By Darla McCammon Paul Gauguin was, and remains after death, a controversial artist. His work was largely unappreciated until he died. His biography is fascinating and very long. I encourage you to read it. He and the artist from last week’s article, Henry Bacon, were both influenced by Brittany and visits to Pont-Aven. But each …read more.

By Darla McCammon We continue our search for Christmas artists with a lovely piece by Henry A. Bacon titled “Christmas Prayer,” dated 1872. In 1839, Bacon was born in Haverhill, Mass. We know little about his art training and background in his youth and teen years, but we do know it was sufficient for him …read more.

By Darla McCammon Sandro Botticelli was a master Renaissance artist from Italy. He created the painting “The Mystical Nativity” around 1500. This work can be viewed at the National Gallery in London. Botticelli normally painted in oil on wood panels, but this painting was done on canvas. Historians claim the message within this work of …read more.

By Darla McCammon We finished our “Goblins to Gobbler” series and ate those turkeys; now we will move right into Christmas themes. We are going to explore some of the more amazing and unique art that has been done for this very special season. This week we are going to get a peek at a …read more.

By Darla McCammon As I was researching another topic, my daughter happened to find something about the movie “Gone with the Wind” that led me down several rabbit trails, but ultimately, I was able to find some fascinating history. Margaret Mitchell wrote the book, but David O. Selznick made it into an epic film that …read more.

By Darla McCammon This has been an incredible journey as we discovered many aspects played by the turkey on our nation and our lives. From learning that Ben Franklin wanted the turkey to be our national bird rather than the eagle, to our journey with America’s bird artist Audubon showing us a wild turkey, to …read more.

By Darla McCammon Taking us ever closer to the wonderful national holiday of Thanksgiving this week, and another work of art about that holiday, we will visit a painting done by a woman who did not seriously take up painting until she reached the age of 78. Anna Mary Robertson was born on Sept. 7, …read more.

By Darla McCammon Moving beyond Halloween and its goblins, we will concentrate on another American tradition: Thanksgiving and its gobblers. We recently looked at a famous painting of a turkey done by John James Audubon that was included in his “The Birds of America” book and sold for over $8 million back in 2000. This …read more.

By Darla McCammon It’s down with goblins and up with gobblers as we head into the popular traditional holiday of Thanksgiving. We are going to take a look at some famous turkey and Thanksgiving paintings you will enjoy. This week we will learn about one of America’s most famous bird artists: John James Audubon. A …read more.

By Darla McCammon We have talked before about the great Dutch artists such as Vermeer (1632-1675) who created the famous “Girl with a Pearl Earring,” and the incredible Italian artist of Mona Lisa fame, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519). Controversy continues to this day about whether either of these artists and others of that period utilized …read more.

PIERCETON — A groundbreaking ceremony for the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County’s new facility was held today, Oct. 19. The new shelter, located at 1048 S. CR 325E, Pierceton, is slated to be open summer 2019. The goal is to have the basic framework for the facility installed by late December of this year. …read more.

By Darla McCammon The highly anticipated Lakeland Art Association Holiday Boutique will open Nov. 3 and will be held at the Baker Youth Club, located at 1401 Smith St., Warsaw. The time for the event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You and your family are going to enjoy the myriad of talent …read more.

By Darla McCammon Two artists share the limelight at Lakeland Art Association this month along with a special program at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22, by Ann Shive from Crestwoods Frame Shop and Gallery. The first artist is John Wade III, an interesting folk artist who is self-taught, having studied art as he progressed through …read more.

By Darla McCammon Enthusiasm continues to grow for Florida photographer Darlene Romano’s work, and the community is privileged to have a one-woman exhibit by this extraordinary artist. Coming from Orlando, the work will be on display at the Warsaw City Hall Art Gallery from October through December and contains excellent artistic work that will captivate …read more.

By Darla McCammon Have you visited downtown Warsaw on one of its popular First Friday events? Oct. 5 is the First Friday of the month and Paula Bowman, who manages these events, has an especially memorable First Friday planned for your enjoyment this year. She is calling all artists and crafts people to help with …read more.

By Darla McCammon We talked last week about two local watercolorists on exhibit at the Lakeland Art Association gallery, located at 302 E. Winona Ave. in Warsaw. I took a walk through the gallery this week when I dropped off some work from another exhibit and I found the work by Jeff Klinefelter and Cheryl …read more.

