The Barber Shop by Perry Olshein

By Darla McCammon

A new year brings about new things.  Work by Perry Olshein, an artist from Tippecanoe, will be on exhibit at the Warsaw City Hall Art Gallery for two months beginning Jan. 4.  The gallery is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Admission is free.  Olshein refers to himself as Perry O. and, like most creative souls, oozes talent in multiple forms, blessing us with his fairly recent foray into fine art.

Before he took up art studies in Indiana, his creative bent found a home with the famous Perry’s Deli located on the Chicago loop.  His culinary talent was honed in several places ending with training at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.  By the age of 28 his Perry’s Deli had developed a large following and included notices and reviews on numerous television shows, many of them with national coverage. 

His love of dogs touched my heart but even more so, won over the love of his partner and wife.  The Olshein’s have now been married over 24 years and during that time gave up the Deli and moved to Indiana where they now operate the very successful MarKay’s Castle of the Dogs—a boarding and training kennel.  They both enjoyed living in a more rural setting, riding horses, and caring for other people’s dogs as well as their own.  Olshein also became a firefighter and an amateur auctioneer offering services to charities such as Tree House Cat Shelter.  A lifelong dream for Olshein was fulfilled over six years ago when he began taking private art lessons and put another arm of his creativity to work.  In that short time Olshein has created some very successful paintings including The Barber Shop (photo provided).  He has sold over 200 paintings and has won prizes in art competitions including a very difficult art contest sponsored by the Midwest Museum of American Art in Elkhart, which is a Juried Regional show.  Olshein enjoys doing house portraits for individuals who want a memorialized and attractive version of their home for their personal art gallery or to hang above the fireplace. 

When asked about his philosophy, you will have to visit the exhibit to decide if it works.  His response about his purpose in painting is “A successful painting either moves you emotionally or takes you to a place.” 

According to his website, Olshein’s subject matter generally runs to landscapes, urbanscapes and the occasional still life.  Break out the new year and enjoy Olshein’s shift from hot, deep fat oils to cold colorful oils!

Upcoming and Current Events:

• New exhibit at Warsaw City Hall Art Gallery through February.  Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Perry Olshein oil paintings on view.
• LAA gallery is closed for the Season.
• For more information on topics in this column, please contact Darla McCammon at [email protected] or (574) 527-4044.