Brown County students of all ages, artistic abilities and mediums had the opportunity to share their work with the community at Peaceful Valley Heritage’s Brown County Youth Arts Contest last month. Works were shown in an exhibit at the Brown County History Center, where they were also available for purchase.
Submitted photos
Brown County students of all ages, artistic abilities and mediums had the opportunity to share their work with the community at Peaceful Valley Heritage’s Brown County Youth Arts Contest last month. Works were shown in an exhibit at the Brown County History Center, where they were also available for purchase.
Submitted photos
Brown County students of all ages, artistic abilities and mediums had the opportunity to share their work with the community at Peaceful Valley Heritage’s Brown County Youth Arts Contest last month. Works were shown in an exhibit at the Brown County History Center, where they were also available for purchase.
Submitted photos
Brown County students of all ages, artistic abilities and mediums had the opportunity to share their work with the community at Peaceful Valley Heritage’s Brown County Youth Arts Contest last month. Works were shown in an exhibit at the Brown County History Center, where they were also available for purchase.
Submitted photos
Brown County students of all ages, artistic abilities and mediums had the opportunity to share their work with the community at Peaceful Valley Heritage’s Brown County Youth Arts Contest last month. Works were shown in an exhibit at the Brown County History Center, where they were also available for purchase.
Submitted photos
Brown County students of all ages, artistic abilities and mediums had the opportunity to share their work with the community at Peaceful Valley Heritage’s Brown County Youth Arts Contest last month. Works were shown in an exhibit at the Brown County History Center, where they were also available for purchase.
Submitted photos
Brown County students of all ages, artistic abilities and mediums had the opportunity to share their work with the community at Peaceful Valley Heritage’s Brown County Youth Arts Contest last month. Works were shown in an exhibit at the Brown County History Center, where they were also available for purchase.
Submitted photos
Brown County students of all ages, artistic abilities and mediums had the opportunity to share their work with the community at Peaceful Valley Heritage’s Brown County Youth Arts Contest last month. Works were shown in an exhibit at the Brown County History Center, where they were also available for purchase.
Submitted photos
Brown County students of all ages, artistic abilities and mediums had the opportunity to share their work with the community at Peaceful Valley Heritage’s Brown County Youth Arts Contest last month. Works were shown in an exhibit at the Brown County History Center, where they were also available for purchase.
Submitted photos
Brown County students of all ages, artistic abilities and mediums had the opportunity to share their work with the community at Peaceful Valley Heritage’s Brown County Youth Arts Contest last month. Works were shown in an exhibit at the Brown County History Center, where they were also available for purchase.
Submitted photos
Brown County students of all ages, artistic abilities and mediums had the opportunity to share their work with the community at Peaceful Valley Heritage’s Brown County Youth Arts Contest last month. Works were shown in an exhibit at the Brown County History Center, where they were also available for purchase.
Submitted photos
Brown County students of all ages, artistic abilities and mediums had the opportunity to share their work with the community at Peaceful Valley Heritage’s Brown County Youth Arts Contest last month. Works were shown in an exhibit at the Brown County History Center, where they were also available for purchase.
Submitted photos
Brown County students of all ages, artistic abilities and mediums had the opportunity to share their work with the community at Peaceful Valley Heritage’s Brown County Youth Arts Contest last month. Works were shown in an exhibit at the Brown County History Center, where they were also available for purchase.
Submitted photos
Brown County students of all ages, artistic abilities and mediums had the opportunity to share their work with the community at Peaceful Valley Heritage’s Brown County Youth Arts Contest last month. Works were shown in an exhibit at the Brown County History Center, where they were also available for purchase.
Submitted photos
Brown County students of all ages, artistic abilities and mediums had the opportunity to share their work with the community at Peaceful Valley Heritage’s Brown County Youth Arts Contest last month. Works were shown in an exhibit at the Brown County History Center, where they were also available for purchase.
Submitted photos
Brown County students of all ages, artistic abilities and mediums had the opportunity to share their work with the community at Peaceful Valley Heritage’s Brown County Youth Arts Contest last month. Works were shown in an exhibit at the Brown County History Center, where they were also available for purchase.
