By Cynthia Connell Davis

In March, Heartland Artists moved into their new home – the huge, welcoming, three-story Art Deco style building at 214 N. Michigan Street, in downtown Plymouth, IN. The building had been the first retail store for Montgomery Ward in the USA. Anna Kietzman, president of Heartland Artists, is credited by the members for this achievement. Her ambition and tireless work brought them here. On the first floor are the art exhibits; the second floor will contain business offices. People will walk through an art gallery to get to work!

Kietzman wants artists to be treated as professionals. Whether they are hobbyists, full-time, or somewhere between, their art is their passion and deserves this beautiful showcase as well as economic reward. Like many others, she believes that the age of the romanticized “starving artist” should be behind us. However, the age of artificial intelligence is upon us and lawless plagiarism threatens the economic well-being of artists – and this is what Kietzman is urging everyone to honor and protect. AI-generated art cannot create the amazing things that human beings can. AI must be understood to be a tool, but plagiarism and financial challenges are serious problems. Mark Markovich, from Knox, is Heartland’s featured artist for December, and his art is getting ripped off. People want cheaper and even free art. AI generated art can be just that. This is one of the reasons that Anna frequently has economic concerns on her mind.

Membership in Heartland Artists has exploded over the past few years. Help comes from the artists, volunteers, business community, and the city. For Kietzman, it is especially gratifying to see the organization has become multigenerational, as children of the original members have become members and are making art.

Heartland Artists has a long history. Herb Eveland, a high school art teacher, started the organization in the late 1970’s by teaching classes for the community. He designed the logo they use today. He motto was, “A town without a gallery is a truck stop.” In the mid-1990’s Ed Pullen worked to get a more permanent location. He secured a small gallery in a renovated laundromat accessed through an alley. Then-President Jane Jacobson is still an active member. In 2013, the group secured support from the city and moved into the building on the corner of 101 N. Michigan. From 2013 until 2024, the group experienced explosive growth.

Now, Heartland Artists is ready to close on the purchase of the building at 214 N. Michigan St., thanks to volunteers who have put in lots of hours of work as well as support from individuals, businesses, and city government.

Throughout, there has been an intentional desire not only to continue but also to grow, with city government and business backing the group. Kietzman says that city government’s ability to network transcends the ability of any one business or group, so the city’s support is crucial.

LINK TO HEARTLAND

Mark Sentir, the former mayor, is vocal about the importance of the arts in economic development. The focus is now on presenting the arts as central to economic development. People will move to a place not only for work opportunities but because of the thriving arts and entertainment presence. This is because in addition to creating identity, art connects people with special experiences. Even people who may never attend an exhibit, Kietzman says, “. . . like knowing we’re here.”

Heartland Artists collaborate with the community. In the gallery there is a permanent showcase and sale of art pieces created by David’s Place (a rehabilitation facility). Heartland artists painted murals in the newly renovated library. Anna is painting a mural on the outside wall of the new Bremen Arts Collective.

In his talk, September featured artist, sculptor Bill Kolok, from Kentucky, pointed out that when you purchase a piece of art from an artist, you don’t only have an object. You take home hours of the artist’s thought, time, and hands-on work. You have some of the artist’s presence and passion in a creation that he or she is willing to part with – and give to you.

VISIT BREMAN ARTS COLLECTIVE

in contrast to Heartland Artists with their long history, the new Bremen Arts Collective is only two years old. According to founder and owner, Derek Jensen of Bremen, it had a simple beginning. “I knew I wanted a place where I could store cars and stuff and do projects.” His original idea was to have a woodworking shop. “Then,” he says, “the artists showed up. Plymouth has Heartland; Nappanee has a vibrant arts community. South Bend, of course, has one. Bremen, in between, needed something.”

Jensen put together a Board of Directors with the help of retired librarian Holly Heller, who has been his partner every step of the way. On the board’s advice, in mid-2022 he purchased the Sennf Woods Products building, which had been owned by his great uncle but was empty for 5 years. Renovation began. When it was completed in May 2023, classes began, and artists began moving in. Merely a year later, all the studios are filled. In addition to artists’ studios is a stained-glass studio, a pottery studio, and a classroom. A meeting room with a wall made of glass pieces (never used and left in the building) arranged by the builder as a piece of art. It seems like Jensen turns everyone into an artist.

“It was too big for myself alone,” he says. Through Heller’s connections at the library, the community quickly got involved. From the volunteer program at Southwire factory came people who built framed acoustic wall hangings. Classes got started right away. Watercolor was taught by Sheila Reed. Susie Schaetzle was the first artist to move in. There are “Mommy and Me” children’s art classes. Kathy Strang brought her interest in pottery. As volunteers, Paul Davis and Sheila Reed began landscaping and planting.

Most notable at Bremen Arts Collective is the mood of playfulness and fun that combines with generous support and service to the Bremen community. Along with stained glass, pottery, sculpture, and paintings, also displayed here is curled paper art, game table art, arts in the yard, and moss art. Rarely, if ever, does two-dimensional framed art allow (much less invite) touching; however, in the meeting room there is framed fake rabbit fur for touching.

Thanks to Jensen’s generous contribution to the arts, Bremen now has a gallery. And he still doesn’t have a place for his woodworking!

ART CENTERS OF SOUTHERN MICHIANA