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“Art at the
Mill” begins new season
The first exhibit of the new “Art at the Mill” season at historic
Bear's Mill will feature the translucent watercolors of Richmond,
Indiana artist Barbary Easley and unique willow furniture created by
Indiana craftsman Greg Adams, as well as Bundy ducks, the work of famed
decoy maker, John Bundy. In a change from past years, the exhibition
will remain in place for six weeks, beginning Friday, April 3 and
continuing through Sunday, May 13. A reception for the artists will
take place on Friday, April 10 from 7 to 9 p.m.; this reception
offering appetizers and wine is free and open to the public.
Barbara Easley says that when she picks up her brushes, she enters a
world of magic and a fusion of color; her vibrant work shares that
magical world with the viewer. She instantly fell in love with
watercolor when she first began painting in 1993, and that passion
continued through her moves from Indiana to McAllen, Texas, to Santa
Fe, New Mexico, where she earned accolades for her highly accessible
paintings before returning to Indiana in 2008. “Flowers are my
specialty, but I paint anything that inspires me,” the artist stated.
She believes that watercolors offer inspiration in a realm of serenity,
an assessment also held by the numerous worldwide purchasers of her
work.
Greg Adams' hand-crafted willow furniture returns to Bear's Mill, a
site where the rustic pieces look entirely at home. Working quickly
while the green branches are still pliable, Adams finds the material
near his shop in Lapel Indiana, and then bends the willow to form
unique chairs, tables, stools and other pieces. The son of a skilled
carpenter says that his goal is to “bring the outdoors inside,” and
“enrich my customer's lives by the presence of natural items in their
everyday lives.” The craftsman says that his designs have been refined
over time, and that tested engineering renders them both sturdy and
aesthetically pleasing.
According to wood carver John Bundy, duck decoys are a truly American
art form, with the first decoys having been made over ten centuries ago
by native Americans. Bundy, who has been making decoys since the late
1970's, uses a unique overlay process combining the natural wood grain
and color with a shiny finish to create what have been called the most
beautiful duck decoys in the world. The Indiana native has seen his
fame grow with his work being sold in prestigious galleries throughout
the country including the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, known for its daily
ceremony honoring its resident ducks, and displayed in the Oval Office
of the White House.
“Art at the Mill” exhibits are on view during regular Mill store hours,
11 a.m. till 5 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, and 1 p.m. till 5 p.m.
Sundays. Historic Bear's Mill is owned and operated by Friends of
Bear's Mill, a non-profit organization, and is located at 6450
Arcanum-Bear's Mill Road about 5 miles east of Greenville. For more
information, contact Bear's Mill at 937-548-5112 or www.bearsmill.com.
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