Whitewater Valley Arts Association exhibit features artwork of senior artists at MacDowell Gallery
June 11, 2025 -- Reid Health is exhibiting more than 30 pieces of artwork by 16 artists, all aged 55 and older, as part of a collaboration with the Whitewater Valley Arts Association (WVAA).
The "Creating a
Legacy" exhibition is on display now through the end of July in Reid Health's
MacDowell Gallery.
WVAA President
Judy Hreno said the exhibition represents the range of works, styles, and media
the association has to offer.
"In this
exhibit, we have a wide range of skill levels and media," Hreno said. "There
are quilts from our quilting group, paintings in oils, acrylics, alcohol inks,
fiber, and assemblage art. That's only a small sampling of what our group is
doing."
WVAA artists are
from Connersville, Liberty, New Castle, and Richmond. Artists with work on
display include:
- Tracy Burns
- Jeanne Felmy
- Judy Hreno
- Terry Hreno
- Janine Hurd
- Cheryl Johnson
- Brenn Pruet Kunkel
- Bill Leveridge
- Curtis Potters Sr.
- Conner Quilters
- Gayle Siebert
- Debra L. Stanley
- Kathie Stuedle
- Nilah Tipton
- Venna Werner
- Susan Yanos
Founded in
1962, the WVAA has enriched communities through the arts for more than six
decades. Based in Connersville, Indiana, the WVAA is a nonprofit organization
composed of art-minded citizens, professionals, amateurs, patrons, and others
dedicated to promoting public awareness of the value of the arts.
The association
began in an upstairs space above an optometrist's office in Connersville. Over
the years, it has moved several times before settling into its current home at
402 N. Central Ave.
Since its
founding, the WVAA has expanded its activities significantly. From celebrating
the artwork of elementary and high school students to showcasing member
accomplishments and hosting regional exhibitions, the WVAA has become a
cornerstone of the arts in Connersville.
Hreno said the
WVAA offers collaborations with local businesses, new monthly exhibits,
competitions, and classes. This summer, the WVAA is offering classes to members
and non-members in photography, oil painting, mandala painting, junk journaling,
and stained glass.
"We would like
to encourage anyone who hasn't been to our gallery to come to one of our second
Friday openings, stop by for a visit at other times, or sign up for a class,"
she said.
The MacDowell Gallery is located on the second floor of the Reid Health Outpatient Care Center at 1100 Reid Parkway in Richmond. The gallery is named after Barry MacDowell, who served as Reid President and CEO from 1988 to 2008. Visitors can use the Grand Staircase or the outpatient elevators to reach the exhibit.