Wells Center gallery displays Tippecanoe's local artwork

By Kyle Boggs
Summer Reporter

The art gallery in the Wells Center is displaying local artwork presented by the Tippecanoe Arts Federation.

The three new art exhibitions include a theme show entitled "Carte Blanc" by the Wabash Artists Alliance. Displays include ceramics, paintings and fiber art of Artists Own, and the watercolor, photography and oil paintings of Nancy Crockett-Ince, Pam Lassiter and Gay Ellen Stulp.

"Every year we (the Wabash Artists Alliance) try to stretch artists to do something they've never done before," said Joanne Titolo, personal relations for the Wabash Artists Alliance. The Wabash Artists Alliance is a group of 80-120 artists in Tippecanoe County and surrounding areas. All uses of media and skill levels are welcome, said Titolo.

This year, for their show titled "Carte Blanc," or blank cards, the alliance is presenting an art collection of hand painted post cards. The artist is free to create two or three-dimensional paintings on the cards, she said.

Retired elementary teacher Nancy Crockett-Ince has a collection of oil paintings entitled "Different Places, Different Faces."

"Mine is a collection of paintings of all the places I've visited around the world," she said. "We are all spiritually geared artists; we paint what God has created." She says that most of her paintings are of photographs, but she usually changes the image slightly.

Pam Lassiter is known as a colorist; she loves colors and said she can often pick out colors in a scene that many people miss. As a gardener, her watercolor paintings are often of scenes in nature, particularly sunflowers.

"I really enjoy painting gardens, landscapes and especially sunflowers," she said. "I love sunflowers, there is so much you can do with them."

Lassiter is also a former Purdue professor of agricultural communications in the visual designing section. She said Purdue was nice and she enjoyed being there, but she has moved on.

At one time, Lassiter and Crockett-Ince had shown their work together at a local Bank One gallery. "I've tried to paint all new things since that showing," said Lassiter.

Lassiter urges people to go check out the Wells Center, if not for her work, then for others'.

"I don't think a lot of people are aware of the different types of art there," she said. "It’s a wonderful opportunity to expose yourself to many different kinds of art."

• The exhibit will be on display until July 29. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.