By DARLA MCCAMMON

The art world is full of interesting characters and strange facts. Vincent Van Gogh, for instance, was known to be very eccentric, even to the point of cutting off his own ear. Did you know however, he was a patient in a mental hospital in the quaint little town of Saint-Rémy in France when he painted his now famous “The Starry Night?”

We recently had the three dimensional version of “American Gothic” in Warsaw last year and, if Mayor Thallemer has his wishes, we will have a chance to view more of Seward Johnson’s works in the future. In the meantime, did you know Grant Wood, who created the original “American Gothic” painting, wanted Hattie, his mother, to pose for it? In the end, he worried so much about her ability to endure the long hours of posing that he used his sister, who wore mom’s apron, clothing and cameo pin.  Standing beside his sister was Wood’s own dentist!

Da Vinci’s famous “Last Supper” painting experienced an unusual accident in 1652.  When remodeling was done at the convent of Santa Maria Delle Grazie in Milan, Italy the remodelers collided with the painting.  What happened?  The builders were installing a new doorway and accidentally cut off Jesus’ feet!

People frequently speculate about who modeled for the “Mona Lisa.” Another questionable subject is from Johannes Vermeer’s famous, and lovely, painting called “Girl With a Pearl Earring.” The most frequent guess, for the girl who posed, is Vermeer’s daughter, but no one knows who she was for sure.

Do you remember the dripping and melting clocks portrayed by Salvador Dali? Critics found it difficult to extract any explanation about his work from Dali but he did jokingly remark, when pressed about it, that he got the idea for the clocks from his observation of chunks of cheese melting in the heat of the sun!

Upcoming And Current Events:

• Rucel Martinez exhibit open through July 22 at Warsaw City Hall Gallery. Visit for free 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.
• June 20 to July 26, David Slonim Exhibit at Honeywell Clark Art Gallery. Call 260-563-1102.
• June 30 Andy Corp, poured acrylic exhibit opens at LAA with a reception from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 5.
• July is the month to enter the August Agricultural Art Show at the Heirloom Tomato Festival in Pierceton.
• Take entries to LAA Gallery by 4:30 pm Aug 1. Entry fee $5 per entry.
• August program at LAA will be a demonstration by Robert Hudson—painting mountains.
• Adult and children workshops always available.  Call LAA at 574-594-9950 for information.

LAA is located at 107 N. 1st St. Pierceton, IN 46562 or www.lakelandartassociation.org,  Also on Facebook

contact your author/artist Darla at [email protected] any time you have comments or questions.