GREENFIELD — The Hancock County Arts & Cultural Council will hold the 15th annual Will Vawter Art Show and Competition on June 28 and 29 in downtown Greenfield. This juried event is named for James Whitcomb Riley’s illustrator, Will Vawter. Vawter was born in West Virginia in 1871, but attended the John Herron Art Institute in Indianapolis and the Art Students League in New York. His art career began as an illustrator for the Indianapolis Sentinel in 1891. He met James Whitcomb Riley in 1893, and became his illustrator, a relationship that lasted 30 years. Vawter lived in Brown County and thrived in the Brown County Art Colony which included other notable artists including T. C. Steele. An original Vawter painting, “Blossom Time,” will be on loan from the Hancock County Public Library, and can be viewed on the 29th 9:00 – noon.
This year’s Juror will be Mark Ruschman, Chief Curator of Fine Arts of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites. Ruschman is the former owner of the Ruschman Gallery in Indianapolis and has curated hundreds of exhibitions since 1984.
The Vawter Show, featuring over 50 pieces from Indiana artists, will be open in the Creative Arts and Event Center (2 West Main St.) from June 29 through July 12. The awards ceremony and opening reception will be on June 28. On Saturday, June 29, the Will Vawter Paint Out, a plein air event, will take place. Participants will check in at the Creative Arts and Event Center between 7 and 9 a.m., depart to painting venues around Hancock County, and return at 3 p.m. for a “Meet & Greet / Show & Tell” reception till 4:30. Original art will be available for sale throughout the entire event. The public is welcome to view the exhibit on the opening day 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday till July 12, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and at Second Friday on the 12th till 9 p.m.
Enriching the arts in Hancock County, the Will Vawter Art Show takes place in conjunction with the Pennsy Trail Art and Music Festival on June 29. Visitors are encouraged to participate in both events.For more information, refer to www.hancockcountyarts.com.