“ART AT THE MILL” BEGINS NEW SEASON

The first exhibit of the new “Art at the Mill” season at historic Bear's Mill will feature the translucent watercolors of Richmond, Indiana artist Barbary Easley and unique willow furniture created by Indiana craftsman Greg Adams, as well as Bundy ducks, the work of famed decoy maker, John Bundy. In a change from past years, the exhibition will remain in place for six weeks, beginning Friday, April 3 and continuing through Sunday, May 13. A reception for the artists will take place on Friday, April 10 from 7 to 9 p.m.; this reception offering appetizers and wine is free and open to the public.

Barbara Easley says that when she picks up her brushes, she enters a world of magic and a fusion of color; her vibrant work shares that magical world with the viewer. She instantly fell in love with watercolor when she first began painting in 1993, and that passion continued through her moves from Indiana to McAllen, Texas, to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she earned accolades for her highly accessible paintings before returning to Indiana in 2008. “Flowers are my specialty, but I paint anything that inspires me,” the artist stated. She believes that watercolors offer inspiration in a realm of serenity, an assessment also held by the numerous worldwide purchasers of her work.

Greg Adams' hand-crafted willow furniture returns to Bear's Mill, a site where the rustic pieces look entirely at home. Working quickly while the green branches are still pliable, Adams finds the material near his shop in Lapel Indiana, and then bends the willow to form unique chairs, tables, stools and other pieces. The son of a skilled carpenter says that his goal is to “bring the outdoors inside,” and “enrich my customer's lives by the presence of natural items in their everyday lives.” The craftsman says that his designs have been refined over time, and that tested engineering renders them both sturdy and aesthetically pleasing.


According to wood carver John Bundy, duck decoys are a truly American art form, with the first decoys having been made over ten centuries ago by native Americans. Bundy, who has been making decoys since the late 1970's, uses a unique overlay process combining the natural wood grain and color with a shiny finish to create what have been called the most beautiful duck decoys in the world. The Indiana native has seen his fame grow with his work being sold in prestigious galleries throughout the country including the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, known for its daily ceremony honoring its resident ducks, and displayed in the Oval Office of the White House.

“Art at the Mill” exhibits are on view during regular Mill store hours, 11 a.m. till 5 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, and 1 p.m. till 5 p.m. Sundays. Historic Bear's Mill is owned and operated by Friends of Bear's Mill, a non-profit organization, and is located at 6450 Arcanum-Bear's Mill Road about 5 miles east of Greenville. For more information, contact Bear's Mill at 937-548-5112 or www.bearsmill.com.