WARSAW — Warsaw’s contemporary art gallery, Atelier, will indirectly pay homage to the former jewelry store that once occupied that space on Center Street for several decades.

The gallery will do so by highlighting works on paper featuring Crown

nd ornament in its final solo exhibition of 2024, scheduled to run from Nov. 15 through Dec. 28.

“GoldiLocks” is an exhibition of works by upstate New York-based artist Amelia Toelke. 

The show includes sixteen paintings in 24k gold leaf and gouache on paper and one three-dimensional arched wall installation rendered in layered mirrored acrylic forms.

[caption id="attachment_101582" align="alignright" width="330"] Upstate New York-based artist Amelia Toelke is the featured artist for an upcoming exhibit at Atelier art gallery in downtown Warsaw. Photo provided.[/caption]

Toelke creates exquisite paintings and wall sculptures inspired by jewelry.

Through faceted gems, dangling charms, and gold-leafed chains, Toelke explores the human desire to adorn oneself and the idea of jewelry as “personal signage.”

Toelke is fascinated by her subject matter. 

Jewelry, she said, “reveals not only our aesthetic tastes but also performs complex social functions like indicating marriage status, our religious views, our values, or our wealth. The innate human impulse to adorn oneself frames how I understand the world, our past and our present,” she said in a news release.

“In my work, I borrow and remix the symbols and motifs inherent to adornment and signage, building a visual language that expresses the

profound relationship between identity, culture, and adornment. In doing so, I highlight the deep connection between jewelry and those who wear it, showing how we use objects to tell stories about ourselves,” she said.

Evocative titles like “Treasure,” “Amulet,” “Fortune” and “Ice Cold” attest to the power and significance we attach to jewelry. The desire to adorn oneself meaningfully permeates Toelke’s work. 

In curating Atelier's sixth exhibition of 2024, Grandon says she was drawn to Toelke’s iconography and her ability to give her subject both the weight of gem and metal but also the feel and sound of draping chain and dangling charms. 

“The work is quite graphic and bold, yet it evokes movement and delicacy. The work is simply enchanting.”

Grandon says she was particularly interested in an exhibition involving jewelry due to the history of the building in which Atelierresides at 104 East Center Street in downtown Warsaw. 

The historical building was home to Crownover Jewelry, a downtown Warsaw institution for decades.

The jewelry store closed in 2013 and the building sat vacant until it was renovated in 2022 to become the art gallery. 

“People came to various shows and told me different stories and memories of the building and I wanted to do something to honor that, and also to generate more conversions about the history of downtown,” Grandon said.

“I always pick artists that I’m excited about and artwork that I think is beautiful and interesting and intellectual but for me, it’s always a bonus if there is a tie-in that resonates with people,” Gandon said.

Much like we adorn our bodies with meaning-imbued jewelry, Grandon notes that art collectors have a similar fueling passion. 

“Collectors of art seek to adorn their homes with symbols and motifs that reflect their identity as an individual, a couple or a family. An art collection evolves over time and becomes the expression of the collector’s personal narrative. It’s a visual record of a life.”

GoldiLocks is a fairytale show perfectly suited to the holiday season. 

“Amelia is exploring the profound connection between identity and ornament,” Grandon says. “I hope visitors experience the shimmer and shine of GoldiLocks and find that for them, it’s just right.”

GoldiLocks opens Nov. 15 and runs through Dec. 28. Atelier's hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

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WARSAW — Grace Professor of English and Creative Writing Dr. John Poch will read from his most recent book of poems on Thursday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. at Atelier Gallery, 104 E. Center St., Warsaw.

“Having this opportunity at Atelier Gallery is important for several reasons,” said Poch. “This will be my first time reading from this book. Also, it is a privilege to read in this gallery space where the current Jason Myers show is hanging. I loved reading from my work on the Grace campus last year, and now I get the chance to take my poems into the community.”

