Guadalupe Center Enjoys Los Utrera

As part of the cultural outreach mission of the Midwest Worldfest program, our visiting guest artists, Los Utrera, played at the Guadalupe Center in Huntingburg on Thursday evening. An audience of over 70 people of all ages showed up. Sister Karen enlisted the aid of the community to also host a nice reception which included homemade sopa pias. Yum!

The rowdy weather in this part of the county did not keep anyone away that night. However, the Utrera family sought shelter from tornado warnings in the basement of our Education Coordinator, Donna Sheppers. Wow! Talk about community participation! Thanks, Donna. Thanks also to the Guadalupe Center for hosting our friends.

Loogootee High School Enjoys Los Utrera Performance

Loogootee High School, a Region 11 grant recipient, requested a performance by our visiting music group, Los Utrera. The students participated in the Mexican Fandango and even gave their guests a standing ovation.

Thanks, Loogootee!

Regional Arts Grants Award Ceremony

The Regional Arts Partnership Grant Awards Ceremony was held in the Krempp Gallery this evening. As Region 11 partner for the Indiana Arts Commission, Jasper Community Arts administers arts grants to six counties - Crawford, Davies, Dubois, Martin, Orange and Perry. This year, support grants were given to four Arts Organizations - Actors Community Theatre, Inc., Celebration Singers, Strings, Inc., and Veale Creek Players, Inc. Seven groups received Arts Project Support Grants - English Elementary School, First Chance Center, Loogootee Schools, Orange County Community Development, Paoli Chamber of Commerce, Patoka Elementary School, and Perry Central Elementary.

We were delighted to have attendance of about 75 people, including Senator Richard Young from Milltown, and Representative Kreg Battles. Some yummy refreshments were provided by Marianne and Lindsey Harner of Reid's Delicatessen and Bakery of Washington, IN. Our guest performers were Los Utrera of Arts Midwest Worldfest. What a delightful evening!

Los Utrera Entertains at VUJC

Our visiting performers from Mexico, Los Utrera, entertained students and staff at VUJC auditorium last evening. Over 90 people attended. The musical group sang, danced, and played a variety of Mexican instruments. This family group is very talented. At the end of the performance, audience members were invited onstage to dance with the group. Everyone had a wonderful time. Thanks, Los Utrera!

Los Utrera Visits Jasper

We are delighted to host the Mexican Fandango and musical group, Los Utrera this week. Today they performed at Tenth Street and Ireland Elementary schools. Many children from the audience were asked to participate. Los Utrera will be traveling throughout the midwest as part of Midwest World Fest. Locally they will perform in the schools, at Vincennes University Jasper Campus, the Guadelupe Center, for our Regional Arts presentation, and will culminate in a public performance on our family series on Friday, October 19th. Tickets are still available.

Preschool Classes Started Today

Our fall preschool classes started today. We are fortunate to have Selena Vonderheide teaching them again. This is her third time. The classes are small with no more than ten students in them, ages 3 through 5. Each child must be accompanied by an adult - parent, grandparent, babysitter - to help with some of the projects. This is a great introduction to art as the children explore many different mediums.

A favorite project is where each child gets to decorate a life-size drawing of him or her self. Here you see how the initial drawings are created. Come back in a week or two to see how they turn out.

Ag students visit with Diane Mann

Our artist for the month of October is Diane Mann. She creates some wonderful pottery / mixed media pieces. As with all great artists, Diane relies heavily upon her life experiences to inspire her work.

We were delighted to have Jasper High School's Mr.Haycox's Ag students visit today. Diane gave a wonderful power point lecture where she showed images of the 3,000 acre farm that she lives on with her husband and sons. Her work reflects crop rows, silos, sunsets, water and aquifers, as well as many other images. Diane also incorporates many found objects from the farm into her actual artwork.

Diane spent the afternoon at JHS teaching in Andrea Pfaff's clay art classes. These two classes visited the gallery on Wednesday, October 10th.

Thank you, Diane!

Diane Mann Reception

Diane Mann from Merom, Indiana is our featured artist in the Krempp Gallery this month. Her work is a thought-provoking mix of clay and found objects, reflecting her art and farm background. She will be visiting later this week to give an on-site presentation to the JHS ag students, and then will teach two clay workshops at the high school.

About 75 people were in attendance at the reception. It was wonderful to see so many people enjoying themselves on a sunny Sunday afternoon at the art gallery. AND enjoying the wonderful artwork.

The New Seats Have Arrived!

The new auditorium seats arrived this week. An entire semi of chairs were unloaded into the center. This is not the chaos one might imagine. The team worked efficiently and quickly.

2007 Governor's Arts Award Winner!

The mayor of Jasper, Bill Schmitt, was notified recently that the City of Jasper has won the 2007 Governor's Arts Award. We are the only entity in the entire history of the award to win twice. The award is given to the City of Jasper and its citizens not only for the Arts Department, but support throughout the city - the Park and Rec Department, and the Jasper Chamber of Commerce which hosts a free summer concert series on the Riverwalk.

Boy, we're bustin' with pride!