Submitted photos
Brown County students of all ages, artistic abilities and mediums had the opportunity to share their work with the community at Peaceful Valley Heritage’s Brown County Youth Arts Contest last month. Works were shown in an exhibit at the Brown County History Center, where they were also available for purchase.
Submitted photos
Brown County students of all ages, artistic abilities and mediums had the opportunity to share their work with the community at Peaceful Valley Heritage’s Brown County Youth Arts Contest last month. Works were shown in an exhibit at the Brown County History Center, where they were also available for purchase.
Submitted photos
Brown County students of all ages, artistic abilities and mediums had the opportunity to share their work with the community at Peaceful Valley Heritage’s Brown County Youth Arts Contest last month. Works were shown in an exhibit at the Brown County History Center, where they were also available for purchase.
Submitted photos
Brown County students of all ages, artistic abilities and mediums had the opportunity to share their work with the community at Peaceful Valley Heritage’s Brown County Youth Arts Contest last month. Works were shown in an exhibit at the Brown County History Center, where they were also available for purchase.
Submitted photos
Brown County students of all ages, artistic abilities and mediums had the opportunity to share their work with the community at Peaceful Valley Heritage’s Brown County Youth Arts Contest last month. Works were shown in an exhibit at the Brown County History Center, where they were also available for purchase.
Submitted photos
Brown County students of all ages, artistic abilities and mediums had the opportunity to share their work with the community at Peaceful Valley Heritage’s Brown County Youth Arts Contest last month. Works were shown in an exhibit at the Brown County History Center, where they were also available for purchase.
Submitted photos
Brown County students of all ages and artistic abilities recently had the opportunity to submit their art to be judged in a local contest on its third year.
That contest, called the Brown County Youth Arts Contest, was hosted for the third time by the Peaceful Valley Heritage Preservation (PVH) at the end of March.
PVH secretary Lorna Reichmann said last week that the contest originally began in 2021 as a way to get the youth of Brown County connected with art in an interactive way.
PVH had an art week that year which, according to Reichmann, “put focus” on the installation of the Brown County Art Colony Marker.
“Art is historically significant to our community,” she said.
Reichman said the PVH art contest is unique because it is only open to Brown County residents, ranging in age from kindergarten to outgoing high school seniors.
Also, she said the participants do not need to go to Brown County Schools, just reside in the county.
“It was important that the Brown County youth were the ones that benefited from our contest and that the focus be on our children’s talents,” Reichmann said.
“Although this contest is for (local) youth of all school ages, I think it is important to note that there is not another contest/event like this for our elementary-aged children.”
According to Reichmann, this contest is one of the only opportunities for the age group to experience a “real art contest,” with professionally displayed art, substantial cash awards and a reception dedicated to the winners and their families.
This year’s contest also gave students another new opportunity — for the first time, students could choose to list their art for sale at the contest.
“The kids really liked it, it was fun,” Reichmann said.
“I actually bought something, myself.”
Enjoying hard work
Less participation from high schoolers and middle schoolers was seen this year, Reichmann said, due to the event coinciding with the Mable B. Annis Competition.
“Luckily, I have talked with Jeanne Bennett at the Brown County Art Gallery and we are working together to make next year’s contest more accessible,” Reichmann said.
“It is important for our kids to participate in all the opportunities our community has and working with the art gallery to schedule out our contests so they don’t conflict will be essential in participation.”
However, participation from the elementary schools was high.
This year, Sprunica and Helmsburg Elementary both had their own art shows at their schools.
Kelly Schwenk, the art teacher for both of those elementary schools, was instrumental in the development of the contest, Reichmann said.
According to Reichmann, Schwenk had the idea to have art shows at the schools, and PVH helped hang the art on the art panels for display.
The Sprunica show took place March 27, and Helmsburg show on March 30.
Reichmann said the panels they used to hang the art were loaned PVH by the Artist Associates of Brown County. PVH also provided cookies and drinks for a light reception after the school shows.
“The turn out was amazing at both schools,” Reichmann said.
“And because of the success, we will be continuing in the future.”
Reichmann said there were 140 total pieces of art displayed in the History Center’s Grand Hall. Around 230 Sprunica students and 270 Helmsburg students participated in the contest.
