Congratulations to the Winners:
and Thank You to all the Participants
The Café Terrace at Night by Van Gogh (1888)
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An oil painting by the now renowned Vincent van Gogh, “The Café Terrace at Night” or “The Café Terrace on the Place du Forum” was first entitled “Café, le soir”, which translates to “Coffeehouse, in the evening.” Van Gogh was a Dutch post-Impressionist painter whose unique style contributed to the foundations of modern art, but his works were mostly unappreciated during his lifetime. This piece now resides at the Kroller-Muller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands.
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Pictured here is our own local coffeehouse in the evening, Amack’s Well, a non-profit located in the heart of Batesville. This evening scene features many of the baristas currently employed at the coffee shop. Since its creation in 2015, Amack’s Well has striven to fulfill its mission: providing a community gathering place in the city of Batesville that is a safe environment for all age groups that cultivates relationships and fostering a sense of community. In addition to the ten baristas pictured, Amack’s Well is run by a nine-member board and employs a general manager and custodial staff.
Vase with Twelve Sunflowers by Van Gogh (1888)
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Though Vincent van Gogh, a Dutch post-Impressionist painter, is well known for his struggles with depression, he created several sunflower paintings in the summer of 1888. These images, with their bright yellow hue, embodied hope and were perhaps created in preparation for the arrival of fellow artist and friend Paul Gauguin. The bright yellow paint featured in this piece first became available in the early 19th century. Van Gogh was one of the first artists to embrace the use of this color. One of eleven of van Gogh’s paintings that depicts sunflowers, this rendition resides at the Neue Pinakothek in Munich, Germany.
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Much like van Gogh, the Batesville Beautification League provides beauty and color through flowers and much more. This group of volunteers was formed in 1949 with a goal to make Batesville a more beautiful, colorful place for residents and visitors. The group has provided benches; planted trees, perennials, shrubs; and installed sculptures around town. In addition, holiday lights have been a BBL project throughout the years with the addition of the wooden Christmas boxes, painted by both BHS and OA students, which adorn the concrete planters. BBL is a small group of dedicated citizens who welcome anyone sharing our goals to help keep our community beautiful.
Time Transfixed by Rene Magritte (1938)
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Rene Magritte, a Belgian Surrealist painter, created this work in 1938 for the private collection of Edward James. One of many Surrealist artists, this movement flourished between World War I and World War II, focusing on drawing dream and fantasy into the everyday. Magritte’s commonplace depiction of a dining room fireplace is disrupted by the train engine emerging as from a tunnel.
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This image was recreated using one of the three fireplaces located on the main level of the Batesville Historical Center, as well as a train engine from the upcoming holiday train display. The volunteer run organization was founded in 1999 by Jean Struewing to preserve the past history of Batesville. Its vision is to keep her dream alive with past and current displays. If you would like to join the 160 members who support the BHC’s mission, please contact Carolyn Dieckmann at 812-212-9382.
The Bookworm by Norman Rockwell (1926)
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Norman Rockwell, a prolific American painter and illustrator, was mostly dismissed by art critics in his lifetime because of his sentimental portrayals of American life. Here, Rockwell’s “The Bookworm” was inspired by an 1852 piece of the same name by Carl Spitzweg. Though Spitzweg’s piece embodies the Romanticism movement, Rockwell stays true to his depiction of every-day American life. This piece currently resides at the Grohmann Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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You’ll find plenty of bookworms at the Batesville Memorial Public Library! Established in 1938, the library relocated to its permanent location in 1978. The dynamic BMPL serves all residents of Batesville Indiana, providing avenues for lifelong learning through materials and programming for all ages, always seeking to improve, enhance, and provide new services to our community.
