By Darla McCammon

Pictured is a self-portrait of Fred Olds.

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’ art. Wes was a nephew to Fred Olds and he stays in contact with his Aunt Flo. Mike Klondaris has allowed us to borrow the fabulous self-portrait of Fred Olds you will see as you enter the “clock and bench” room at the Warsaw City Hall building. Mayor Thallemer also deserves much credit for encouraging art exhibits such as this. The Fred Olds exhibit is quite wonderful and will be available through Sept. 28.

Fred Olds was a character. I learned many tales about his mischievous side as I did research for this exhibit. If you have any to share with us, please contact me below. Olds was born in Ohio but always had a hankering for things of the Old West. Even in his self-portrait he conveyed his image in a Stetson hat, cowboy shirt and handling a horse. Other portraits show him in Western gear, smoking a pipe.

His family moved to Warsaw when Fred was just one year old. He grew up there to develop a love for an unusual trio that included participation in athletics, creating art even as a toddler, and riding horses for enjoyment. These loves stayed with him throughout his life, although some physical problems curtailed his potential professional football or track career which had shown great possibilities while at IU on an athletic scholarship. The physical problems resulted in surgery which led him to withdraw from his pre-med studies at IU and leave school.

As he recuperated, he decided to fulfill his dreams and take himself out to a ranch in Texas where his romantic view of cowboy life came to a jarring collision with the reality of hard and boring work, stringing fences.

He returned to Indiana and school where he pursued an art career at DePauw University. This was cut short with the advent of World War II. Olds attempted to become a pilot but his left-handedness was too much of an impediment and he washed out. He served his country well, however, by enlisting to become a target in the back end of those same aircraft as a bombardier and gunner. His bravery was acknowledged.

After the war, Olds went back to school again where he majored in art with a minor in physical education. He continued his education with a master’s degree. According to his book “Just A Drop In The Bucket,” he wrote this dedication.

“To that slip of a girl that I met at her home in Port Washington, N.Y., on Christmas Day nearly half a century ago — whose spirit brought out the best in a soldier home from the war and back again in the discipline of graduate school, Columbia University, architecture, sculpture and painting. She, a gifted student from Parsons School of Design, N.Y., was the oldest daughter of S. Grant and Elizabeth Conner. Together we moved to Warsaw, Ind., where we raised four children and Appaloosa horses.”

Upcoming And Current Events

• The Fred Olds Nostalgic collection is on display at Warsaw City Hall Art Gallery through the end of September. It is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays.
• The Wagon Wheel Theatre is hosting a gallery titled “Bridges of Madison County” in its theatre lobby, featuring well-known local artists and a theme of bridges. More information on this to come in an upcoming column.
• John Streeter pastels are currently on display at Lakeland Art Association Gallery.