TERRE HAUTE —
Evalyn Gertrude James settled in Terre Haute the first time in 1928. When James was 30, she accepted a job on the faculty of the art department of what is now Indiana State University. The following year she was the acting head of the department. Soon after the Great Depression of 1929 struck America, her association with the college came to an end. She moved to a small home in rural Clay County west of Brazil and began keeping wild birds and animals in her home, including for several years a blind goose, “Frank,” and his spouse, “Matilda.”
During the coming five decades she was a dedicated and reclusive artist who managed to eke out a living selling nature paintings featuring landscapes and bird pictures to people in the area, the Wabash Valley, and even throughout the United States. For several years she maintained a gallery in Brazil’s Davis Hotel, which was used by travelers making their way across America by U.S. 40 — The National Road. She also went on art expeditions, traveling by bus to the shores of the Gulf Coast or Lake Erie in search of interesting settings for her art.
Around Brazil, James became as well known for her lifestyle as her art or the fact she was noted several times in Who’s Who in the Midwest books. She never owned a car and could often be seen walking back and forth in old clothes from her residences on the outskirts of town with a bag of art supplies or other necessities over her shoulder. Adding to her curiosity, James became stoop-shouldered, and by the time she was approaching 60, she let her hair grow out into a monumentally huge mound, which she wrapped in colorful scarves.
Although James died in 1990, she has resettled in Terre Haute. Throughout May, the Halcyon Gallery is offering a show of more than 35 pieces of her exquisitely distinctive nature art. A majority were in James’ cache of unsold personal favorites. She willed the artworks to one of her last students, Bill Brown, who has since passed away. The paintings have been in storage for more than 20 years. Other artworks displayed at the Halcyon show have been loaned by the Clay County Historical Museum and private collections.
“The Halcyon is proud to bring Evalyn James’ heritage and memory back to the Wabash Valley,” said Halcyon executive director Ray Chen during the gallery’s May 4 reception for the James show.
Arts
Halcyon Gallery showcases art of Evalyn James during May
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Scott Hinton’s photos take focus at Vigo Library
River City Art Association and the Vigo County Public Library are featuring photography by Scott Hinton throughout May in the library at Seventh and Poplar streets.
Hinton is a self-taught photographer and artist whose main focus is nature-inspired pictures and paintings. -
Halcyon Gallery featuring Terre Haute native Maraldo’s artwork
An exhibit titled “Words Flow Into Water” is scheduled to open at 7 p.m. Friday at the Halcyon Gallery, 25 S. Seventh St. The show continues through May 25.
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Art guild’s annual spring show at mall May 3-5
The Wabash Valley Art Guild plans to host its 36th Annual Spring Show on Friday through Sunday at Honey Creek Mall.
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Indiana Artisan works on display at Clabber Girl
Combining the strength of their individual artwork into exhibitions of exceptional depth, 29 Indiana Artisans have partnered on Indiana Artisan: Paintings and Drawings.
Ten Indiana Artisans have continued the statewide series as the Clabber Girl Gallery opened the exhibit on Tuesday. It will continue through May 30. -
Covered Bridge Gallery lists winners
The Covered Bridge Art Gallery celebrated its Spring Art Show and the grand opening of its renovated second floor on April 28 at 124 W. Ohio St. in Rockville.
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Newly inspired artist earns Guild’s approval
Kathy M. Matlock, artist of the month for April by the Wabash Valley Art Guild, was born and raised in Sullivan, has lived various places, but has recently returned from Oregon.
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Swope First Friday on May 3 to feature ISU group, student art, Hopper painting
At the Swope Art Museum’s next First Friday, on May 3, it plans to welcome members of the Indiana State University Community School of the Arts and say a brief farewell to a famous painting.
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Awards handed out in Ehrmann Poetry Competition; Carter wins grand prize
An awards ceremony for the 2013 Max Ehrmann Poetry Competition was held on Friday at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, recognizing new poetry written by Wabash Valley residents.
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Covered Bridge Art group spring show coincides with open house for renovation
The Covered Bridge Art Association’s 39th annual spring art show and the grand opening of the gallery’s newly renovated second floor are scheduled to be celebrated together at an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
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Edgar students’ work on display at Bicentennial Art Center
The Bicentennial Art Center at Paris, Ill., is featuring the creative work of Edgar County junior and senior high students in the Annual Edgar County Student Art Show, open through Sunday, when a reception open to the public will begin at 1 p.m.
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Sustainability Club forming fish from trash; 'Catch of the River' on display April 20-May 5
In partnership with the Saint Mary-of-the Woods College’s Sustainability Club, the Department of Text & Image is bringing awareness of what is thrown into the Wabash River, with an art installation on campus from April 20 until May 5.
