What’s Happening at T.C. Steele
Activity and serenity coexist naturally at T.C. Steele State Historic Site. Art- and nature-related programs and events fit well into this peaceful and inspiring setting, providing a variety of year-round activities for all ages.
Complete 2013 Program Schedule
UPCOMING EVENTS
Hiking Sundays Outdoor Series
May 5, June 2, July 7 2013; 1-3pm
$2 per member; $3 per non-member
Join outdoor enthusiasts for this educational hiking series and explore the grounds learning about our historic landscape. In May, a Hike & Plant event will showcase Selma Steele’s landscape vision and let you follow in her gardening footsteps. The June hike will cover the historic trees on the property and the site’s plan to maintain the mature landscape. July’s topic will focus on land management issues caused by the 2012 drought.
Festival of Flowers PaintOut
May 18, 2013; 7am-3:30pm
Registrations will be taken beginning April 1—May 4, 2013.
A $5 late fee will be added for registrations received May 5—11.
No registrations accepted after May 11, 2013.
Artist pre-registration is required
Adult registration: $10 ($9 for members); child registration: $5 ($4 for members)
$2 suggested parking donation for general public
An abundance of peonies, iris and other spring blooms will be reaching out to inspire artists to create their artwork en plein air (out of doors), as visitors observe the process and enjoy the gardens. All work submitted for judging must be created the day of the contest. Boxed lunches will be available for purchase and an afternoon concert will begin at 1pm. Plan to spend the day surrounded by art, artists and the natural beauty that drew T.C. Steele to the hills of Brown County.
Acrylic Painting Demonstration
with Artist-in-Residence, Dick Ferrer
May 19, 2013: 1-5pm
Free and open to the public
Together We Stand
Join Artist-in-Residence Dick Ferrer for a painting demonstration highlighting his unique ‘dark to light’ acrylic painting technique. Ferrer will demonstrate his entire process from composition to completion. Observe and learn from this highly-collected local artist. Visit the artist’s website.
The Artist-in-Residence Program is made possible by the support of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Indiana Arts Commission, Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, Ivy Tech-Bloomington and the Friends of T.C. Steele.Sunday at Home
June 9, 2013; 1-5m
$5 per adult; $3 per child (5-12 years old); children 4 and under free
Volunteers and staff in early 20th century period costume lead special tours and programs. The event will have a traditional music component. Families are encouraged to participate in ‘old-fashioned’ games and activities. The admission fee includes tours of the Large Studio and House of the Singing Winds.
Brown County Studio and Garden Tour
June 21 -23; Tues.-Sat: 9am-6pm, Sun: 10am-5pm.
Free Studio Tour; $5 per adult; $4 per senior for tour of House of the Singing Winds
T.C. Steele is the Tour Headquarters for this popular driving tour. Visit Steele’s Large Studio and take a guided garden tour offered twice daily.
Visiting Artist, Elizabeth Busey will be on site demonstrating her print making process and interacting with visitors all three days during tour hours. She will create and display her work in La Casita, the Steele’s former Guest Cottage. Please check out her website for more information about her work.
Camp Steele
Session 1: July 11-12, 2013; 10am-3pm
Session 2: July 18-19, 2013; 10am-3pm
Member Rates:
$45 per child per session; $77 per child for both sessions
Non-member Rates:
$50 per child per session; $80 per child for both sessions
Campers entering grades 4-7 will discover T.C. Steele, his work, life and home through art activities and tours. Campers will explore the grounds and learn about using natural elements at the site as inspiration. Participants should bring a sack lunch, but snacks and drinks will be provided.
The Art of Murder at T.C. STEELE STATE HISTORIC SITE
February 2013 —THIS POPULAR EVENT SELLS OUT QUICKLY!—
Missed out in 2013? Sign up to receive email announcements of future Murder Mysteries
WORKSHOPS
T.C. Steele State Historic Site offers a range of art-related workshops each year. Our seasonal Artists-in-Residence share their expertise with both workshop participants and visitors to the site. Local and regional artists offer instruction at all skill levels throughout the year.
Claiming Creativity for Mixed Media Collages
with Artist-in-Residence, Dixie Ferrer
June 1, 2013 10am-4pm
Free, limited to 10 participants, ages 12 and up
Join Artist-in-Residence, Dixie Ferrer, for this inspiring workshop. Learn new ways to claim creativity from the natural environment and engage emotions to create a mixed media collage. Participants will be surrounded in the natural beauty of Brown County to gain inspiration to create a collage reflecting their inner voice. All materials will be provided. Participants will need to bring their own sack lunch; a refrigerator is available for storage. Call the site at 812.988.2785 to register. Visit Artist website.
CURRENT & UPCOMING EXHIBITS
Highlights from the Friends of T.C. Steele
Member Art Show & Sale
- A selection from fifty-three contemporary works on display November 2-30
Experience the Quality of Light—The first Friends of T.C. Steele Member Art Show and Sale included 53 entries by 30 artists and resulted in 19 new Friends Memberships. Over 50 artists and visitors attended a very successful evening reception. Artists appreciated the opportunity to display their varied work in the Large Studio surrounded by Steele’s paintings. Plans are underway for next year’s show.
People’s Choice Awards1st place: Field of Lavender and Gold, Oil by Holly LaDue Ulrich
2nd place: Evening Light, Pastel by Anabel Hopkins
3st place: Heirloom Rocker, Maple and Cherry by Don Wood
Congratulations, and thanks to all of the artists, volunteers and staff who participated.
Steele Concealed!
Now on display at the Indiana State Museum
November 12, 2012 – April 22, 2013
Remember, Friends of T.C. Steele members get free admission to the Indiana State Museum. Show your membership card for this and other fascinating exhibits!
During conservation of Steele’s 1887 painting An Old Garden, a second canvas was discovered underneath—on the same stretcher. Come see both paintings and wonder at the mystery! Conservator Barry Bauman, who uncovered the hidden treasure, is interviewed in a video that accompanies the display.
Gicleé prints of the hidden painting are now available in the T.C. Steele Museum Shop!
Newly revealed T.C. Steele painting on left, with the canvas that kept it hidden for years at right
On the T.C. Steele Trail
From May 20, 2012
A recent gift acquisition provides a look at a Boy Scout neckerchief and badges earned while hiking the T.C. Steele Memorial Trail (est. 1963). The display also includes a map of this former commemorative trail.
ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE (A.I.R.) PROGRAM
2013 Artists in Residence
Dick and Dixie Ferrer: May 18-June 1, 2013
Justin Chase Lane: June, 2013
Dick and Dixie Ferrer, May 2013 Artists-in-Residence
The Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program promotes the awareness of the fine arts in Indiana and illustrates how the natural elements of the site inspire artistic creativity. Artists reside on the property, creating original art and interacting with visitors.
Artist-in-Residence opportunities are offered four times a year, coinciding with the changing seasons that captured Steele’s imagination. The program was established in 2007, and uses hands-on experiences and personal interactions with working artists to:
- Promote the historic site and the works of T.C. Steele
- Cultivate and encourage contemporary fine art and artists
- Create opportunities for and exchange among artists, students and the community
Download AIR Application Guidelines and Procedures (PDF)
Funding for the Artist in Residence Program is provided by:
