CONVERSE, Ind. – More than 60 well known artists from three states and a collection of art from around Indiana will be in Converse on Saturday September 24th. This is the second annual statewide outdoor painting event sponsored by the Indiana Plein Air Painters Association and is FREE to the artists and viewing public.
The painters are mostly professional artists that work to capture the town, farms, Mississinewa River and lake, then compete for $2,000 in prizes at the end of the day in the Converse Commons Park. The artists get an official stamp on their canvas at Rickner’s Essen Haus Restaurant between 6 and 9 am and scatter to their favorite spots they have scoped out to try and paint a winner for the day. Many may paint up to three paintings in the few hours before judging. The prize money is donated by businesses, supporters of arts, and private individuals as a way to highlight the community and bring others to the area to experience what the community has to offer. Many of these artists like Rick Wilson, Ron Mack, Dan Woodson, and Mary Ann Davis have their work in museums and some of the major collections in the United States. Mr. Wilson’s 70 paintings celebrating the 100th anniversary of Indiana State Parks is touring the state right now and has nearly sold out.
This is a rain or shine event. This year enough money has been raised to buy 1-3 paintings to start a public art collection in the community. This promotes Indiana’s art legacy and that is why the Indiana Bicentennial Commission has named this a “Legacy Project.”