“The art shows at the elementary schools (were) a wonderful way to allow every elementary child to experience having their art displayed professionally,” Reichmann said.
Each year, the PVH has had judges that are involved in arts in Brown County community.
The judges for this year’s contest were Heather Nicholson, who judged ninth thorough 12th grades, Kurt Eagleman judged sixth through eight grades, Linda Wendling judged third through fifth grades and M.K. Watkins judged kindergarten through second grade.
Eagleman said last week that the PVH is important to students because it is another chance for the students to show their work and get positive feedback.
“It’s important that these types of events are available for the students in the community so they can put their work out in the world and let other people enjoy their hard work,” he said.
“Having these annual events help shape our community as a culture that values and rewards creativity and art.”
The winners of the contest, as well as their immediate family members, were invited to a reception after the event, which Reichmann said was well attended.
More about PVH
“Peaceful Valley Heritage is continually working to promote and educate others on Brown County’s heritage,” Reichmann said.
The group does this through recognition of historical figures, like Frank Hohenberger and more recently Kin Hubbard. The county is getting an historical marker for Hubbard in September, Reichmann said.
“We also are dedicated to preserving our history which includes the landmarks and buildings in our community,” she said
The group has also started the process of seeing Nashville established as an Historic District, Reichmann said.
According to Reichmann, PVH is also working with local commissioners, the Brown County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and other organizations to finalize the Indiana Hoosier Hills Scenic Byway, which runs through Brown County on State Roads 135 North and South.
“We are also putting together self-guided driving tours that will follow the byway and give history on points of interest using QR codes, which will let the driver see Brown County in new way,” Reichmann said.
“This will hopefully be good for tourism and for locals who are interested in learning about our county’s history.”
Peaceful Valley Heritage
Those wishing to stay up to date with PVH can visit their website, peacefulvalleyheritage.com. They also have a Facebook page where the post updated on their projects.
Want to donate?
Make checks payable to Peaceful Valley Heritage Preservation Society (PVH), PO Box 150, Nashville, IN 47448. You can also specify where you would like your donation to go ( i.e. the Youth Arts Contest, cemetery preservation, or the general fund).
The contest
There were four age groups of contestants in the Brown County Youth Arts Contest this year.
Kindergarten through second grade
47 participants
Second-grader Kiercely Fawbush took first place in the group, with kindergartener Hailey Mingucci in second and first grader Wylee Crabtree in third.
Honorable mentions for the first group included: kindergarteners Miranda Cowan, Ally Detarnowsky, Finley McFall and Ava Sophia Warren; first graders Sawyer McMasters and Willa Quintero; and second graders Miles Cornelius, Ruby Love, Lynora McGrayel, Tucker Reichmann, Emma Sharp and Amelia Walters.
Third through
fifth grade
65 participants
Fourth-grader Marty Webb was in first place in that group, with fifth-grader Zayn Sizemore in second and fifth-grader Addison Schwenk in third.
Honorable mentions for the second group included: third-graders Phoebe Bizzell, Levi Metsch, Blakely Roberts and Reese Russell; fourth-graders Kirby Brester, Victoria Dawdy, Violet Egenolf, Roni Erick, Karma Harrison and Aurora Hoskins; and fifth-graders A.J. O’Daniels, Madilyn Oswald, Layla Simmons, Quintin Voland and Chase Wilkerson.
Sixth through
eighth grade
21 participants
Seventh-grader Arie Johnson took first place, with sixth-grader Chris Southworth in second and sixth-grader Nora Smith in third.
Honorable mentions for the third group include: sixth-graders Addison Goodwin, Charlie Craig, Laila McMasters, Rilan Purlee and Ella Spahr; and seventh-graders Arie Johnson, Adia McMasters, Tori Reichmann and Alex Schwenk.
Ninth through
12th grade
17 participants
Ninth-grader Alana Johnson took first place, with 12th grader Kirsten Hunt in second and 10th grader Julie Burt in third.
Honorable mentions for the final group were: ninth-grader Cambria Cox and 11th graders Skyla Lipscomb, Madalyn Purlee and Stayson Stinson.
This year, second-grader Ember Sizemore won the People’s Choice award.