By Darla McCammon When most of us were children we likely received a long thin metal tin with bright colors on the outside design. Upon opening the tin, we found about eight or so hard, but colorful, pigments and a rather pathetic paint brush. The teacher, or our parent, would provide a small container of …read more.

By Darla McCammon There are a number of art organizations in the area. The longest lived group would most likely be the Lakeland Art Association. I am a member of this group and it is going strong. I also am responsible for the Warsaw City Hall Art Gallery displays for people to enjoy, so I …read more.

By Darla McCammon Fred Olds met his wife Flo in New York. He worked in Long Island after graduating from Columbia University. It wasn’t long before he and Flo decided they would like to raise their family in a better place than New York, so they packed up and moved to a farm they called …read more.

By Darla McCammon Fred Olds was well-known and loved here in Warsaw, but he had a national exposure for his art and a wide audience loved his work. We are fortunate today that Wes Olds and his wife, Gail, live in our community and have generously allowed us to borrow their collection of Fred Olds’ …read more.

By Darla McCammon I first met John Streeter a few years ago when he donated two fabulous works of art for our Animal Welfare League to use for the cover of our cookbook fundraiser. They were delightful depictions of both a dog and a cat and helped a great deal in the raising of funds …read more.

By Darla McCammon We took a trip recently that sated some of my craving for art. It began with the Creation Museum, located just south of Cincinnati across the Ohio River and into Petersburg, Ky. It was about a four hour drive from Warsaw. Not only is this large facility educational and entertaining with scientific …read more.

By Darla McCammon We have covered quite a nice number of art related museums and galleries for you to visit this summer. I hope you have enjoyed the trips. Here are the last two we will discuss for now, but we will want to be back and visit two of the ones we mentioned that …read more.

By Darla McCammon Indianapolis, just a stone’s throw away for most of my readers, is a mecca for art exhibits. We will cover some easy trips you can take to enjoy a variety of four to five museums and galleries in Indianapolis that are specifically geared to exhibit and collect art for your enjoyment. Some …read more.

By Darla McCammon Hope you have considered some of the short road trips we suggested last week. All are in a day’s drive and an excellent opportunity for you and your family to learn something new this summer. Do you remember when we wrote about Louis Comfort Tiffany? And also advised you to read the …read more.

By Darla McCammon Galleries, museums, and more interesting places literally surround us. Indiana has a fantastic surplus of excellent art museums you are free to visit and enjoy while the weather is not an impediment. First is the Haan Mansion in Lafayette. This beautiful building was moved from the 1904 World’s Fair. It now houses …read more.

By Darla McCammon Lakeland Art Association is an organization that greatly benefits northern Indiana. On a quest to produce a fine art museum and gallery for the citizens of the area, they continue to provide many services and helpful cultural opportunities to help enrich the community. One of the services they provide in addition to …read more.

By Darla McCammon The oil painting titled “The Maas at Dordrecht” was painted in 1650 by Aelbert Cuyp. Maas is not what one thinks. The word means “river” in the Dutch language. This river wound through the Netherlands as we have been studying the fascinating Dutch artists of the Golden Age of Painting. This painting …read more.

KOSCIUSKO — The Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County recently announced its new executive director. Katey Zemen will be stepping into the role on Thursday, May 3. Zemen graduated from Butler University with an arts administration degree focused on non-profit work. She was also the former executive director of the Fort Wayne Children’s Choir. “I …read more.

By Darla McCammon We are taking a short break from our wonderful exploration of the Golden Age of Painting to give you an opportunity to participate and compete in one of the most anticipated art shows of the year. If you are not an artist, you will want to visit the Lakeland Art Gallery after the judging …read more.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Work has begun on the new animal shelter in Kosciusko County. The Animal Welfare League’s new building, being renovated, will be double the size of the existing building. A capital campaign was conducted to raise funds for the remodeled structure. So far, $1.2 million has been raised. An architectural firm has plans …read more.

WARSAW—Animal Welfare League Executive Director Darla McCammon has announced plans to retire. A search is underway for a qualified replacement. McCammon has given her intentions to retire to her board of directors. “We have had an unbelievable ten years in turning this shelter around into the no-kill organization that is thriving today,” McCammon said. “I have been …read more.