Who’s Having More Fun by Norman Rockwell (1940)
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Another of Rockwell’s commercial endeavors, this image appeared in 1940 as an advertisement for Niblets Canned Corn. Due to his commercial focus, Rockwell was not taken seriously by art critics, but he found early success painting for Boys’ Life magazine while still in his teens. His works appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post for over five decades. In 2008, he was named the official state artist of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. His studio and much of his collection reside in his longtime home of Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
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Much like the children in the original ad, here, a pair of young children enjoy some delicious corn. Local produce is a main focus of the Food and Growers Association. The FGA has been serving southeast Indiana farmers and consumers since 2003 through education programs, monthly community gatherings, farmer training programs, Batesville Community Garden, Hoosier Harvest Market (online farmers market), networking, and value chain coordination. The FGA is the longest standing food and farming organization in our region. The FGA is committed to helping support, rebuild, and expand the local food system in the region.
Choosin’ Up by Norman Rockwell (1951)
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Norman Rockwell’s “Four Sporting Boys: Baseball (Choosin’ Up)” appeared in the 1951 Brown and Bigelow Four Seasons calendar. Rockwell painted for this calendar series for a total of 16 years. As with many of his paintings, the four boys who appear in this painting were locals. Rockwell created over 4,000 original works, many of which have become synonymous with American life. Much of his extensive collection is on display at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
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Much like Rockwell, Giving Hearts a Hand used local models (Charlie Schebler, Jack Grunkemeyer, Brayden Maple, and Carson Meyer), all of whom have been screened through the organization’s cardiac screenings for young athletes. This local non-profit organization was established in May of 2011 by Doug and Cortney Meyer. The mission of GHH is to promote heart awareness in area communities through funding cardiac screenings in young athletes, as well as to share the importance of the use of AEDs and help place them in our communities.
"The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp" by Rembrandt (1632)
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Hanging in the Maurishuis Museum in The Hague, Netherlands, “The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp” is one of Rembrandt’s early successes. This Baroque style painting is oil on canvas and is one of the first to feature his signature as only Rembrandt rather than his initials. Some of the doctors in the painting actually paid to be in it! The Baroque period was marked by realistic images, use of high contrast, and thrilling details (as evidenced by the arm being filleted open).
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Pictured in Kids Discovery Factory, the organization recreated this piece using its jumbo operation game, one of many exhibits currently available at KDF’s museum on Sycamore Street in downtown Batesville. KDF’s mission is to inspire young learners to innovate and create through the exploration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM). The growing children’s museum currently provides weekly play hours, field trips, birthday parties, summer camps, and mobile school and community outreach. For more information visit: www.KidsDiscoveryFactory.org or follow them on Facebook.
Me and My Parrots by Frida Kahlo (1941)
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Frida Kahlo was a prolific Mexican folk artist, creating 143 paintings in her forty-seven years. “Me and My Parrots” is one of 55 self-portraits. Although some referred to her work as Surrealist, Kahlo pushed back against that label describing her style as “my own reality.” Like many artists, she found some success during her lifetime, but achieved true acclaim several decades after her death. Married to muralist and painter Diego Rivera, the couple currently adorn the 500 Mexican Peso bill, a sign of the immense influence of Kahlo’s art.
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Pictured here, Mom2Mom leadership team member Cynthia Geisen-Thompson poses with two of her children. Mom2Mom chose this piece to represent all that moms must balance, and the support that the group provides to its members. The goal of Mom2Mom is to reach out to moms in our community; encouraging them in their season of life, helping to meet practical needs, building on mothering skills, and fostering healthy relationships in a God-centered environment. The group meets alternating Friday mornings throughout the school year. In addition, they host special moms’ nights out and summer events.
Shielded from the Storm by Melani Pyke (2018)
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Contemporary artist Melani Pyke produced this acrylic painting as part of her January 2018 project to create a painting from each of the 31 chapters of the book of proverbs. “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” (Proverbs 30:5). A resident of Canada, Melani specializes in acrylic and oil canvases and panels, as well as murals.
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The Batesville Pregnancy Hotline is a pro-life organization dedicated to helping women and their babies. Help is offered to all pregnant women, regardless of age, race, or religion. Some of the resources provided include: diapers, wipes, clothing, other essentials, and referrals to several agencies that may provide financial support or other services.
