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Bears Mill
“Art at the Mill” to
feature Watercolors & Pottery
During September, the gallery at historic Bear's Mill will feature
watercolors by Muncie, Indiana resident Brian Gordy and Ben Deeter's
creative but functional pottery; the exhibit opens Friday, August 31
with a reception offering light appetizers and wine from 6 p.m. until 9
p.m. “Art At the Mill” presents outstanding local and regional artists
in a simple rustic atmosphere which enhances but does not distract from
the works on display. “The Mill's pleasing gallery space attracts
visitors from a wide area, many who come just to view the art but stay
to experience the heritage and beauty to be found here,” said Julie
Clark, retail manager and gallery coordinator for Bear's Mill.
Ms. Clark says that Brian Gordy's work capturing the sculptural beauty
and charm of turtles and other wildlife fits perfectly in the Mill's
natural setting. Mr. Gordy, a naturalist as well as a watercolorist,
has long been intrigued, appropriately enough, by water creatures; his
work clearly demonstrates that fascination. The award-winning painter,
who has taught art in public schools, at the university level, and
privately for over 25 years and owns and operates a framing studio and
art gallery in downtown Muncie, says that one never knows where the
muse might be hiding. “For the past eight years, it has turned up on
the logs and rocks of Indiana rivers or the moist floors of our
woodlands; I find the antics of turtles to be totally alluring,” Mr.
Gordy stated.
Potter Ben Deeter says that when he first touched clay while in high
school, he came obsessed with the endless possibilities provided. The
Bowling Green University graduate uses color rather than texture to
bring interest to his work, and is incorporating patterns from nature
into the pieces. “I want the pieces in this show to have an impactful
presence, so I'm creating some large-scale work which reflects the
world around us that we see daily,” Mr. Deeter explained. The Pleasant
Hill resident says that he integrates historical as well as
contemporary concepts into his work to produce functional pieces that
he intends to be as pleasing to look at as they are to use.
The exhibit will continue through Sunday, September 23. Diverse work by
Bear's Mill potters Julie Clark, Dionne Fleming, Rita Wiley, and
Loretta Wray is currently on view at the Mill, along with striking
portraits created by Botkins, Ohio artist Lindsay Cooper. “Art At the
Mill” receives support from Darke County Endowment for the Arts; the
exhibits are on view during regular Mill store hours, 11 a.m. till 5
p.m. daily. Historic Bear's Mill is 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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