Ready to take a stroll around historic downtown Crawfordsville and find glorious piece of art from artists far and near? Mark your calendars for Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The ninth annual Art Walk sponsored by The Montgomery County Art League will feature a variety of genres including: ceramics, jewelry, watercolor and oil paintings, sculpture, fiber art, mixed media, photography and even murals. There will also be pop-up art demonstrations, chalk art and peace poles designed by Rainbows and Rhymes Preschool students. Each site will be identified by a bright red balloon. Maps with the names of artists, types of art and locations can be acquired at the following sites: the Crawfordsville Public Library, Carnegie Museum of Montgomery County, Vanity Theater, Farmers’ Market, The Joshua Cup, Four Seasons Local Market, Milligan’s Flowers and Gifts, Crossroads Furniture and Athens Arts Gallery.
The Art Walk is Saturday during the day so community members can engage in multiple art activities including: the dedication of the mural at 11 a.m. in the alley between Montgomery County Community Foundation and Milligan’s Flowers and Gifts, the exciting Art League Annual Exhibit at the Crawfordsville District Public Library, an incredible juried show at Athens Arts, and art that can be viewed in the windows of many businesses along Washington, Main and Green streets and Wabash Avenue. Our downtown shops and restaurants will be open for business including the Farmer’s Market. Later in the day, Octoberfest will enliven guests with games, music and spirits at Pike Place.
The Crawfordsville District Library is a wonderful place to start your art adventure. On display, at the Mary Bishop Art Gallery, you will find 69 pieces of art by local Art League members including unique and original pieces by Carol Baird, Linda Brady, Eleanor Brewer, Mary Lou Dawald, Ellie Dieckmeyer, Alice Harpel, Kathy Houghton, Lu Johnson, Maria Julio, Rick and Brianne Pack, Karen Patton, Pat Reimondo, Betty Sheets, Kathy Steele and Linda Weaver. Many of these pieces can be purchased and a percentage of each sale will be donated to the library. The Carnegie Museum of Montgomery County will have maps available, as well as displays of historical items, books by local authors and puzzles of Montgomery County historical sites. Dennis Furr will exhibit two custom tables and Toni Ridgway-Woodall will exhibit Book Arts (handmade paper (sheet and sculptures) and original hand bound books).
There will be a table at the Farmers’ Market with maps and membership forms for The Art League of Montgomery County. Kenya Ferrand-Ott, an artist from Athens Arts, will be demonstrating one of her unique art forms. The Farmers’ Market is also a great place to find arts and crafts by other local artists, flower arrangements, jams, jellies, pumpkins and seasonal fruits and vegetables.
The CHS Dance Team will have chalk drawings on the sidewalk in front of J.M. Thompson Insurance at 121 S. Washington St. You will be inspired by what these talented youth can do. John Strain will have fluid art pieces at the Vanity Theater.
Pause at the corner of Washington and Main to have John Oiler draw an ink, realistic portrait for a small fee. At PRKD Properties, Bethany Habegger will have oil and watercolor paintings of abandoned places and images of decaying infrastructure. Rick and Brianne Pack, winners of the 2020 Spooky Street Decorating Contest, will have 3D multi-media projects in the windows of Abby Elaine Photography. Dana Ellis will share three oil paintings of women and nature at Joseph Marion Capital Management office. Kathy Steele has a photograph of the courthouse with its majestic clock tower in the window of Sugar Creek Eyecare at 109 E. Main St. For fun, stop by The Joshua Cup to see how local artists view coffee cups. The display will feature all types and designs of cups. This is a great place to have a break and enjoy a cup of java. There are more photographs by Steele to view at Milligan’s Flowers and Gifts.
The dedication for the art mural in the alley of the Montgomery County Community Foundation will start at 11 a.m. Oct. 2. Of course, you may come downtown any day between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. starting Saturday to see Jenna Morello, a muralist from Brooklyn, New York, paint the mural on the side of the MCCF building. Her stunning artwork will brighten up our downtown.
Angelita Hampton will display vibrant photography, jewelry and prints of women and nature at Nogginz at 125 E. Main St. Turn the corner and enjoy 3D acrylic on wood and canvas by Brianne Pack in the window of Judith Kleine Architect at 114 S. Green Street. Continue to travel down Green Street and over to the First United Methodist Church at 212 E. Wabash Ave. to see a collection of Peace Poles created by the Rainbows & Rhymes Preschool students.
As you return to Main Street, go inside the U.S. Post Office to view the mural, Indiana Agriculture, that was painted by Fred W. Long in 1942. Kenn Clark will have a photograph in the door of Tri-County Bank at 224 E. Main St. During regular office hours there is a small gallery of works by local artists in the center of the bank. Amy Westphal continues to grace our homes and tables with beautifully crafted ceramic serving dishes, platters and cups. Her practical and decorative works of art can be found at Four Seasons Local Market at 216 E. Main St. At the Marie Canine Plaza, you can see pole art wraps created by ASI consumers. These festive pole and tree wraps add color and joy to our community. Cross over to 205 E. Main St. to enjoy the creative jewelry and T-shirt creations by Julie Wilson-Wood at JW Designs. Each original piece of jewelry is handmade with care and will make wonderful holiday gifts for friends and family.
The art circuit continues back on Washington Street where you will have a wonderful adventure. Kenn Clark will have a reflective photography display in the windows of Taylor, Chadd, Minnette, Schneider and Clutter, P.C. Sue Brassel will delight you with her masterful abstract pieces at CK & Company at 107 N. Washington St. Don Gould will display his precise pinstriping, panels, vases and miscellaneous items at Phantom Point Technology Devices. Dave Demoret’s artwork will grace the windows of HIVE Realty Group. You may want jump down the street to 115, 121 and 123 N. Washington St. to view more of Greg Hagan’s paintings and prints at Crossroads Furniture before you view the grand finale. Hagan will have a table set up inside where he will be selling some of his paintings and prints.
The Athens Art gallery is a must. The [untitled]2.0 juried art show at 113 N. Washington St. will feature 90 pieces of art from 20 states. This unique exhibit will showcase 2D and 3D art, oil, water, pencil, acrylic, mixed media, metal and textiles. Operating hours are Wednesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Private viewing can be scheduled by appointment. This show will close Nov. 1.
Take time to make one more stop to view the mural on the back side of the Journal Review building. Gaze closely at our current mural created by Ann Stanley and students from Hoover Elementary School. You probably have seen this mural as you travel through town but have never taken the time to really study and appreciate the variety of local treasures featured on this mural. Each segment depicts wonderful events in our community.
Montgomery County is fortunate to have so many talented artists and to have local patrons who support the arts. Art is a vital part of any thriving community. Take some time to enjoy, celebrate, and appreciate the talents of others. Art, music and literature, past and present, make Crawfordsville the Athens of Indiana.
