For two years artist Timothy Greatbatch sat in the Brown County State Park at every vista capturing the light and the ever changing views throughout the seasons on his canvas.
He painted 18 vistas in the state park, like the view from the north tower’s upper level, Hesitation Point and the Strahl Valley vista behind the Nature Center. This observation resulted in 91 paintings. Each painting includes the location, time of day, season and a description of the wildlife and topography. Greatbatch worked with retired naturalist Jim Eagleman to document each painting.
There were five vistas that had official names, but the remaining did not, so Greatbach came up with names for them based on their location and general direction of each vista.
Now Greatbach’s exploration of Indiana’s largest state park will be on display for all to see during the Brown County Art Gallery’s Collectors’ Showcase starting next month. He will be the first living artist to be featured in the showcase.
“This is the first time Collectors’ Showcase is focusing on a living artist. But Timothy Greatbatch’s ambitious project and love of subject matter draws on the legacy of the early art colony,” said Lyn Letsinger-Miller, the Brown County Art Gallery Foundation president.
“Those artists were drawn to the natural beauty of this unique spot in southern Indiana and chose it as their place to work and live. Tim made a similar choice in 2000 and has been painting here ever since. The state park project is his true masterwork.”
This year’s showcase will also feature an exhibit by curator Jim Ross titled “The Long View,” featuring paintings from the early art colony of views in Brown County that attracted the early artists here and continues to draw visitors in each year.
Artists include Theodore Clement Steele, Adolph Shulz, Dale Bessire, Hallie Prow, Wood Woolsey and many others from private collections.
The exhibit is being sponsored by Sarah and John Lechleiter.
Greatbach grew up in Indianapolis, but visited the state park with his parents beginning when he was 4 years old.
“I was amazed by the views,” Greatbatch wrote in the collectors’ showcase catalog.
“Growing up in Indy, there was nothing like it.”
“As I developed the series I tried to keep that childlike wonder in mind with the hope that my enthusiasm can somehow be translated into the works before you,” he continued.
The project began in the summer of 2019 when Greatbatch read letters from French impressionist Claude Monet about a series of paintings focusing on a single subject under different effects of light. Inspired by this, Greatbatch decided to do his own series of the vistas in the state park, which was only two miles from his studio.
Greatbatch was a musical child prodigy who played with the Indianapolis symphony. He had artistic abilities, but chose music over art. In Philadelphia he worked as a classical music performer and recording artist. He was also a college lecturer.
When he was 40, Greatbatch returned to art. He would study the paintings in museums and taught himself. Tim and his wife Lisa decided they wanted to live in an art community and moved to Brown County in the early 2000s. She works as a physical therapist in Columbus while Tim paints.
He has won prizes in the annual Indiana Heritage Arts exhibit and sale, developing a collector base.
Ross said that Greatbatch’s exhibition is a “must-see.”
“At over 90 original and unique paintings, this exhibition has to be one of the largest and most ambitious ever mounted by an Indiana artist. Certainly, any Hoosier, and anyone who loves the Midwestern landscape, will appreciate the deep connection Mr. Greatbatch has forged with nature and the Brown County State Park,” he said.
“By painting some of the same scenes at different times of the year and in different weather conditions, Greatbatch magnificently extends the tradition made famous by Claude Monet. Greatbatch has captured the beauty, variety and moods of the rolling southern Indiana landscape in all her natural glory, and this exhibition is not to be missed.”
All of the paintings are framed and will be available for sale. Part of the proceeds will benefit the art gallery foundation.
A VIP ceremony on Oct. 1 will be the first chance for the public to see Greatbatch’s paintings. On Oct. 2 all of the paintings will be on the gallery’s online store.
The month of October will be filled with various events highlight the collectors’ showcase. Admission to the gallery is free except for special events. Each visitor will receive a 64 page souvenir catalog.
The exhibit will run through Nov. 14.
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The Brown County Art Gallery’s Collectors’ Showcase begins Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. with a private VIP exhibit tour with artist Tim Greatbatch. Reservations are required and tickets are $25. Call 812-988-4609 to make reservations for the VIP tour.
The Collector’s Showcase 2021 will feature “Brown County State Park, Indiana’s Crown Jewel,” a two-year exploration of the park by Greatbatch. More than 90 paintings illustrate his journey painting the park in all seasons and times of day. Greatbatch worked with retired naturalist Jim Eagleman to document each painting.
On Oct. 2, the gallery will have special extended hours from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. to let visitors see the showcase. Admission and parking are free.
Oct. 22 to 24 artists will have a paint out in the Brown County State Park. Paintings from the paint out will go on sale at the art gallery at noon on Oct. 24. This event is free to the public.
On Oct. 31, Indiana University Professor Jon Kay will tell the story of tourism in Brown County illustrated by historic postcards at 2 p.m. Admission is $5 at the door.
Visitors will receive a catalog and a map of Greatbach’s various painting locations.
The gallery is located at 1 Artist Drive in Nashville. The gallery is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information visit www.browncountyartgallery.org.
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