Season Ticket Sales

Our box office manager, Kelley Leuck, is efficiently filling out season ticket orders. She makes this Chinese puzzle of ensuring everyone has their correct order look easy. Fortunately our computerized Choice ticketing system helps immensely but it's the human behind the machine that makes it work. Plus, Kelley still answers our constantly ringing phones, attends to visitors, handles our contracts and other paperwork...all with a smile. Go Kelley!

More auditorium progress

The walls are now painted. Notice the contrasting details of the baffles. It will look wonderful with the new seats.

Auditorium progress

Painting the auditorium floor. What a contrast!

Auditorium renovation

Contractors were in this week to tear out our old auditorium seats. The place looks pretty bare but no one seems sorry to see those 31 year old ORANGE seats leave. Good bye, old friends. The painter is also repainting the theater. We hope our guests will like the new look. You'll all have to come out for a performance to see it.

No peeking!

ARTventures

ARTventures summer arts camp started this week. We have an entire slate of classes with clay, painting and drawing, fashion, and pre-school for kids ages 3- 14. Classes are small and everyone gets plenty of hands-on experience.

Next week we'll have Mixed-up Fairy Tales taught by our resident dance instructor, Carolyn Randolph. The after that, another week of art classes. Hey, kids, no grades! Just fun fun fun!

New Summer Intern

Corie E., our new summer intern helps out in art classes. She is an art education major at Ball State University. We also save up all the "good" work for our interns to catch up with - filing, cleaning, computer entries, etc. ;-) Hey, is this a great department or what?

Staff Meeting

I think I need to inspire my staff more. Here is our Visual Arts Coordinator, Amy L.

Elizabeth Nelson, Collage Artist

Elizabeth Nelson, collage artist, was our featured artist in the Krempp Gallery during May. Her beautiful tissue paper collage paintings also included many hand-made stamps, printed papers, scrabble letters, maps, etc. Elizabeth flew all the way from her home in Florida to teach at Ruth Gehlhausen's art classes at Tenth Street School. Later, she gave a demonstration and artist talk in our gallery, followed by a reception.

Thanks, Elizabeth!

Chalk Walk 2007

The Jasper Community Arts Commission Chalk Walk 2007 was another huge success. In its 4th year, this family event only continues to grow. For those who preregister, children receive a cloth drawstring bag with their chalk, a T-shirt, and other goodies from our sponsors. They can spend the entire day chalking, or participating in many of the other free arts activities. Each person chooses a square to in which to create. They can also enjoy free tie-dying, face painting, clay projects, community canvas, music and dance. Or participants can stroll through the Arts Market, featuring art and crafts of local artist, or get a bite to eat our one of our twelve food vendors. Many adults participate, also, as many high schools compete. It's an all day, family fun event.

In conjunction with the Jasper Downtown Merchants, a youth art contest is also held in store windows. Many people enjoy strolling around the Square in Jasper in the evening or the next day to view all the artwork.

Bwah Bwah Bwah

Jill and I are under the gun to finish our paperwork for the IAC's Regional Arts Partners biennial plan. Yippee! Don't we look excited?

Dubois County Art Guild Exhibit

The Dubois County Art Guild held its 39th exhibit in the Krempp Gallery this month. The Guild, whose members are from across the county, is one of our resident organizations and meets monthly, usually here at the arts center. Anyone who wishes to join may call our office for further information.

Arts Day in Indy

Our regional services coordinator, Jill Watson, and I went to Indianapolis for Arts Day at the Statehouse. It was a great day to meet the other Regional Arts Partners and to visit with our state representatives. Here we are with Senator Richard Young, a great support of the arts and a pretty fine artist himself. Thanks!

Oh, and congrats to our friend, Bobby Garver, at the IAC on receiving her award. I couldn't think of anyone better!

Three Men and a Baby....Grand

Everyone had a good time here at the arts center on Sunday. We had Lee Lessack and his friends, Brian and John, here for Three Men and a Baby...Grand. Boy, were they fun! Great singers. Everyone knew the tunes. And really nice guys. Brian's mother drove all the way from Cincinnati to see him perform.

Monday we have been at Jasper High School where the guys conducted a master class for the music students. A wonderful opportunity for the kids.

ACT Crimes

Actor's Community Theater performed Crimes of the Heart this month. Boy, were they good! We are so lucky to have such talented actors in our community. And it's all volunteer! I can't wait to see their next production.

Oh, by the way, ACT is one of our three resident organizations.

Glennis Redmond

Glennis Redmond was at the Jasper Middle School the week of March 12th. This poet, writer extraordinaire dazzled her audience in a school assembly, worked with some students in the classroom, and also continued her work with teachers through our Kennedy Center Partners in Education program. I was lucky enough to hear some of the students read their poetry. Very moving.

Youth Art Month

March is Youth Art Month across the nation. At the Jasper Arts Center, we host a month-long exhibit of the area high schools and on alternate years, elementary schools. This is great fun for everyone. Moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas turn out for these receptions and exhibits.

What a lot of talented kids we have in our area!