By Darla McCammon Lakeland Art Association How many of you, like me, would be astonished to learn that a world famous Russian sculptor named Zurab Tseretelli had donated a magnificent sculpture memorial to our country as a “Struggle Against World Terrorism” after the events of 9/11? This donation was on behalf of the people of …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association WARSAW — Norman Rockwell did over 4,000 paintings in his life.  Most of us know him because of his work for the Saturday Evening Post and the Coca-Cola Company.  His work was also commissioned for illustrating many books such as Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn and 38 others.  His portraits …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association WARSAW — Norman Rockwell did 30 paintings of Santa, and he is largely held responsible for our cheery red-cheeked chubby version of Santa that we all enjoy today. Older paintings of Saint Nick were often a bit more forbidding, but our current classic Santa is an avuncular figure we …read more.

By DARLA McCAMMON Lakeland Art Association WARSAW — “Seagrapes and Mangroves” was the excellent acrylic work of our friend Pat Thompson. This piece also won Thompson the Best of Show award and the recent fall competition at Lakeland Art Association. Other top winners were:  Elizabeth Wamsley, first place for her ceramic vase titled “Seafoam.” Stephanie …read more.

By DARLA McCAMMON Lakeland Art Association WARSAW — Normalcy is not a word one would use to describe Tracey Emin.  Her life and her work elicit sympathy but more often disapproval from those who at least try to live by certain codes of conduct that keep us civilized.  She came onto the art scene with …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association WARSAW — He called them “readymades” but most of us would call them toilet bowls, snow shovels, bicycle wheels or urinals. Our artist this week led a life in which he tried to expand what he saw as the constraints of traditional art. “My idea,” he explained, “was to …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association WARSAW — Our artist this week lives a more normalized personal life compared to some of our other and upcoming examples of eccentricity in artists; however, her work is unique and different and compelling.  Yulia Brodskaya was born in Russia and by the age of 6 her parents recognized …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association WARSAW — Our Eccentric Artist series is getting another interruption this week because I wanted you to know about an exciting event coming to Warsaw. The Lakeland Art Association is sponsoring a fundraising event that will benefit you as well as the art organization.  An Artisan Holiday Boutique will …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association WARSAW — Are artists eccentric on purpose?  Studies have shown that we are likely to be much more adoring of artwork when we discover the artist has a fascinating background and personal life. Do some artists capitalize on this to bring attention and money and fame to their work?  …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Arts Association WARSAW — Back to our series of unusual and eccentric artists we discover a Victorian age painter named Richard Dadd.  Dadd was born in Kent England.  His father was a chemist so there was intelligence in the gene pool. Young Dadd showed promise as an artist from a young …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association WARSAW — We interrupt our series/study of eccentric artists to tell you about one in our local community who is not eccentric but certainly artistic.  Paul Raiman was born in Grand Rapids, Mich., and at an early age, in his father’s darkroom was introduced to black and white photography, …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association WARSAW — Not sure if eccentricity runs throughout the artist community in the same proportion as it runs through the general public, but one thing is for sure—there are a number of artists who have drifted off what most of us would call the “normal” meter.  I thought you …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association Although the group of seven stayed limited to that number, there were about four other artists who moved in and out of the group while maintaining a steady membership at seven.  One of those who associated with the group for a short time was Canadian landscape artist Frank H. …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association English-Canadian, Arthur Lismer was not only a member of the famous Group of Seven artists of Canada, but he also made a name for himself as the “dazzle camouflage” artist.  Lismer was born in June 1885 in Sheffield England.  An early interest in drawing and art led him to …read more.

