The Sellars Collection
Art by American Women 1850-1930 Continues through June 2
The Midwest Museum of American Art celebrates its 23rd Anniversary with the continuation of the exhibition of the largest private collection of artwork by American women active during the years 1850 to 1930.
This important collection has redirected scholary study of women artists in America by rediscovering the important contributions they have made to the nation’s cultural growth. Every artist here has a story and every one is significant to our history. Almost all of thes women were involved in teaching either privately or in a variety of schools, and were significant influences in developing attitudeds and acceptance of new art styles in their respective regions.
The Midwest Museum Staff Trustees wish to thank the GENESIS Program for the partial funding of this exhibition.
Haitian Art
Opens on Friday, June 7
This exhibition of over 50 paintings, sculptures, and objects is the third in 23 years that the Midwest Museum has mounted to explore the world of Haitian art. The first exhibit in 1980 was organized and circulated by the Smithsonian Insititution. That exhibit unveiled the preeminent masters of Haitian painting, all of which are represented in the current exhibit from the private collection of Naomi and Arlin Hunsberger of Goshen, Indiana.
The Hunsbergers’ relation with the country and its people extends beyond collecting art and into a personal journey of enlightenment and service. Their first encounter with this Caribbean culture was in 1962 and subsequently, with only brief stints away, it continued for a total of 19 years till 1997 when Arlin Hunsberger retired as Haiti Country Director for the Pan American Development Foundation. PADF was responsible for instituting an Agroforestry Productive Land Use Systems project involving tree planting, soil and water conservation and crop improvement programs throughout the country. It was throughout this long period of living in Haiti that the Hunsbergers and their children would meet and embrace the many artists who now have received international recognition.
There are few countries where the visual arts are woven as tightly through the fabric of life as in Haiti. Haiti is traditionally rich in ritual art, decorated everyday objects, and paintings on buildings and vehicles. Since 1944 and the opening of the Centre d’Art Haitien by California painter, DeWitt Peters, the contry has been the scene of vigorous artistic activity sparked by artisits without formal training.
The rhythms of life in Haiti are reflected in the Hunsberger collection. Subjects range from the traditional depiction of historical events to everyday life and festivals. Voodoo, a religion which bridges the world of humans and the world of spirits, is a popular theme troughout this exhibition. Voodoo was created in Haiti by the joining of West and Central African religions. It encompasses music, dance, drama, and visual art.
Join Us on Sunday afternoon, June 9 for a brilliant and colorful visual journey to Haiti and meet the collectors, Naomi and Arlin Hunsberger.
Museum Receives State Award
The Midwest Museum of American Art has received the INDIANA STATE QUESTERS Award for restoring and replacing the upstairs window and keeping the historical interity of the building intact. On Saturday, April 20th, at Conner Prairie, the site of the Spring Covention, the Questers decided that the Midwest Museum of American Art would reive the $3,000 award. The grant was obtained trough the efforts of four Elkhart chapters of Questers – Christiana #3765, HSK & Amy Bartholomew #440, LaSalle-Rosseu #411, and Reminicers #1303. These four chpaters worked together locally to raise an additional $1,550 in support of the project.
The Trustees and Staf of the Midwest Museum applaud the efforts of the Questers and commend them for taking part in the preservation and restoration of an important building located in the heart of downtown Elkhart. Museum Director Jane Burns states, “We feel the museum is an integral part of the community and a major player in the cultural scene of northern Indiana. The Museum is celebrating its 23rd birthday in early May and this is a grate birthday present.”
Questers is an international organization founded in 1944 with over 15,00 members who promote the presevation and restoration of historic projects for future generations. The local Questers have submitted the Midwest Museum for a National Award also.
Become a Docent!!
The Midwest Museum of American Art is once again looking for a few good men and women. Docents are volunteers who use the collections at the museum to bring art to life for people of all ages. You may have seen them interacting with a group of school children, leading families and adults on a gallery tour or guiding members of a club through a special exhibtion. The purpose of the Docents at the Midwest Museum is to provide oportunities for the public to enjoy, discover, and learn aout the arts using the museum’s collections and exhibitions. Commited is the key word to use in describing the museum’s volunteer docents. The docents go through 12 months of training studying art hsitory and the museum’s collections. The training also teaches docents to develp interavtive and interdisciplinary skills for working with groups comprised of school children, adults, and families. If you are interested and would like to hear more about our program, please call the museum at (574) 293-6660 and schedule an appointment.
