Indiana Heritage Arts Exhibition and Sale 2024
~ by Paige Langenderfer
Indiana Heritage Arts will host its 46th annual art exhibition and sale June 8 through July 13. The annual art exhibition has grown to become one of the largest juried art competitions in the Midwest. The competition is open to artists from Indiana or with a connection to Indiana. Prize money given out now surpasses $ 30,000.
IHA is a non-profit organization founded in 1979 by a group of Brown County artists who wanted a local exhibit featuring the style of art practiced by the artists of the early art colony, like T. C. Steele.
Painting Selma’ s Garden When: 10 a. m. to 5 p. m. June 15 Where: T. C. Steele State Historic Site Reception: 5:30 to 8 p. m. $ 45 prepaid reservations required by calling Brown County Art Gallery, 812-988-4609
34 Our Brown County • May / June 2024
When: June 8 to July 13 Where: Brown County Art Gallery Cost: Free admission Information: indianaheritagearts. org Opening reception: June 7. $ 20 food, wine, awards presentation
“ Woodson Brothers” by Phillip Erbaugh Jay Carter Memorial Directors’ Purchase Award 2023.
“ Steele was a prominent impressionist style painter who found Brown County to be an ideal place to work. It had exceptional natural beauty, was an inexpensive place to live, but did have access to larger markets thanks to the arrival of the train,” said Lyn Letsinger-Miller, IHA Board vice president.
“ Steele’ s presence attracted many other highly trained artists who eventually came to live here and founded the Brown County Art Gallery in 1926. Nashville’ s original gallery remains a thriving art center today and has a permanent collection of early Indiana art.” Although the majority of the pieces submitted to the annual exhibition are made with oils, there are also pieces done with pastel, acrylic, and watercolor.
Unlike other exhibitions which use photographic images for judging, IHA requires the actual art to be brought to the Brown County Art Gallery for judging. Each artist can enter three paintings or prints. Each year, more than 300 pieces are entered into the competition. Every entry must be listed for sale.
Judges come from across the country and must have a strong resume. This year’ s judge is Eric Jacobsen, a plein air painter from New England.
Of the hundreds of entries, the judge selects about 100 pieces that will go into the show, of which only a handful are selected as prize winners.