PLYMOUTH — Heartland Artist Gallery will be displaying over 100 pieces of art at their 28th Annual Juried Art Show in the month of October. All the art is new to the Gallery, and entered from the surrounding four states. Curator, Carrolyne Babcock had this to say about the art submitted: “We have an eclectic show with so much diversity in media. We are excited to be able to share this with our community.”

Jena Oke was the Judge for the Juried Show. She is a fiber artist and associate professor of Art at Manchester University. Her works range from loom-controlled weavings to batik quilts to sculptures that incorporate ceramics, paper, felt and basketry materials. Oke received her B.A. in Art from Manchester College (1997) and her M.F.A. in Visual Studies from Norfolk State University and Old Dominion University (2001). She currently teaches art and art history and serves as the director of galleries at Manchester University.

Jena Oke shared she had a wonderful afternoon at the Gallery. “I was very impressed with the quality of the art and the extensive variety of subject matter as well as the media used. It was a privilege and joy to see so many people take the time to participate in the art experience, care about their art, create, go the distance with the details and present their art so professionally. I want to thank the Gallery for inviting me to judge the exceptional art”.

The Gallery is very proud of this Juried Show and the incredible talent displayed from the northern Indiana area. In celebration of that, we are hosting an Art Block Party on Saturday, Oct. 1st from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Juried Show will kick off with the “Experience the Arts in Marshall County” event. There will be an Awards Presentation in the Gallery on Saturday, Oct. 1st at 3 p.m. Best of Show Award will go to Gerrie Govert from Crown Point with her pastel titled, Rebel. First Prize will be given to Fred Holly from Highland for his acrylic titled, Let the Games Begin. Second Prize is for Sarah Luginbill from Peru and her acrylic batik titled, This Gibson Came to Play. The Creativity Award will be given to Olga Orlovska – Soaltys from St. Joseph, Mich. for her pen & ink titled, Garden Fantasy. Four Merit Awards will be given to the following: Rosie Mireles from Culver for her Dunes in the Fall pastel, Mary Ann Gradisher from Crown Point for the collage Coriolanus, Carrolyne Babcock from Plymouth for My Indiana Sunset pastel drawing and Barbara DeLeu from Mishawaka for the mixed media painting titled, Only the Lonely. A Popular Choice Award will be given at the end of the month and the community is invited to vote for their favorite.

Not only will you be able to view and/or purchase exceptional art, you will take in all the art experience filling the 100 block of North Michigan street in downtown Plymouth. The Juried Show will be displayed at Heartland Artists Gallery from Oct. 1st – 29th. There will be four annex galleries open one day only, Oct. 1st: Marshall County Museum – Historical Art, Wild Rose Moon – 3D art, pottery and jewelry, City Centre – Heartland Member Art, and the Plymouth Chamber – Plymouth High School students’ art. There will also be art demonstrations by area artists in oils, pastels, a pottery wheel and Art Talks at Wild Rose Moon. Seven artists from Heartland will share their passion and expertise in ten minute Art Talks on the half hour all day. Moontree Studios will demonstrate crocheting, spinning and knitting.

Art classes are available; Kid’s Classes at the museum – they can watch the trains in the Train Room and paint their own train on canvas with Kathy Zentz at noon or 2 p.m.; all supplies included for only $10. The Adult Class, Wine, Color & Canvas will take place at 1 p.m. or 3 p.m. with Laurie Balla inside the City Centre. Adults can paint their own wine glass, personalized color preference and monogram on canvas, all supplies included for $30. Call (574) 936-9515 to sign up or come to the event and sign up.

The Arts also includes music, thanks to George Schricker from Wild Rose Moon for arranging the street musicians to play during the event outside and also at Wild Rose Moon. Musicians include; Return to Normal, Crackin’ Up and Doug Harsch; all have shared performances before at Wild Rose Moon. Adding dance to the arts umbrella, we will have the Alignance in Motion Dance Troupe performing at 2 p.m. and 4 pm. in Wild Rose Moon. There will also be concerts Friday and Saturday nights at Wild Rose Moon to add to the Festivity. Call (574) 286-1185 for more information.

This event runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1st with food & drinks: Beer Tasting by 10-56 Brewery from Knox (from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.), award-winning Schnabeltier Wine and Cheese tasting from Rochester, (from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.). Earthworks breads and sweets, La D’zert’s gourmet cupcakes and Walleye Fish sandwiches. Other food, snacks, desserts and drinks will be available.

We would like to thank our Sponsors; Visit Marshall County, Edward Jones, NIPSCO and Bowen Printing.
The Gallery’s mission is to support area artists, to bring and to teach the arts to our community. Our not-for-profit Gallery gives area artists a venue to show and sell their art. Our art classes fulfill our mission for educating and the classes assist in our financial means to maintain the Gallery. For more information visit online or Facebook or call (574) 936-9515. The location is 101 N. Michigan St., Plymouth. Gallery hours: Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Join us with a heart for art!