WARSAW — Every animal shelter faces challenges, such as funding shortages, staff turnover, community conflicts and limited space. The Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County is no exception. The average length of stay for most of the directors that were hired at AWL was one to two years. That changed when Darla McCammon was made …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Arts Association WARSAW — Three different artists have joined forces to create a crisp new exhibit available for viewing now at the Lakeland Art Association gallery.  Explaining her “Not Quite Quilted” exhibit, Teresa Carrano generously shares. “I learned to sew garments sitting on my grandmother’s lap at the sewing machine because …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Arts Association WARSAW — The Group of Seven was a small exclusive club of artists in Canada. This group had a great impact on art in Canada, particularly in two of the largest cities, Toronto, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec. We talked about the founder Carmichael last week.  A.Y. Jackson was another …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Arts Association When I went to church Sunday a lovely lady in our congregation stopped me and said she always enjoyed this column and even cuts it out and saves it! Those words meant so much to me and make the work of researching and writing this column on a weekly basis …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association WARSAW — Lakeland Art Association recently held it’s annual spring competition. Artists from a wide geographic area submitted entries hoping to win the nice purse that is always offered. The works were not categorized for this show thus all works were evaluated against all other works. The judge was …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Arts Association WARSAW — Lakeland Art Association will open a new exhibit on Wednesday, May 31 for your viewing pleasure. Remember this gallery/museum is free for entry. They carry much more than nice art. You will find some very nice things like custom greeting cards, apparel, custom made jewelry at a …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Arts Association Since I now have an exhibit of my own work at the Warsaw City Hall Art Gallery, it seemed a good time to share with you a painting I did a few years ago of two of our pets.  I think you will greatly enjoy this particular exhibit because …read more.

WARSAW — Progress is being made toward Darla McCammon’s dream of a new animal shelter to home Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County. The project has taken years to manifest, but phase one of construction has finally begun. When driving down US 30 you can see the new iconic silo that will form the free-roaming …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Arts Association In February 2013 a hacker created a small sensation when former President George W. Bush was notified that his sister Dorothy’s email account was compromised. No, it was not a national security issue, but rather, the world was to learn that the former President of the United States at …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Arts Association This unusual canvas was actually a dinner plate and the story behind this dog portrait on the dinner plate is quite a tale (pun intended)!  Pablo Picasso was known as a vivid character and his work has always been a subject of controversy with some saying he was a …read more.

By Darla McCammon Lakeland Art Association WARSAW — Compare this more formal work above to that of Mary Cassett from our column last week. What a difference! Charles Willson Peale was an early American painter and this family portrait of The Peale Family is much more traditional and formal in spite of the smiling faces …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Arts Association Diego Velázquez created this group portrait titled Las Meninas around 1656. This work can now be seen at the famous Prado museum in Madrid, Spain. This painting, considered the artist’s masterpiece, shows us that pets were considered a welcome part of the Spanish court during the time of King …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Arts Association WARSAW — This week we meet a beautiful Collie painted on Cape Cod. Edward Hopper, the artist, and his wife spent a great deal of time in this tranquil place. The work Hopper did at Cape Cod was quite a juxtaposition compared to Hopper’s cityscapes with forbidding factories and …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Executive Director, Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko WARSAW — Here at the Animal Welfare League, we maintain a computerized database and do everything possible to help an owner find and reclaim a lost or stray pet. Unfortunately, there are dishonest and unscrupulous people in this world who want to make money and/or …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Arts Association WARSAW — Edouard Manet was born in early 1832 with a wealthy family and political connections who expected him to continue the family tradition in his choice of career. Manet rejected all this in favor of becoming a painter and is today considered by many to be the artist …read more.

PIERCETON — Donations to the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko are about to go even further toward the goal of creating a new “sanctuary” for the animals and people of Kosciusko County. An anonymous donor has recently given the AWL a $100,000 matching “grant challenge.” “This has all come about because of the generosity of an anonymous …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Arts Association WARSAW — We will pause in our Pet Portrait series this week to give you an opportunity to enjoy some local art flavor and exhibits that are going to be available for you  to visit. Next week we will return to our fascinating study of artists and the pets …read more.