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Exhibit opens April 20 for River City Art Association
River City Art Association members are scheduled to exhibit their work Saturday through May 11 in Gaslight Art Colony’s gallery at 516 Archer Ave., in Marshall, Ill. An artists’ reception is set for 6 to 9 p.m. CDT Saturday.
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Valley artists taking part in ‘First Brush of Spring’ at New Harmony
Julia London-Meddles of Terre Haute and Wyatt LeGrand of Bloomfield are scheduled to join about 200 artists at the 15th annual “First Brush of Spring,” a popular Plein Air (outdoor) Paint Out event scheduled today through Saturday in New Harmony.
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The arts kick off Disability Awareness Month
Roxanna Robertson did signing to the song “How Great Thou Art,” while Linda Allis did a dramatic reading, using excerpts from Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
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Through His Lens: Artist showcases beauty of America’s southwest at Rose-Hulman exhibition
Terre Haute native Darrell Staggs never thought of himself as an artist, but always liked the idea of photography.
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Clabber Girl to host woodworking demonstration
Artist Debbie Anderson will provide a woodworking demonstration to an adult art education class on Feb. 26 in the Clabber Girl Museum in Terre Haute. Anderson has had her intarsia woodwork on display throughout February at The Gallery in the museum at Ninth Street and Wabash Avenue.
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Arts Illiana offers free workshop on grant writing
Arts Illiana will offer the following technical assistance workshop to regional arts organizations and arts providers.
The free workshop, Crafting Your Grant Narrative, is scheduled 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14 in Arts Illiana at 23 N. Sixth St. -
Sisters of Providence artist to exhibit work
Sister Jody O'Neil, artist in residence for the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods, will have some of her artistic creations on display and available for purchase during art shows Nov. 11 and 16.
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River City Art Association honors the late Marty Martinez in November
The River City Art Association and the Vigo County Public Library will feature art by the late Association co-founder Marty Martinez for the month of November in the library at Seventh and Poplar streets.
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Terre Haute to announce City Arts Project Grants
The City of Terre Haute and Arts Illiana will announce the 2012-2013 City Arts Project Grant Awards during a ceremony at 10 a.m. today. Mayor Duke Bennett will present checks to nine nonprofit organizations at Arts Illiana.
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New Harmony artist, former TH resident to exhibit work at Clabber Girl
New Harmony artist Mary Ann Michna will present an exhibition of her recent photographs Nov. 2-30 at Clabber Girl Museum Art Gallery.
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Wabash Valley artists participate in Indiana Wildlife Artist Association show
Each year the Indiana Wildlife Artist Association presents a show of Fine Nature Art in various locations across the state featuring many of the state’s premier artists vying for awards. The showing will be displayed to the public through Friday at the Visitors Center at Angel Mounds State Historic Site in Evansville.
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River City Art Association announces winners of annual show
The theme of the Fourth Annual Art Show of the River City Art Association Inc. was “Scouting for Art.” The event was Aug. 11 at the Girl Scouts of Central Indiana building at Fairbanks Park.
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Swope honors noted local artist, educator, first board president
Continuing the yearlong celebration of the museum’s 70th anniversary, the Swope Art Museum presents “The Art of William T. Turman,” an exhibition of the work of the noted local artist, educator and first president of the Swope’s board of managers.
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River City to showcase photographer’s work in September
The Vigo County Public Library and the River City Art Association will show the photographic art of Rob Robbins for the month of September.
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‘Binding Wounds, Pushing Boundaries’ national exhibit arrives at Indiana State
Many histories have been written about medical care during the American Civil War, but the participation and contributions of African Americans as nurses, surgeons and hospital workers has often been overlooked.
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Art Guild features photographer in August
The Wabash Valley Art Guild is featuring the August Artist of the Month, Jean Kristeller, whose works of photography are on display at the Vigo Country Public Library at Seventh and Poplar streets.
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Arts, live music festivals on tap Labor Day weekend in Bloomington
Labor Day weekend in Bloomington will be filled with special events. Major events include an art festival, a live music festival and an Indiana University football game.
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Faculty Exhibition opens at Indiana State’s University Art Gallery
View recent works by eight Indiana State University studio faculty and instructors in the 2012 Department of Art Faculty Exhibition, on display at the University Art Gallery Aug. 20 through Sept. 15.
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Oncology on Canvas coming to Marshall Public Library
A special exhibit will be on display at the Marshall, Ill., Public Library in August in conjunction with a program by Hux Cancer Center radiation oncologist Dr. Robert Haerr.
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