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.
Museums
Halcyon Gallery showcases art of Evalyn James during May
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Terre Haute Children’s Museum celebrates dads June 16
The Terre Haute Children’s Museum is celebrating dads by giving them free admission to the museum on Father’s Day, which is Sunday, June 16.
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Fire and Police Museum now open Saturdays
The Historical Fire Station No. 9, Fire and Police Museum at 1728 S. Eighth St., has reopened for the summer.
- Museums listings: June 13, 2013
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Special Olympians: Win museum admission for yourself, friends
Bridges of Indiana and Child Adult Resource Services are teaming up with the Terre Haute Children’s Museum to sponsor a unique opportunity for the athletes of the 2013 Special Olympics Indiana Summer Games.
- MUSEUMS/EXHIBITIONS: June 6, 2013
- MUSEUMS/EXHIBITIONS: May 30, 2013
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Still time to register for Terre Haute Children's Museum Summer Camps
Does your child get excited about conducting wacky science experiments? Maybe he or she is interested in space exploration? Or, perhaps your child is adventurous and loves exploring or solving mysteries? If so, be sure to check out the schedule of summer camp programs at the Terre Haute Children's Museum.
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Vonnegut Library offering admission to military
The Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library is helping to announce the launch of Blue Star Museums for 2013, a collaboration of the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 1,800 museums across America to offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2013.
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Indiana State Museum to host out-of-this-world exhibition
It’s the last weekend in May, and Indianapolis is playing host to the immensely popular, vividly imagined blockbuster exhibition highlighting life in “a galaxy far, far away.” Beginning Saturday, the Indiana State Museum will host Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination.
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Eastern Illinois University’s Tarble Arts Center offers summer children’s classes
Summer children’s art classes at the Tarble Arts Center, Eastern Illinois University, begin June 10. All courses are open to both Tarble Arts Center members and non-members, with Tarble members receiving a 20 percent discount on course fees.
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Museum listings: May 23, 2013
ART SPACES INC., 669 Ohio St., info@wabashvalleyartspaces.com
May 23 — Art and River Chatter, “What Does Art Have to do With Rivers? Part II”, presenters Mark Minster and Tom Roznowski, 5:15 p.m., Logan’s Rib-Eye Restaurant, 100 S. Fruitridge Ave.
Call 812-235-2801. -
Lincoln’s library honors Illinois fallen soldiers
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is hosting an exhibit of drawings of fallen Illinois soldiers.
- MUSEUMS/EXHIBITIONS: May 16, 2013
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IHS announces lineup for Concerts on the Canal, reprise of 'Museum Nights on the Canal'
INDIANAPOLIS —There are plenty of ways to enjoy downtown Indianapolis in the summer, and the Indiana Historical Society is offering two — both time-honored favorite Concerts on the Canal and its Museum Nights on the Canal program.
- MUSEUMS/EXHIBITIONS: May 9, 2013
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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. - MUSEUMS/EXHIBITIONS: May 2, 2013
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‘Sweet Sensations: Country Jam’ fundraiser hopes to round up support for Vigo County Historical Society
Community members are encouraged to pull on their western boots, don their cowboy hats and mosey on over to the Ohio Building on May 4 for “Sweet Sensations: Country Jam,” a fundraiser for the Vigo County Historical Society, and a program of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Indiana State University.
- MUSEUMS/EXHIBITIONS: April 25, 2013
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Scenes from Robin Hood adaptation, “The Untold Story of Little John” April 21 at Children’s Museum
We all know the story of Robin Hood, the man who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor and defeated the evil Sheriff of Nottingham, freeing his people from the tyrannical reign of Prince John. We also know how this could not have been accomplished without Little John, Robin Hood’s loyal side-kick who stayed by him through thick and thin. But do we know what happened next?
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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.
- MUSEUMS/EXHIBITIONS: April 18, 2013
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Halcyon exhibition features USI art faculty’s work
Throughout April, Halcyon Art Gallery is presenting an invitational exhibition featuring the work of art faculty from the University of Southern Indiana, Evansville.
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Terre Haute photographer’s ‘Filmstrips’ on exhibit at Palestine Art Center
The Palestine Art Center will feature the work of Terre Haute photographer Sean Hoisington in the exhibition “Filmstrips” throughout April in the main gallery.
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Fairy tales just might come true at Children’s Museum event on April 20
The Terre Haute Children’s Museum is hosting its second annual Fairy Tale Ball from 6 to 9 p.m. on April 20.
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Crawford County historical museum featuring replica of Lincoln’s coffin until April 22
A replica of Abraham Lincoln’s coffin is on display through April 22 at the Crawford County Historical Society museum on South Cross Street in Robinson, Ill.
- MUSEUMS/EXHIBITIONS: April 11, 2013
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Series of events feature photographer’s essays on Colombia’s indigenous peoples
Photo essays by Alexandra McNichols-Torroledo depicting the plight of the indigenous peoples of Colombia are scheduled to be on display until April 13 at the Landini Center for Performing and Fine Arts at Indiana State University.
- MUSEUMS/EXHIBITIONS: April 4, 2013
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Museums/Exhibitions: March 28, 2013
Downtown
VIGO COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, 1 Library Square, Seventh and Poplar streets.
Through April— River City Art Association highlights photography by Josh Spidel of Terre Haute. - More Museums Headlines
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Terre Haute Children’s Museum celebrates dads June 16
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