  WARSAW — The number of community cat colonies in Kosciusko County has exploded. The situation got to the point were Darla McCammon, executive director of the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County, called in some serious help, Catsnip Etc. an Elkhart County based non-profit that focuses on trap, neuter, return of community cats. A …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Arts Association WARSAW — The artist with a pet this week might mystify you if I told you the work was done by an artist named Harmenszoon. With a couple of exceptions, such as Michelangelo and Raphael, we know most artists by their last name, as in Rubens, Picasso, Dali, Renoir, …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Arts Association WARSAW — As the Executive Director of the Animal Welfare League I would be very remiss if I did not share with you some interesting art work by famous artists about dogs and cats. For the next few weeks we will delve into some little known facts about various …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Arts Association WARSAW — Did you know that in Warsaw, a stone’s throw away from most of us, is a little-known locally, but famous internationally, museum? One of the most famous museums in the world is right here in the local Hallmark Gold Crown Store known as The Party Shop. This …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Arts Association WARSAW — Born in poverty in the middle of America in a dot on the map called David City, Neb., Joyce C. Hall was named after an itinerant preacher. His father, also a traveling minister, deserted the family when Hall was only seven. Hall disliked the moniker-Joyce- and once …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association WARSAW — Lakeland Art Gallery will open for the season with a fascinating exhibit. Dave Taylor is a familiar face in our community. He has worn multiple hats during his life. From positions spanning twenty-five years with companies such as Rabb and Collier’s he developed expertise in those areas …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Arts Association WINONA LAKE — Did you know there is an art gallery on the Grace College campus you can visit? Located in the beautiful Mount Memorial building on King’s Highway, the Department of visual, performing, and media arts consistently offers talented students and faculty exhibiting opportunities. The current exhibit held an opening …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association WARSAW — When He picked up a 4-inch wide paint brush and began talking to us as he dabbled some of his “happy little clouds,” on a canvas, we (but not the art critics) learned to love watching him. We were fascinated as he worked his sometimes magical efforts …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association Artists have long illustrated paintings representing the passage of the old year to the New Year as it is celebrated on Jan. 1.  A great variety of artists and illustrators have left their interpretation of this event.  The drawings vary from almost macabre works showing the grim reaper in …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association WARSAW — We first hear about Sinterklaas or Sint Nikolaas long ago. A 4th century Saint from an area now known as Turkey was known for secretly giving gifts. He was known for depositing pennies in the little wooden shoes that were left for him to fill on the …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Arts Association WARSAW — I have an update on last week’s column. I thought you might like to know that Ms. Muraski’s stained glass window design won the President’s Award at Grace College in spite of the fact she created it believing the person was correct who told her the contest …read more.

PIERCETON — The Animal Welfare League, 3489 E. CR 100S, Pierceton, is in need of warm blankets to keep animals warm in the coming cold weather. With severe cold quickly approaching, the AWL sent out a plea on its Facebook page asking viewers to donate large, thick blankets. While most of the facility is heated, the section in …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association WARSAW — Hope you all enjoyed the humor in the art trivia last week; but, now let’s get to the merriest of seasons. There is an artistic technique that bodes well for the holiday Christmas season. In fact, you can go visit a clever and colorful display exhibiting the technique …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association WARSAW — You all love the occasional art trivia columns, so here’s your chance to test your art knowledge. Almost all of these answers have been in prior columns during my nearly 10-year tenure of writing these columns for you, so dredge back in your mind and see how …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association WARSAW — Northern Indiana is in for a treat. The Lakeland Art Association just completed their juried art competition for their annual Fall Show. Winners were announced at a reception on Sunday, Nov. 13 at the new gallery location on Winona Avenue in Warsaw. You are welcome to bring your …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association WARSAW — Is Fashion an art form? This question has been debated many times. Famous designer Ralph Lauren has said, “I don’t design clothes. I design dreams.” Another fabulous fashion designer said, “Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association In this column I have shared many things during the past eight plus years.  Some of those included my trip to the Louvre in Paris.  One thing I have not shared is the surprising (to me and my husband) spectacle that greeted us when we looked out on the famous …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association Once the pedestal was completed the Statue of Liberty soon became an icon to those immigrating to this country. We were a country that offered opportunity. The type of immigrant who wanted that opportunity and supported the country and the freedoms available was gladly welcomed. A famous New York …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association The 12 acre parcel called Bedloe’s Island that was later changed to the name Ellis Island had been selected for the site of the Statue of Liberty, but the progress on the base, or pedestal that would support the colossal work was slowed during the time of the depression. …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association Last week we talked about how Bartholdi initially designed the Statue of Liberty but his friend Le-Duc was the engineer who began crafting it into what we know today by proposing a copper skin that would be connected to an interior pier. Incredibly, and to Bartholdi’s grief and dismay, …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi made several early models of the Statue of Liberty.  All were females and were robed in a long gown and cloak similar to those on Roman goddesses.  From the beginning Bartholdi insisted that one arm would be raised holding a torch, reaching toward the sky.  He …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association One of the largest and most famous statues in the world rises like a lighthouse beacon at the entrance to New York Harbor. As this time of remembrance about that most tragic day of September 11, 2001, a day that is etched in the minds of the world, it …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association We will be privileged with two lovely art exhibits this month. Marilyn Kruger, an Indiana native from Akron grew up knowing she would be an artist. She had an aunt who was a professional who taught and encouraged her from an early age. Her first formal art education was …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association If you have read my book, “Diamond Bait,” you will see my fascination with Canada and the “First Nation”  Ojibway Indian heritage of Ontario and other parts of Canada. John and I were recently privileged to return to this spectacularly beautiful part of Ontario for a visit (and a …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association How many of you have or know someone with an old heritage hand-made quilt that has been passed down in the family?  Such creative quilting will be on exhibit at many county fairs this summer.  Colorful concoctions and mild (or wild) designs will be competing for ribbons and honors …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association WARSAW — The Warsaw City Hall has sidewalk art and Seward Johnson sculpture art surrounding it, but within its’ walls you will find the abstract art of Brenda Stichter.  Bright colors zoom off the canvas in a kaleidoscope of intriguing designs. Stichter shares her view of art with us, “Choosing …read more.

