewing audience. New sponsors are Michael Fulton and Judith Stewart of Brown County.

The 2016 IHA Directors’ Purchase Award honors the late Dick Ferrer, former IHA board member and artist. The IHA has acquired a permanent collection of more than 15 paintings that hang in the local gallery.

The judge for this year’s show is a plein air impressionist painter, Anne Blair Browne of Nashville, Tennessee.

For more information, visit indianaheritagearts.org, call 812-988-4609, or email [email protected].

Featured Guild artists chosen for June

Hattie Stanton and Thom Robinson are featured artists at the Brown County Art Guild during June.

Robinson grew up in Flint, Michigan. He attended the Flint Institute of Art and then joined the Navy. He eventually settled near Bedford. He enjoys plein air painting.

Stanton, born in Kentucky in 1937, earned degrees in art and English and a master’s degree in German. She began painting in 1995 and is one of the painters included in the book “Hoosier Painters of the 21st Century.”

The art guild is open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 11 a.m. 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.

Free music series continues at Village Green

Free outdoor concerts will be performed at the Village Green Pavilion this summer and early fall.

The Pavilion Summer Music Series will take place from 4:30 to 6 p.m. one Saturday per month to Oct. 8. It is sponsored by the Johnson family, Brown County Community Foundation and Arts Village Brown County.

Guests are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets.

Featured musicians are:

Aug. 20: The Kenan Rainwater Band, country doo-wop

Sept. 17: Cari Ray & The Loners, Americana

Oct. 8: Jeff Foster, fingerstyle guitar

Demonstrations planned for Arts in the Park

Public art grant recipients through the Arts in the Park program will conduct demonstrations and performances in Brown County State Park on select dates. Signs at park entrances will include directions to the day’s event.

• Saturday, June 25, Patricia Rhoden Bartels painting milkweed at vista.
• 1 to 5:30 p.m. Monday, June 27, Anabel Hopkins painting at Strahl Lake shelter area. This will be a painting workshop and naturalist hike for the BETA youth program.
• 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 2: Craig Brenner performing on keyboard at the Nature Center Amphitheater; instruments provided to play along.
• Sunday, July 3, Bartels painting wild bean vine at the Nature Center interpretive garden.
• Dawn Saturday, July 16, Hopkins painting at Hesitation Point
• 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 5, Hopkins painting at Strahl Lake shelter
• 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4, Hopkins painting at Horseman’s Camp area
• Sunday, Sept. 4, Bartels painting Lady’s Tresses orchids at the Nature Center parking lot.
• Sunday, Sept 25, Bartels painting Northern Blazing Star in the southern end of the park off of horseman’s trails.
• 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, Hopkins painting at Hoosier’s Nest
• All day Saturday, Nov. 5, Abe Martin Lodge back porch, exhibit of paintings

Art Alliance monthly PARTake classes set

Art Alliance Brown County’s workshops, PARTake Brown County, allow locals and visitors to learn art techniques.

Classes, taught at Chateau Thomas Winery, 225 S. Van Buren St., are informal and designed for beginners.

The class size is limited to 10; registration is recommended. The cost is $35 for Art Alliance members and $40 for nonmembers and includes a glass of wine, all materials, light refreshments and individual instruction.

Classes include:

June 25 — Stretching the Envelope with Michele Pollack

July 23 — Watercolor Impressions with Martha Sechler

Aug. 27 — Sunset Landscape with Cheryl Duckworth

Sept. 10 — Fun with Abstract led by Anabel Hopkins

Sept. 24 — Fun with Florals led by M.K. Watkins

Oct. 22 — Autumn Landscapes with Hopkins

Nov. 12 — Branching Out in Acrylics with Watkins

A knitting class is also available, limited to four participants. Larger group classes are available upon request.

Sign up online at artalliancebrowncounty.org/events/9-partake. More information is available at artalliancebrowncounty.org or by calling 812-340-8781 or 812-837-9607.

Two-day plein air painting workshops planned

Bloomington artist Troy Kilgore will conduct plein air painting workshops at the Brown County Art Gallery, 1 Artist Drive, in July and August.

Classes are for artists of all skill levels who want to improve their outdoor painting skills. They will be offered from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 9 and 10, and Friday and Saturday, Aug. 26 and 27.

Kilgore has been painting en plein air for 12 years. Each day will begin with a talk and demo, then class will move into the field to paint. Kilgore will focus on values, editing, how to “see” and strategies for better starts, simplification, atmospheric perspective, color, design and composition.

Each two-day workshop costs $180. To register, visit troykilgore.com or call 812-876-5976.

Blues society accepting entries for challenge

BLOOMINGTON — The South Central Indiana Blues Society is accepting entries for its inaugural blues challenge Sunday, Aug. 21. It’s a judged musical competition for band and solo/duo acts and will be at The Players Pub, 424 S. Walnut St.

Visit sciblues.org for rules and entry forms. The entry deadline is Sunday, Aug. 7.

At stake are cash prizes and the opportunity to represent the SCI Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee, in January 2017.

The society also will be appointing representatives in “Youth Group” and “Best Self-produced CD” categories.