Children’s Summer Art Classes
The leader for the summer series of classes will be Mr. Neil Boston, Art Educator from the Concord School system. This will be Mr. Boston’s ninteenth year as summer art instructor for the museum. Times for specific age groups will be as follows:
- Ages 5-7 years will meet from 1-2pm
- Ages 8-12 years will meet from 2:15-3:45pm
Classes will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday on the following dates:
June: 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27
- Print Making
- Drawing & Watercolor
- Sculpture & Collage
July: 9 , 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25
- Print Making
- Drawing & Watercolor
- Sculpture & Collage
FEE: $10.00 per student per week
All materials included! Enrollment is limited. Students are urged to sign up in advance. Fee is due one week prior to class. Call (574) 293-6660 today!
American Art Appreciation Film Series FREE every Sunday
If you missed the acclaimed fim series and leftures on American Art Apprecitation last year, the Midwest Museum will offer viewers an opportunity to see all eight fims from “The American Vision” series during the months of June and July. The 8-part (one hour each) series will begin on and be shown every SUNDAY, beginning June 9th at 2:00 PM. Purchased for the museum’s library & archives, this collection of films takes the viewer on a visual journey through nearly three hundred years of American art history narrated by the eminent Time Magazine creitic, Robert Hughes. This is a FREE series with limited seating each Sunday offered through the Eva Cole Educational Fund.
Major Grants
The Midwest Museum of American Art has received two major grants. The Genesis Program of the City of Elkhart awarded the museum $20,000 to support the exhibition and educational programs offered throughout the year. The Martin Foundation awarded a grant of $15,000 for the Midwest Museum’s FAMILY FREE DAY every Sunday of the year. Our sincere thanks to the Martin Foundation and the City of Elkhart for their tradition of support.
Art Camps
July 29 thur August 2 for ages 5-12 $30.00
Tom Grove, Instructor for drawing, watercolor, & printmaking.
August 5 thru August 9 for ages 13-17 $30.00
Patrice Bovo, Instructor for drawing, watercolor, & printmaking.
Tributes
The Midwest Museum of American Art gratefully acknowledges gifts in honor or in membory of special friends. Notes of acknowledgment are sent by the Museum to those honored or to the families of those memorialized. Recent memorials include:
In Memory Of
Dr. Stephen Costello
by Mr. & Mrs. George White
Walter J. Miller
by Mr. & Mrs. R. Dewey Welch
Bettie East
by Jane Burns
Brian Byrn
Mr. & Mrs. Wendell Culp
Chuck & Lindy Dinehart
Patricia See
Pat & Carolyn Shelley
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Thomas
Richard & Barbara Wich
Ross Ann Willams
Eugenia Ostapchuk
by Jane Burns
Martha Rieth
by Jane Burns
Dr. A. Jess Shenson
by Jane Burns
Charles W. Slinkard
by Jane Burns
John Foster
by Mr. & Mrs. William Rose, Jr.
Leroy J. Swift
by Jane Burns
Mary Helvey
Dorothy Hemphill
Patricia G. Warner
Dr. Burton Kintner
by Patricia G. Warner
Dorothy V. Young
by Jane Burns
Brian Byrn
Lowell Lerner
by Mr. & Mrs. Paul Thomas
Samuel New
by Jane Burns
Patricia G. Warner
Mr. & Mrs. R. Dewey Welch
Mr. & Mrs. George White
Aquisition Fund
by Brian & Lisa Fahey
In Honor of Jack and Karen Cittadine
by Coeur de Cerf
In Honor of the Midwest Museum Docents
by Brian and Lisa Byrn
Window Restoration Fund
by A to Z Antique Club
David & Julie Bird
Christiana Questers
HSK & Amy Bartholomew Questers
Indiana State Questers
Reminiscers Questers