New Exhibitions

Barns of Indiana: The Paintings of Gwen Gutwein

A Collaboration with the Fort Wayne Museum of Art


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Gwen painting en plein air
The Midwest Musuem of Art presents a special exhibition of 50 paintings by the artist Gwen Gutwein. The exhibit opens to the public on Friday, December 9, 2011 and continues through Sunday, February 26, 2012. The important exhibit was organized by the Fort Wayne Museum of Art and has toured 12 cities throughout Indiana.

Gwen Gutwein grew up on a farm in Northwest Indiana and understands the beauty, heritage, and nostalgia contained in barns. When she began to notice the disappearance of these structures from her landscape, she made a conscious decision to capture some forever on canvas. She set a goal to paint 2 barns from each of the 92 cointies in Indiana. Because of her energy and ambition, along with funding from the Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, she has completed over 100 paintings of barns in more than forty counties.


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Haimbaugh Barn
In order to complete this extensive project, Gutwein has developed a distinct process. She begins with detailed research on each county, through which she selects specific historical barns. After making contact with each barn owner, she paints en plein air for several days to capture the correct lighting, color, mood and character of the barn. Measurements, statistics, and stories are gathered while on site. Gutwein adds; "the Barn Project, with all of its facets, is focusing attention on the perilous situations and the demise facing most of our rapidly dwindling treasures... our barns."


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Sulina Farm
This collaboration between the Fort Wayne Museum of Art highlighting its American Initiative program and the Midwest Musuem of American Art marks an unprecedented cooperative venture between the two institutions.

Members and Guests are invited to attend the Opening Reception for Barns of Indiana on Sunday, December 11, 2011 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Gallery Talk by Aritst, Gwen Gutwein at 2:00 pm.