Poch will be reading from his book of selected poems, “Cantiamo, Prendiamo Il Coltello (We Sing, We Take the Knife),” which was published in Italy by Ensemble Edizioni in 2022. The book is a facing page translation in both languages, translated by the Italian poet Pietro Federico.

The book gathers many of Poch’s best poems from his first seven collections as well as poems previously unpublished in book form. He will also read from “Dark Cathedral,” to be published with Slant Books next year. His reading will co-occur with contemporary Indiana-based artist Jason Myers’ exhibition in the gallery.

Sea Grandon, owner of the Atelier Gallery, invited Poch to participate in the gallery’s reading series when the two recently met.

Grandon is an art advisor and attorney specializing in contemporary and emerging art. In March of 2023, she opened Atelier, a contemporary art gallery, where she serves as the owner and director.  She believes the arts in all forms are integral to fueling individual passion and fostering communal compassion.

“The Atelier gallery space is intimate and professional, and Sea curates nationally-known artists as good as in any New York or Los Angeles gallery,” said Poch.

An undergraduate art history minor, Poch has collaborated with dozens of artists in making books, paintings, photographs, poetry films, and other works involving his poetry.

Poch is the author of eight collections of poems, which have been published in “Paris Review,” “Poetry,” “Five Points,” “Birmingham Poetry Review,” and many other magazines. His first book of criticism, “God’s Poems: The Beauty of Poetry and the Christian Imagination,” was published by St. Augustine’s Press in 2022. He was a Fulbright Core Scholar at the University of Barcelona in 2014, and he is currently the series editor for the Vassar Miller Poetry Prize.

Poch teaches literature and creative writing courses at Grace College, and he advises the student editors of the Grace literary magazine, “Inkspot.”

To learn more about Grace’s creative writing minor, visit grace.edu/programs/creative-writing-minor/.

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WARSAW — “Works by Jason Myers” is an exhibition of 13 mixed media resin works, nine paintings and one monumental neon and metal sculpture standing 12 feet tall.

[caption id="attachment_98565" align="alignright" width="300"] Jason Myers[/caption]

Myers is a contemporary painter and sculptor who pushes the boundaries of contemporary art by merging historical reverence with modern abstraction to create works that are both visually striking and spiritually resonant, according to a news release from Atelier, a contemporary art gallery in Warsaw.

Myers maintains two studios, one in Logansport and another in the Netherlands. He is both a prolific and internationally-collected artist, as well as a staunch advocate for the arts and art-based economic development in Northern Indiana.

[caption id="attachment_98566" align="alignright" width="300"] “Gavin Luminescence”[/caption]

The two-dimensional works in the show all feature skulls. In his series of large-scale paintings called “Transcendence,” Myers delves into the profound historical symbolism of skulls, exploring their depiction across various cultures as emblems of spiritual protection, good fortune and the deep connection between the living and the spiritual realms.

These large-scale paintings capture the essence of the skull as a powerful talisman, a vessel of spiritual energy that protects and guides, the release states. Myers’ restrained yet impactful palette, juxtaposing blacks and whites with vibrant bursts of color, creates a sense of movement and depth. The overlaid patterns and abstract forms suggest the intricate and often mysterious connections between the material and spiritual worlds. The skulls, emerging from these abstract compositions, seem to hover between worlds, embodying the protective and mystical qualities attributed to them by ancient civilizations.

In a second body of work featured in the show, titled “I WANT ONE!” Myers presents works of skulls overlaid with luxury brand logos. Myers begins with his paintings and drawings of skulls, then scans and digitally edits them with a mash-up of hidden content and luxury brand iconography.

These remastered images are then printed on canvas, followed by additional layers of resin, paint, ink, glitter and dye. The juxtaposition of the skull with the shiny, aspirational icons of luxury brands is an ironic commentary on the absurdity of our society’s obsession with material possessions, the release states. The name for the exhibition, Infinite Jest, is a quote from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Hamlet’s famous soliloquy occurs as he contemplates the skull of the recently deceased court jester Yorick.