We Can Do It! by J. Howard Miller (1943)
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Created for Westinghouse Electric, J. Howard Miller’s “We Can Do It!” was one of several propaganda posters created by the little-known graphic artist. The original purpose of “We Can Do It!” was to inspire women to support the war effort at home, temporarily taking on traditional male roles in industry and manufacturing while maintaining their feminine roles. Although this work is now synonymous with “Rosie the Riveter,” that title is actually one of a Norman Rockwell painting from the same era. Regardless, this piece has usurped Rockwell’s to become the embodiment of “Rosie the Riveter,” and the original Westinghouse Electric ad has grown from war propaganda into an iconic image of the strength and power of women.
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Established 25 years ago, Safe Passage is the sole support services provider for domestic and sexual violence survivors and their children in the six-county district of southeast Indiana. Its mission is to provide help, healing and hope to build a community free of domestic and sexual violence. Through extensive services and support to survivors of domestic and sexual violence and innovative community-based prevention programming, Safe Passage strives to build safe, stable nurturing relationships and communities. On average, 1300 survivors are served annually either through the 30-bed shelter, toll-free helpline, or nonresidential programming. All services are free and confidential.
Three Dancers by Edgar Degas
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Perhaps best known for his numerous portraits of dancers, Edgar Degas was a Parisian Impressionist artist. He honed his skills through careful study and mimicry of the masters in his early years, choosing to focus his works on capturing the movement of real-life as his skills developed. Consequently, many of his pieces depict horses and dancers. His works are often off-center, giving the viewer the feeling that they are observing the scene from the audience or backstage. Though he is well-known for his oil paintings and pastels, Degas also experimented with etching, printmaking, and sculpture.
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Much like Degas, Southeastern Indiana Dance is focused on dance and movement. The Dance Studio was opened in 2006 and incorporated as Southeastern Indiana Dance, Inc. in 2014 with a mission to foster a life-long love of dance and movement. With three instructors, SEI Dance strives to provide exceptional leadership to our students, building talent and developing life skills such as discipline and respect. SEI Dance believes a person never stops learning and works hard to ensure our approach extends to all our students, from children to adults. Consider joining our 115 current students at the studio and its mission to positively reach our community through dance.
The Laundry by Edouard Manet (1875)
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Not to be confused with fellow French painter Claude Monet, Edouard Manet was one among many notable painters. He was essential in the movement from Realism to Impressionism. His works focused not on history, religion, or mythology but centered on modern life. Utilizing new artistic techniques, “The Laundry,” depicting a woman and child, was rejected by the Salon and instead displayed at the Impressionists’ private exhibition. Their movement slowly captured hold and paved the way for modern art. This piece is currently held by the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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The So Loved Clothing Closet is a non-profit that strives to help families and children in need of basic necessities to live. Established in October 2019, So Loved has helped well over 3,000 local children in its first three years. The organization relies on community donations and the hard work of its dedicated volunteers to fulfill its mission.
Not Too Much to Carry by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1895)
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A French Neoclassical and Naturalist painter, Bouguereau was extremely popular during his lifetime. He was very traditional in his execution, creating beautiful pieces with mass appeal. He took much of his inspiration from literature and mythology, as well as creating idyllic scenes of peasant life as in “Not Too Much to Carry.” Known as a kind and encouraging teacher, Bouguereau had a talent for capturing detail, texture, and light. His popularity waned after his death with the rise of more avant-garde artistic movements, such as Impressionism and Surrealism, that scorned the precision and detail of Neoclassical and Naturalist works.
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Here, SEI Voices for Children has recreated “Not Too Much to Carry” to represent the assistance volunteers provide to children in this region. Voices for Children recruits, trains, and supports volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) in the local community. These CASAs advocate for abused and neglected children here in Ripley County. Voices for Children is currently supporting almost 20 volunteers and serves over 100 children every year. The group is always looking for new volunteers to join the team!
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Vote anytime between October 19-30.
One vote per person per contest period please!
Winner announced October 31.