Tree Lighting and the Christkindl Market: Making the holidays brighter, the Commission supported musical entertainment and traditional decorations at the Historical Society’ s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, as well as an ice sculpture artist and musical entertainment at the Christkindl Market.
The commission is supporting several new projects:
Ribbon cutting of Kurt Eagleman’ s Salt Creek Trail mural. courtesy photo
NAEC continued from 23 demonstrations in traditional arts such as spinning, weaving, cooking, storytelling, plein air painting, and music to visitors and students.
Fourth Friday Art Walk: On the fourth Friday of each month from April to October, some village shops and galleries stay open in the evening for an Art Walk. The commission provides advertising to encourage guests to interact with participating artists.
Vinyl Wrap Art Project: In 2021-22, local artists Gabriel Lehman, Daren Redman, and Patricia Bartels created designs for vinyl wraps that beautify Nashville’ s three traffic signal boxes.
Music Festivals: NAEC provides financial assistance to Chamberfest, a classical music festival in the village, and the Indiana State Fingerstyle Guitar Festival, a national competition of acoustic guitar players.
• Farmette 2025, a folk music conference and artist showcase coming as a new festival to Nashville on June 21, 2025;
• The 100th anniversary of the Brown County Art Gallery; and
• More public murals. NAEC plans to unveil future designs and locations in the next year.
Voland is invigorated by the opportunity to preserve the heritage of Nashville’ s artist colony as part of the NAEC.
“ When I think of the early artists, of their attraction to the exquisite light, I feel connected to those old days and ways. Their art has a timeless appeal in variety and expression that provides a connection to both adults and children alike.”
Artist Kurt Eagleman said that Brown County’ s heritage as an artist colony was“ baked into” him as a child growing up here. Eagleman, who designed and painted three of the town’ s public murals that showcase his modern and colorful style, emphasizes that the future of Brown County’ s art can pay homage to T. C. Steele and the early artists while still changing and growing over time.
“ We have an obligation as a prominent art colony in the Midwest to keep progressing forward, whatever that looks like.”
The migration of artists to Brown County that T. C. Steele set into motion in 1907 continues today as a dynamic home for artists to practice their craft. •
24 Our Brown County • Jan./ Feb. 2025