WARSAW — More than 230 cats are in need of homes and the Kosciusko County Animal Welfare League is turning to the local community for help. According to AWL Executive Director Darla McCammon, 230 cats recently arrived at the shelter after several local pet hoarding situations were uncovered. The current scene at the shelter is one of …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association WARSAW — The Brenda Stichter exhibit will open at Warsaw City Hall this week. More information on Stichter and her work will be available in next week’s column but her exciting exhibit of abstract work will be open at Warsaw City Hall from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association Gardens receive much focus in the spring.  In the 1900s wealthy Americans hired landscape architects, a new term at the time, to design their country estates.  The Olmsted Brothers developed quite a reputation for their work in designing these gardens.  The brothers utilized the natural scenery in each space …read more.

by DARLA MCCAMMON Executive Director, Animal Welfare League The smoke was so dense it showed up on the weather radar of a TV station miles away in South Bend. Wednesday evening the big barn belonging to Doctor Brungardt of Lakeland Animal Clinic burned down. The barn housed his horses, some other animals, many supplies, plus hay …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association WARSAW — We’ve covered daffodils, tulips and lilacs but nothing like the late spring blooming “Black Iris” created by one of America’s most famous women artists, Georgia O’Keeffe. Created in 1926, this over-large oil on canvas painting measures 36 by 30 inches in dimension. This is considered one of her …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association If you recall, our daffodil artist Morisot (sometimes spelled Morrisott) was an impressionist. She was a contemporary and friend of this week’s spring flower artist, Edouard Manet. Manet, like Morisot, transitioned from stark realism to impressionism in his work. Impressionism generally has softer edges and creates the “feeling” or …read more.

BY DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association WARSAW — Our daffodil artist Morrisott was an impressionist. This week’s creator of the lovely tulip was Judith Jans Leyster who, like most Dutch masters, was a realist. You are viewing (photo provided) the only still life created by Leyster who was considered a Dutch Golden Age painter. She …read more.

WARSAW — Lakeland Art Association has moved to a new location and has more than doubled its size. LAA hosted the grand opening of its relocated art gallery Saturday, Feb. 6. The new art gallery is now located at 302 E. Winona Ave., Warsaw. LAA moved from Pierceton back to Warsaw for two reasons. One, …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association WARSAW — Bernie Mitchell was a drywall finisher back in 1990. You know – the stuff they nail up on the studs to cover the walls in homes. The same stuff they tape up along the seams and then use a product called drywall mud to cover the tape …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association WARSAW — The painting we are discussing this week is, appropriately titled “The Morning of St. Valentine.” It was painted on Canvas in oil paints and can be seen today at the Walker Art Gallery. The work was done by John Callcott Horsley who is also known for designing …read more.

By DARLA MCCAMMON Lakeland Art Association WARSAW — Coincidentally, with its move to a new location, the Lakeland Art Association has received the donation of five paintings from the Stouder family’s local art collection. The art association has been blessed with these paintings, created by long-term member Mary Alice Estep, who passed away in 2009. …read more.