Within the context of this monologue, Hamlet comments on the futility of life as he struggles with the persistent and ubiquitous human question of whether it is better “to be, or not to be.” Myers’ work evokes this duality of the skull: both a stark reminder of death and a luminous beacon of life’s continuity. Hamlet also centers on the human propensity toward greed, lust and power. This attraction to materiality and wordly desires is the driving theme behind Myers’ logo-laden works.

Finally, the central figure of Infinite Jest is Myers’ 12-foot sculpture “Gavin Luminescence.”

Made from recycled scrap metal, salvaged building materials, and neon lighting, this sculpture is a solitary figure that while weathered and worn still stands bright and strong. A metaphor for human life, “Gavin Luminescence” reminds us that it is indeed better “to be.”

“Jason came to the very first opening at Atelier in March of 2023 and introduced himself,” Atelier Director Sea Grandon said. “I was familiar with his bold and gripping work from various international art fairs and shocked to discover that he lived and worked a mere hour away! He in turn was excited about my ambition to launch a contemporary art gallery in small-town Indiana. We both share a passion for art and culture-driven economic development, and Infinite Jest is just the first of many collaborations we intend to embark upon to bring more beauty, edge and atmosphere to northern Indiana. We both live and practice the idea that you can live local and work global.”

Myers is currently embarking on several arts-related development projects in Logansport including the establishment of a regional art museum called the Indiana Museum of Art.

“My work, and the work of most artists, deals with universal themes and innovative ideas. Non-traditional art centers offer broader audiences access to being part of the dialogue and energy that art provokes,” Myers said.

Grandon says Atelier’s exhibition of Myers’ work will appeal to a wide spectrum of viewers. “Whether you are on your own spiritual journey, a fan of Shakespeare, an anthropologist or philosopher, a MedTech professional, a frustrated member of the electorate, a luxury good aesthete, or someone who wants to commemorate Halloween or Day of the Dead, this show has something for you,” she said.

Infinite Jest: Works by Jason Myers opens Thursday with a party for the artist from 7 to 10 p.m. and runs through Nov. 2. Atelier’s hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

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WARSAW — Rogue is a cooperative group of energized entrepreneurs with businesses and investments in Downtown Warsaw.

Our mission is to bring dynamic experiences to downtown Warsaw by thinking creatively, working collaboratively, and implementing efficiently.

Our name reflects our efforts to forge new paths forward and to be an incubator for innovative urban development.

Rogue soft launched in fall of 2023 and has already accomplished several goals. Most notably foot traffic downtown has increased. More businesses are opening and, people are realizing how walkable and convenient our downtown really is. Rogue provided cab rides home on New Year’s Eve from downtown businesses to keep our community safe, launched the Urban Frost Fest to keep our community entertained, and hosted the first St Paddy’s Day community fun run to keep our community healthy.

As downtown business owners, Rogue is uniquely keyed into what our community wants downtown. Member Lyle Schrock notes, “Because we have boots on the ground on a daily basis, we can add tremendous insight to the evolution of downtown Warsaw.”

Sea Grandon notes that the group does get occasional criticism for being too edgy.

“At Rogue, we definitely feel that maintaining the status quo is riskier to the vitality of a small town than trying new things and moving forward.  By definition, entrepreneurs pursue uncharted territory,” Grandon said.

“The positive feedback on our efforts has been tremendous,” said member Michelle Hansen.  “I am proud of our efforts and excited about our potential. We’ve formed real friendships in Rogue,”  she said.

Rogue invites you to be a part of the energy and friendship by attending our premier summer event.

On Friday, Aug. 16, Rogue PROGRESSive Dinner in downtown Warsaw. You will be able to enjoy small plates from over ten different businesses throughout downtown with one ticket purchase. Pre-sale purchases are strongly encouraged and heavily discounted from purchases day of event. Tickets are available here.

