NEW PARIS - Visitors will discover a blend of paintings and floral beauty on display for their enjoyment June 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A first-year juried art show, "In the Garden," will debut at DeFries Gardens in River Preserve County Park at the intersection of CR 46 and 29, just south of Goshen in New Paris.
Sponsors of the show, the Goshen, Painters' Guild and the Elkhart County Parks, will exhibit 67 paintings created by artists from all over the Michiana area. The art, much of which relates to the garden theme, was selected by professional judges following a public call for entries to the Michiana community, yielding more than 100 submissions in many different media and techniques.
Art will be displayed in the Garden's seasonal buildings and in tents near the Calendar Garden, the park's centerpiece, which designer and Master Gardener Jon Cutrell says is believed to be the only one of its kind in the entire world.
Visitors will be able to stroll along the garden's circular path of bricks symbolizing the days and seasons of the year, adjacent to abundantly blooming florals, shrubs and bushes in many colors, all centered by a large reflecting pond. Surrounding the garden, the tents and buildings will protect the art from the elements and provide a comfortable viewing experience.
Live music will be featured at the garden's summer pavilion throughout the day, and the Friends of the Parks, a volunteer organization, will have refreshments on hand.Award ribbons will designate the show winners and the six honorable mention awards. Each visitor will also be guided by a brochure with a complete list of all art and artists. At 2 p.m. guild co-facilitator Donna Arnold will announce more than $1,000 in cash awards which will be presented for first, second, third places and Best of Show, along with a $300 purchase award, presented by the Bob Martin family of Elkhart. Martin is president of Goshen-based Keystone RV Company, a division of Thor Industries.
Admission to "In the Garden" is $2 for adults, with children 12 and under at no charge. Paintings will be available for sale at published prices during the art show.
Show judges were Brian Byrn, curator of the Midwest Museum of Art in Elkhart, and Katharine Schmidt, adjunct professor of art at Bethel College, Mishawaka, and Ivy Tech, South Bend.
