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125th Annual Juried Show – Richmond Art Museum

Posted on November 26, 2023 | Comments Off

McGuire Hall, Richmond Art Museum, Richmond, Indiana.

I mentioned in a post a few years ago (October 2019) that my high school alma mater is in Richmond, Indiana. It is a beautiful and stately old school with many new additions over the years. What most people don’t realize is that it is one of the few public high schools in the country that has it’s own art museum attached.

As a student there, I walked past famous paintings every day on my way to class in the arts wing. I thought that every high school had an art museum. I didn’t learn until much later how unusual this situation was. I’m sure that walking through beautiful McGuire Hall had a definite impact on my eventual career path. It was very inspiring seeing real paintings by William Merritt Chase and T.C. Steele on a daily basis.

Richmond Art Museum still receives enormous community support. They are currently celebrating their 125th annual juried exhibition for artists living in Indiana and Ohio. I am very pleased to report that I had both of my entries accepted into this prestigious show. The two paintings are The Golden Marble and Leo’s Muse which I’ve discussed in earlier posts.

Leo’s Muse, final, acrylic on canvas, 23K gold leaf, sterling silver leaf, 16 x 16, Kit Miracle

The Golden Marble, acrylic on canvas, 30 x 24. 23K gold leaf and sterling silver leaf. Kit Miracle

If you’d like to see the paintings in person and many other beautiful works, the exhibit runs through January 6th, 2024. The museum is located on the north end of Richmond High School on Hub Etchinson Parkway where there is public parking. Admission is free. Feel free to stop in, see the exhibit and some of the artwork on display in the other galleries. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 to 5; closed Sunday, Monday and major holidays. Call 765-996-0256 for more information.

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Posted in art, contemporary impressionism, other artists, travel, Uncategorized

Tagged annual juried show, high school art museum, high school gallery, midwest art gallery, midwest art museum, public high school, richmond art museum, richmond high school, richmond indiana, T C Steele, William Merritt Chase

Does your high school have an art museum?

Posted on October 13, 2019 | 2 comments

The impressive entrance to McGuire Hall. I wonder how much those giant blue vases weigh?

I had an opportunity to return to my hometown Richmond, Indiana this past week where I stopped in at my high school to visit beautiful McGuire Hall. In addition to a lovely theatre space, this wing of the high school hosts one of the few in-school art museums in the country, Richmond Art Museum (RAM).

This is the entry hall for McGuire Hall. The wooden doors on the right lead into the theatre. It is so elegant that it’s difficult to believe this is a public high school.

The Tortoise fountain by Janet Scudder

I marveled at the marble floors and carved wood doors and trim, the Tortoise fountain by famous sculptor Janet Scudder, and the current exhibits. They were featuring an exhibit of the works by local artist John Elwood Bundy (1853-1933). Famous for his many depictions of local scenes, especially the beeches and other sylvan scenes, at one time his work could be seen all over the area including libraries, businesses, restaurants and other locations, public and private.

Winter Landscape by John Elwood Bundy, one of the many paintings currently on exhibit at Richmond Art Museum.

Part of the exhibit by regional painter John Elwood Bundy including oils, watercolors and drawings.

The Richmond Art Museum (RAM) permanent collection is currently displaying a very nice collection of American Impressionists, regional artists and the famous Hoosier Group. William Merritt Chase’s self-portrait is on prominent display as are other of his works.

This gallery displays some of the impressive paintings in the permanent collection.

More of the permanent collection on display.

William Merritt Chase, self-portrait.

As a student, I remember walking past these famous paintings on my way to art classes which were held in this wing. I thought every high school had an art museum and only learned differently many years later. I remember being sent out of class to “draw something” and sitting on one of the marble staircases making my little watercolors. I’m sure this influenced my choice of career in art making.

Richmond has a long history of support of the arts and they still have an active art scene. There are many wonderful old homes in town and the city still holds much beauty, from the exquisite Whitewater River Valley, to Glen Miller Park, their rose garden, the famous Madonna of the Trails, and Earlham College.

Although regional art museums don’t get the same attention as do big city museums, if you’re in the area, I urge you to stop by the Richmond Art Museum which is open to the public. I’m sure you’ll find this small gem a pleasant surprise.

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Posted in travel

Tagged art, earlham college, glen miller park, high school art museum, indiana, john elwood bundy, madonna of the trails, richmond art museum, richmond indiana, travel

You Can’t Go Home Again…or Can you?

Posted on July 12, 2017 | Comments Off

Thomas Wolfe wrote, “You Can’t Go Home Again” but I think you can. I had the opportunity to visit my hometown, Richmond, Indiana, last weekend on a plein air painting adventure with Indiana Plein Air Painters. I hadn’t been back for at least 15 years and did not have high expectations due to some economic problems that I’d heard about. I don’t know about that but the town sure looked pretty to me.

Richmond sits on the Indiana – Ohio border in the eastern center of the state. It is an old town with lots of Quaker settlement as well as many other religions. Since the late 1800s, they’ve embraced quite an art scene including one of the few in-school art museums at the local high school. I grew up thinking that everyone passed famous paintings on the way to class. Little did I know.

Richmond known for it’s beautiful Glen Miller Park and Millionaire’s row, along with some of the most exquisite old houses and varied architectural styles. I could find many subjects for painting there!

The pond at the beautiful Glen Miller park, adjacent to Millionaires Row

Typical houses in old Richmond, Indiana

The event was only one day so I decided to visit my old alma mater of Earlham College and paint Stout Meeting House. The weather was perfect with a slight breeze and a very peaceful campus due to summer break.

Plein air painting at Stout Meeting House on the campus of Earlham College

Stout Meeting House, Earlham College, Watercolor/pen and ink, 11×14, Kit Miracle

Later I took some time to visit my great-grandma’s house, one of the oldest log cabins in Wayne County. I was so pleased to see that it had been lovingly restored and looked better than when my great-grandmother lived there. No one was home but I promised myself to stop by on my next visit.