The Rogue cooperative group meets weekly on Tuesdays at noon, normally at a downtown establishment. If you want to be a part of bringing dynamic experiences to downtown go Rogue and get to know us.  Follow us for more information on Instagram and Facebook.

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WARSAW — Kai Hackworth’s first major art project as a senior at Warsaw Community High School reeled in a pleasant personal moment on Friday.

Hackworth, a recent graduate, was one of numerous students who participated in an art project that is now part of a display at Atelier, the art gallery in downtown Warsaw.

Hackworth designed a three-and-a-half-foot-long multi-colored fishing lure that took center stage in the gallery and caught the attention of Paul Nadolski who attended Friday’s exhibition open house.

Nadolski purchased it for $400 – much to the surprise and delight of Hackworth.

"Very unexpected," Hackworth exclaimed Friday night, surrounded by people at the open house.

Hackworth said the artwork — titled 'Bait and Switch' — was inspired by his memories of time spent with his grandfather as they would search for the perfect lures.

Nadolski, who attended the open house with his fiance and child, was hooked almost as soon as he walked in the door.

"I love fishing and happened to see it and it just caught my eye and I wanted to buy it right away," Nadolski said.

The group exhibition highlighting surf-related art also includes stand-up paddle boards, longboards, wakeboards, and skateboards, as well as film, sculpture, and painting.

Friday's open house attracted lots of students and members of the public, and had a festive spirit. Kona Ice Truck sold treats outside. A DJ played music inside and staff from Moving Pictures Tattoo Cinema, down the street, offered temporary tattoos nearby for free to passersby.

The idea for the summer show titled "Next Wave" came through a collaboration between Atelier Director Sea Grandon and WCHS instructor (and artist) Andrea Miller.

The bulk of the work in the show comes from WCHS’s "Gone Boarding" program in the Engineering & Technology Department of the Warsaw Area Career Center where students design a range of boards including surfboards.

Miller said she first met Grandon through the Public Arts Commission and that Grandon quickly realized the potential for a surf and sea theme relying in part on the Gone Boarding program.

Miller said she's seen scholastic art displays in other museums and that the Warsaw display "goes beyond what some of the museums have been able to do."

She said she appreciates Grandon's ability to connect with people about art.

“I’m really excited about working with Sea, both on the Public Arts Commission and as a community member and as a teacher … she is really good at looking at things from many different perspectives and inviting viewers in and is generous with how to talk to them about art," Miller said. 

Grandon has made it a point to involve the community with the gallery. She featured a local painter earlier this yer and said her goal is to host some kind of community exhibit every other year.

"It's really exciting to see people of all ages being involved in the gallery. I love working with the students," Grandon said. "I'm really thrilled that some of them are motivated to keep creating and are energized by the experience — and that's the whole point."

The entire project had the support of the community.

To offset the cost of raw materials for crafting the boards, several businesses and organizations stepped up to sponsor the show. The Bailey R.
Moore Foundation, The Lake House, Noa Noa Wood Grill & Sushi Bar, OrthoWorx,
Plug and Play Indiana, Pro Wake Watersports, The Watershed Foundation, and the
Warsaw Public Arts Commission are all sponsors of Next Wave. Sponsorship monies
go entirely to the Gone Boarding program in order to offset the cost of materials
used to create the works in the show as well as materials to be used in the
upcoming 2024-2025 school year.

The exhibit at Atelier continues through Aug. 31.

[gallery columns="1" size="full" ids="95676,95678,95674,95677,95675,95680,95683"]

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WARSAW — Sea Grandon’s Atelier art gallery is proof that you don’t have to be in a major metropolitan area to attract and exhibit top notch artwork.

[caption id="attachment_89202" align="alignright" width="201"] Michael Wolf[/caption]

The latest exhibit at Atelier, which opens Thursday night, features different types of architectural-themed art from New York City resident Michael Wolf.

