Lubeznik Center for the Arts (LCA) is thrilled to announce two outstanding exhibitions to their galleries through November 30, 2021.
Compelling dunes landscape paintings by Eugene (Gene) Moldenhauer are on display in the Large NIPSCO Education Studio.
Gene Moldenhauer of Michigan City IN was a self-taught artist who drew his inspiration from the Northwest Indiana dunes landscape. Despite his dyslexia, which kept him from accelerating in traditional modes of academia, he thrived in expressing himself through creating with his hands. Moldenhauer was always doodling on pads of paper, and later in life his wife would often exclaim that she didn’t have a place to write her grocery lists because all available surfaces were covered with his illustrations!
A union electrician by trade who retired from the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, there was not much Gene could not figure out how to do once he set his mind to it. Moldenhauer possessed a strong curiosity and a creative nature which led him to accomplish many feats—one was to design and build a house himself—complete with a ceramics and art studio.
Applying this same mindset and discipline, Gene became serious about painting the dunes in the 1960s. He would study photo slides of the area then compose a new scene from different combinations of elements from the slides that appealed to him. His early paintings feature the more saturated autumnal colors that bring to mind late summer afternoons, with a deep greenish blue lake. Later, his paintings featured more pinks and pastels with the clouds, reminiscent of airy morning stillness. These styles, although fairly different, show a keen ability to portray mood through color.
Moldenhauer continued to paint his whole life, and he loved to share his accumulated knowledge with others. His tenacity and enthusiasm were contagious, and his “can do” attitude inspired many younger people in his circle of family and friends to take up their own artistic endeavors and careers.
Gene was an avid nature lover and advocate for public space—his paintings of the Indiana dunes draw us into a reverence of place—making us reflect on time, seasonality, change, and the steady beauty this place gifts to us all.
The exhibition is organized by Gene’s daughter, Nancy Moldenhauer, and LCA’s Exhibition Director, Lora Fosberg. Funds generated through the sales of Gene’s paintings are being generously donated by Ms. Moldenhauer to be split by Lubeznik Center for the Arts and Save the Dunes.
Gene Moldenhauer at work at this studio.
On display in the Small NIPSCO Education Studio is a collection by Dorothy Graden, a member of the Area Artists Association, titled Images in Time.
Ms. Graden has developed an innovative artistic style through years of historic research, observation and investigation. The inspiration for her work is the result of hiking hundreds of miles throughout the mountains and deserts of the American Southwest, studying ancient and timeless petroglyphs and prehistoric rock paintings, and then bringing the images forward in a unique way.
Dorothy draws with great admiration, respect and humility for the ancients who inspire her work.
Pictured (right) My New Friend
Enjoy the artworks by these two special artists as well as the Fall/Winter exhibition, Nature Now, beginning October 25, 2021.
LCA galleries are free and open to the public 6 days per week. Contact LCA to arrange a private, small group tour at 219.847.4900.
About Lubeznik Center for the Arts
Lubeznik Center for the Arts (LCA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides access to compelling exhibitions and programs that explore contemporary ideas. The organization is located at 101 W. 2nd Street at the lakefront in Michigan City, Indiana.
LCA HOURS (All hours are CST)
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: Closed
- Saturday & Sunday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Admission is free year-round. For more information, please visit www.lubeznikcenter.org or call 219-874-4900.