(NWPR-OH) – Barns of the Midwest portray a story of hard work, sacrifice, loss and prosperity and family values. With each new decade, more and more of these landmarks are disappearing, never to be replaced. Referred to as eyesores, past their time or responsible for reducing property values, the barns that once formed the lives of immigrants seeking the right to live freely are becoming nothing more than an afterthought to many, but although impossible to fight and save the old barns, one artist is making a statement in a project called “Barns of Indiana” by Gwen Gutwein. On Tuesday, June 28 at 7:00 pm, she will speak about her artistic process, the plein air painting technique she uses to paint the historical richness of these structures at the Delphos Area Art Guild.
The “Barns of Indiana” is an extensive program where Gwen is hand selecting two barns from each of the 92 counties in Indiana. Research, interviews and pictures help her prepare for the on-sight painting where the light, color, mood and character of each barn are captured. The architectural detailing of many barns is unique and defines the family’s cultural background. Round barns, bank barns and crib barns all once housed animals and grain, necessities for survival. To date, Gwen has visited 32 counties and continues her pledge the visit each county where a hard choice is made to display only two barns.