One year after opening the East Center Street gallery, Grandon has realized she could bring in upscale artwork to a small city in northern Indiana via social media and her connections in New York, Miami and elsewhere.

Wolf discovered Atelier through Instagram where he began commenting on some of the artwork featured on Grandon's Instagram page.

"This is how the world of social media works and I started looking into his work," she said.

[caption id="attachment_85587" align="alignright" width="201"] Sea Grandon[/caption]

That led Grandon to explore his online artwork and eventually led to an offer from her to exhibit his work in Warsaw.

The exhibit, "domicilium: a place to dwell," includes four freestanding sculptures, nine wall-hung relief pieces, and one painting with geometric forms and gilded arches rendered in wood, stone, metal, and gold leaf.

I've always loved architecture and his work is very architectural. I love the simple geometry of it," she said. "Even though the forms are quite simple, it really can evoke a lot of different memories or connections."

She said she receives on average 50 to 100 emails every day from artists. That, along with her networking and her own research means she's never lacking in possible artwork for the gallery.

"It's rare that I'm actually looking for someone specifically to fill a spot in the gallery's programing. It's more like every day, I see this abundance and things just naturally seem to fall into place," she said.

"Yeah, its been really great," she said "I haven't had a single artist decline showing here, so that's a good thing," she said with a laugh.

An open house for Wolf’s collection is from 6-8 pm. Thursday and the exhibit continue until March 22.

Admission at Atelier is free.

The next show in 2024 will arrive in April and feature Mike Kelly — a Warsaw native who Grandon describes as a colorist and a landscape painter.

She said his style of landscape work does not use the traditional representational color combinations, but still evokes emotions tied to places, weather and time of day.

In late May, Detroit-area artist Kat Quay will feature back-lit light boxes hung on walls with 3-D printed botanicals using layers of glass and metals.

Grandon said the entire 2024 season has already been locked into place and she’s already developing a plan for 2025.

* * *

On a related note, Grandon is one of a dozen downtown merchants who will participate in an ice sculpture show Thursday night that's organized by Go Rogue Warsaw. The show will feature ice sculptures outside of downtown stores in Warsaw from 4 to 7 p.m.

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WARSAW — Prepare to move and groove, Kosciusko County!

The Warsaw Performing Arts Center, in collaboration with Kensington Digital Media, joyfully announces the revival of "Dancing with the Stars for Charity," a fundraising extravaganza set to sizzle this spring.

After a five-year pause, this electrifying event returns to the stage of WCHS PAC on Saturday, March 23. It promises to be a cornerstone fundraiser, benefiting 11 local charities. Each participating team has rallied behind a regional not-for-profit, standing as their advocate on the glittering stage. All proceeds from ticket sales will be divided among the nine charities, as well as supporting the WCHS Dance Department and Warsaw PAC.

A stellar lineup of eighteen luminaries from Kosciusko County will don their dancing shoes, collaborating with student choreographers from the WCHS Dance Department. Together, they'll deliver an evening brimming with live entertainment and heartfelt community engagement.

Among the local luminaries taking center stage are individuals like Shawn Brown (Lake City Living Magazine), Chris Cage (Willie 103.5), Sea Grandon (Atelier), Lakesha Green (Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts), Trace Hansen (Eastlake Skate Center), Mike King (107.3 WRSW), Travis McConnell (McConnell Law & B&B Courthouse Market), Chris Plack (Cardinal Services), Randy Polston (Combined Community Services), Laura Rothhaar (Kosciusko Convention & Visitors Bureau), Jim Smith (Kosciusko County Sheriff), and Suzanne Stokes (Warsaw Parks Department).

Additionally, shining stars from Warsaw Community Schools include Angela Dieleman (WCHS/Middle School Orchestra Teacher), Megan Dinse (WCHS Step One Teacher), Kayla May (Eisenhower BSL), Karri Morgan (Claypool 6th Grade Teacher), Emily Gough (WCHS Science), and Paul Zakaria (WCHS Senior Class Principal).

