The Buchanan Art Center will host three new exhibits from July 2 through Aug. 14 with a reception Friday, July 8 from 5 to 8 p.m.
Heidi Clark’s work, “Pods and Bods,” includes antique/vintage dress forms and furniture in the Roti Roti Gallery; the Show Place Gallery features “Molas from Panama, A Private Collection;” and the Hess Library Gallery offers “Dunes and Glacier Parks,” vintage photographs of national and state parks taken circa 1930s.
Clark, a South Bend resident, was born and raised in Germany. Even as a child, she recalls erecting “towers of pots and pans … bottles and wooden spoons,” rather than playing with dolls. The focus of her work in “Pods and Bods” is strictly decorative and incorporates ideas of interior design concepts, while transitioning such used items as old doors, suitcases, umbrellas and hats into ornamental purpose. Some of her dress forms date to the Edwardian era (1837-1910), and others from later periods.
Molas from Panama are part of a private collection. The mola originated in the San Blas Islands of Panama, where the original inhabitants decorated their bodies with colorful designs. When encouraged to wear clothes by the missionaries, they followed their body painting designs in their molas, which they wore as clothing. The mola is part of the traditional costume of the Kuna Indian women, and the ability to make an outstanding mola is a source of status. All of the molas from this collection were made in Panama.
The photographs of Dunes and Glacier Parks are owned by Dorothy and John Heller, and were taken circa 1930s and 1940s by George Uebele, who was married to Dorothy’s aunt. This is a small sampling of more than 750 photos contained in 40 photo albums that contain scenes from Glacier, Yellowstone and Yosemite national parks. Uebele spent most of his adult life in the South Bend area and resided on Pleasant Street in River Park. He was employed by the Bendix Corp. as an engineer. Also on display are some personal items from the Uebeles’ camping trips.
The Buchanan Art Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed in 2004, is located at 117 West Front St. in Buchanan.
More information including a schedule classes can be found at 697-4005 or at www.buchananartcenter.org.