It’s always a fun time when people are allowed to show off their creative side. Through a variety of activities in its annual Art Blitz event, the Art Barn School of Art is able to provide an immersive experience for art enthusiasts of all ages.
Art Blitz will be taking place this year from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 21. Agia Amezcua-Bone, marketing coordinator at the Art Barn School of Art, considers this event to be one of the best traditions they have to offer every year.
“This is the eighth year that we’ve done Art Blitz,” Amezcua-Bone said. “It’s one of the most well-received traditions at the Art Barn because it helps highlight educational offerings through live demonstrations and the current exhibition that will be up. We also collaborate with many other organizations to make for an affordable activity that the whole family can have fun with.”
Some other notable activities include creating art to take home, hayrides, sunflower picking, and enjoying the grounds of the Art Barn. The event also provides engagement through guided hikes, live music, and food.
The goal has always been to improve Art Blitz every year. Amezcua-Bone, who will be an employee for the first time during Art Blitz instead of attending the event as a visitor, has seen how this event has continued to evolve over time.
“The visitor count consistently has increased over the years,” Amezcua-Bone said. “Being that this is the eighth year is a testament to the level of engagement that the community has with the Art Barn and how it's grown.”
Arguably the best part about Art Blitz is the accessibility. Both the event admission and parking are completely free for all customers. There has already been preparation to figure out the activities that will set the tone this year.
“We have a lot of cool activities lined up for the event,” Amezcua-Bone said. “We’re doing this new paint-to-pot activity with pots created by one of the ceramics instructors at the Art Barn. We also have our classic chair painting and additional mural paintings. The butterfly release is a really fun time for families because it teaches kids and adults about our local pollinators and nature. As far as food goes, we're going to have a food vendor that is more focused on home-style food with sweet and salty fried treats. We try our best to cater to all ages to make an experience that's worthwhile for the parents and the children.”
While event admission and parking are both free, that’s not to say no proceeds are made from the event in total. However, all of the proceeds that come from sales within specific activities at Art Blitz will go back to the Art Barn to support educational programming.
“We work with a lot of different funders and receive grants through different sources to provide free educational programs for the community,” Amezcua Bone said. “This also helps us make that more accessible for everybody in the Porter County area and beyond.”
Amezcua-Bone claims that art can be very intimidating, especially for a beginner. Art Blitz is the perfect event for the Art Barn to open its arms and help any interested painters learn more about the fundamentals.
Additionally, this year’s event wouldn’t be possible without the sponsors. This includes Michiana WNIT 3, Urschel Laboratories, 1st Source Bank, Lakeshore Public Media, Indiana South Shore Convention & Visitors Authority, Town Planner of Northwest Indiana, WIMS Radio WHFB, Porter Bank, Mechanical Concepts, and Family Express.
“All of our sponsors help us make a push to create art accessibility in the community,” Amezcua-Bone said. “They see the value in giving people the opportunity to learn more about art and experience the power that it can have on the psyche. There is such an appreciation for art in our community, and we're just really grateful that we can be the vessel to provide these art experiences to the community.”
More than anything else, Amezcua-Bone can’t wait to see so many smiling faces filled in a peaceful atmosphere that allows the artists to escape reality and become more familiar with art.
For more information on the Art Barn School of Art, you can visit its website.
