History of Brown County Artists

Artists from around the country were drawn by the scenic beauty and “Peaceful Valleys” of Brown County. They created a flourishing art community, establishing the “Brown County Art Colony” in the early 1900s. One of the founding artists Theodore Clement (T.C.) Steele was an Indiana premier portraitist and a member of the “Hoosier Group” of American Impressionist painters. He built a home for his wife Selma in the spring of 1908 and soon added a large studio and many outdoor remote shacks to paint his famous plein-air paintings. The 211 acre site was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and received accreditation from the American Association of Museums in 1988. T.C. Steele State Historic Site is open year-round for tours and visits.

Many of the pioneering artists’ collections can still be viewed in Brown County. The Brown County Art Guild features Marie Goth, V.J. Cariani, Carl Graf and Genevieve Goth Graf in addition to the works of 50 active artists. The Brown County Art Gallery is Nashville’s original gallery, preserving history and fostering the legacy of the early artists. The collection includes paintings from Adolph Shulz, Ada Walter Shulz, Will Vawter, Carl Graf, E. K. Williams, C. Curry Bohm, V.J. Cariani, Marie Goth, L.O. Griffith, Gustave Baumann, Dale Bessire, and T.C. Steele. Today the gallery has 30 active members who display and sell their work in three seasonal exhibits. At present over 200 artists, musicians and performers live in Brown County, creating their own unique form of art and hosting various events throughout the year.

Vision

There have been many discussions regarding the idea of starting a Traditional Arts School in Brown County, put forward by many artists. The Art Alliance Brown County began planning a new project in 2009 “Art Center without Walls,” providing the services of an art center in various locations around the country. Through generous donations and artist participation, Experience the Arts in Brown County moves this concept forward and brings the reality of an arts school one step closer. Arts patron Ms. Anderson commented: “The artists themselves are driving the positive momentum that is occurring around this event.” These programs will continue to enhance the rich arts heritage the early artists established as the “Art Colony of the Midwest” over 100 years ago.

Program Overview

Experience the Arts in Brown County is a collaborative program of classes, workshops, lectures and programs given by the artists, musicians and entertainers of Brown County. Students of all ages can select their level of participation and experience. Class registration is based on a first-come, first-serve basis, all classes have limited enrollment.