During her lifetime our founder, Jan Sullivan, not only taught art, she supported artists by buying their work and - to provide a legacy. Our collection of over 2000 pieces serves us as an investment strategy by Jan and was bequeathed to Art Barn upon her passing in 2016. Now that the collection is organized we selected the most important and historically significant works to retain for our permanent collection and identified pieces to exhibit and sell in support of Art Barn operations and growth. Board and Collections Committee members John Bernbom and Denise Kirland have curated works by key artists Ruth Bremner, Tom Lynch, and Joanne O'Conner “Treasures from the Archive”. Other artists represented include: CA Gallagher, Jean Uhl Spicer and an unknown artist.
The exhibition, on display at Country Inn & Suites, 2020 LaPorte Avenue, Valparaiso, is free to attend and will be on display from November 29, 2023 through March 5, 2024. The public is invited to an opening reception on Thursday, January 11 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm with light bites and refreshments.
This exhibit has come together through the time and attention of several passionate volunteers. Board Vice President, John Bernbom, and board Secretary, Denise Kirkland, have carefully selected the works included in this exhibit and compiled background information about the artists. Thom Carpenter and Terry Albrecht tirelessly organize and care for the collection and help to prepare works for exhibition.
In the recent past Art Barn’s collection focus has been on works produced by its founder, Janet Sullivan, who was a prolific artist, but who surrounded herself with a community of artists who participated, instructed, exhibited and sold work at Art Barn. “Treasures from the Archive'' is intended to highlight them and their artistic contributions to the community.
“We are thrilled to be included as a collaborator for this exhibition”, states Art Barn Director Amy Davis Navardauskas. “Country Inn and Suites is partnering with key arts organizations to install exhibitions in their gallery year-round. For us it provides an extension of our mission to highlight regional artists and provides greater access to art for new audiences.”
About the key artists:
Ruth Bremmer received her B.A. in art from Mundelien College and later continued her studies with Irving Shapiro and Konrad Juestel. Her work from her series, “Metamorphosis in Truk Lagoon,” has appeared in American Artist Magazine, Watercolor and Horizon: A Magazine of the Arts. Bremner exhibited at the Art Rental & Sales Gallery of the Art Institute of Chicago, the North Shore Art League, Art Barn School of Art and the Schoolhouse Shop in Furnessville, IN.
Tom Lynch has been referred to as one of the nation's premier watercolorists. He has written 7 books and hosted several award winning PBS TV Art Series. With his uniquely styled paintings, especially of Chicago area scenes, he achieved a level of excitement, movement and resonance that pushed beyond what the environment provided.
Joanne O’Connor earned her MFA from the University of Notre Dame and was an accomplished artist as well as an energetic and dedicated art teacher. She was a valued part of the Art Barn community with particular interest in painting, etching and printmaking. She taught art at Munster and Lake Central high schools for many years and relocated to Arizona and began a career teaching at the college level at the Art Institute of Phoenix.
All works are available for purchase and will provide a legacy for growth as we strategically expand our programming and community reach. 100% of all sales benefit Art Barn programs and operations.