WCHS Dance Student Choreographers include Courtney Brower, Emma Bradford, Dakota Gardner, Ella Gonzalez, Michael Hertel, Malori McDaniels, Victoria Peloza, Kennedy Polk, Shannon Smith, and Kaelyn Stoffel.

The evening's emcee will be Kris Lake, the Morning Show Host from 107.3 WRSW and Brianne Stewart, WCHS Dance Instructor, will oversee the student participation.

Various not-for-profit organizations will be supported through the efforts of each dancing team. Charities chosen include Joe’s Kids, Magical Meadows, Combined Community Services, Kosciusko County TNR, Cardinal Services, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts, CASA of Kosciusko County and Kate’s Kart.

Tickets for "Dancing with the Stars for Charity" will be available for purchase starting in January.

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WARSAW -- Atelier, 104 E. Center St., Warsaw, kicked off its first exhibit, as well as the first day for the gallery, Thursday with an opening event.

The post Atelier Opens With First Exhibit appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW -- Atelier, a contemporary art gallery, will open in downtown Warsaw on March 9.

The gallery, at 104 E. Center St., Warsaw, represents emerging and contemporary artists and will exhibit a new artist every two months, according to a news release from Atelier.

Atelier, owned and operated by art advisor Sea Grandon, will be a place for art collectors and creatives to gather, explore ideas and share perspectives. An atelier is an artist’s studio or workshop, and Grandon said the new gallery is intended to provide an outlet in Northern Indiana for innovation and creativity.

“As an art advisor with clients on both coasts and in major urban centers, I hope this central, Midwest location will allow me to introduce existing and new clients to artists they would not otherwise encounter,” Grandon said. “I want the Atelier space to serve as a creative think tank for our community and actively promote its visual arts.”

While New York City is considered the international art world’s capital, Grandon says satellite centers are critical for creation, exploration and exhibition, particularly in the post-pandemic world. Atelier is dedicated to disrupting the hierarchical geography of artistic innovation and appreciation, according to the news release. The gallery reflects Grandon’s guiding principle that beauty has no borders.

First Exhibit

Atelier will open its first exhibit, “Ritual: Paintings by Andrea Granger,” from 6 to 9 p.m. March 9. The show will run through April 22.

Granger will use the exhibition to display more than a dozen abstract expressionist paintings, rendered in bold color and with compositional virtuosity, according to another news release. The artist says the show’s title reflects her creative process.

“For me, creating art is a ritual, a mediation in color and form,” Granger said. “I let my intuition guide me and let the brush lead. It’s a dance between me and the canvas, and I never know where it will take me.”

According to Grandon, the word ritual not only describes Granger’s process, but also her final product.

“In these paintings, we see something primitive and central to the human condition,” Grandon said. “It is an exploration of our core instincts and emotional commonalities and the strength we derive from them.”

Granger’s pieces, like “Casting the Bones” and “Bewitched,” invite viewers to feel the rhythm of the artwork’s heartbeat and contemplate meaning, Grandon said.

Granger cites art legends Joan Mitchell, Helen Frankenthaler and Lee Krasner as influences. She said music plays a central role in her artistic process. For her Atelier show, Granger will provide visitors a playlist offering additional insight into her ritual.

Granger is a painter and designer based in Warsaw. She attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she primarily studied painting. Her show at Atelier is her first solo exhibition.

Hours & Ownership

Atelier hours are Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Grandon is a contemporary art advisor and attorney. Atelier is her first art gallery. Grandon has an undergraduate degree from Wellesley College and a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. She has been working in the art market for nine years, advising clients on investment-grade art collections. Her clients live throughout the United States, and her work takes her to galleries, museums and art fairs around the world. Grandon lives with her family in Warsaw.

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