Madison Bicentennial, 1809-2009

Joining the celebration of Madison’s Bicentennial, the Madison Chautauqua Festival of Art created a mural, a piece of public art, with members of our local arts community. A photo of an early Madison streetscape served as the inspiration for the project. The completed mural, a composite of 16 original paintings digitally recreated and transferred to vinyl, was placed on the building located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Main & West Streets. We are so grateful to the artists who worked together to create the mural and to the building’s owners, Harry Dobbins and Stacey Fields. We hope Madison’s residents and visitors enjoyed the addition to our streetscape.

"I have enjoyed working with the other artists on this project. With all these diverse talents contributing, it will certainly be a unique piece to behold."

Teresa L. Waller	Jenny Straub Youngblood	Robert H. Saueressig	Barbara Walters-Dixon
Lawrence D. Rudolech	Kevin Carlson	Marguerite Ligon	Jane DeVito
Geoff Crowe	Eric Phagan	Lillie J. Wingham	Hal Davis
Steve Bickis	Patty Cooper Wells	Bill Borden	Louis E. Knoble

1. Teresa L. Waller

Teresa L. Waller, an Oldham County, Kentucky native, graduated in 1982 from the Louisville School of Art (LSA) with a BFA in ceramics with a minor in drawing. After graduation, she pursued her interest in oil painting, exhibiting in several Kentucky and Southern Indiana galleries. From 1986-2005, Waller’s business career took priority over her art endeavors. In the fall of 2005, however, she began painting again. An avid gardener, Waller was inspired by large-leaf plants and the effects of sunlight on the foliage. Her first solo show, “Nature Reborn” opened at the Kaviar Forge Gallery in Louisville, Kentucky. “Portraits from the Garden” debuted at The Artisan’s Gallery in Madison, Indiana in November 2008. Her work is available at The Artisan’s Gallery.

2. Jenny Straub Youngblood

Born into an artistic family, Jenny Straub Youngblood began drawing and painting at a very young age. She was formally trained at Hanover College where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art. Jenny ordinarily chooses to paint the human form, but was very pleased when asked to help with the mural on Roger’s Corner.The artist has participated in a number of local, regional, and national art competitions. While, she enjoys working on series of paintings in a subject matter of her own choosing, she has recently begun to accept commissions for non-traditional portraiture. Jenny lives in Madison with her husband Brian and her daughter Bethany. She maintains a studio in her home.

3. Robert H. Saueressig

Robert H. Saueressig has enjoyed being a professional artist since graduating from the College of Visual Art in St. Paul, Minnesota. This joie de vivre is apparent in the vibrancy of his award-winning paintings and hand-pulled original prints. A transplant from the prairies of North Dakota, he now resides in historic Madison, Indiana. As an avid plein air artist, he is fascinated by the beauty and history of the area and continues to explore Indiana with camera and palette. Participating in plein air painting events around the country enables Robert to combine several of his favorite activities: creating art, traveling, and interacting with people. His work is in many private collections throughout the US, in Europe and as far away as Mongolia. Contact Robert at artquest2000@hotmail.com

4. Barbara Walters-Dixon

Barbara Walters- Dixon was born in Louisville, Kentucky and grew up in Madison, Indiana, her father’s hometown. She graduated from Madison High School, married and moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado where she lived for 33 years. Barbara sketched in her earlier years and tried many medias. The most interesting medias in her experiences were Oils, Watercolors, and Gold & Silver point. Barbara now resides in historic Madison, Indiana where her artistic passion has turned to painting the beautiful town and riverboats. She continues to do commission work consisting of pets, portraits, landscapes, architecture and other subjects. Some of her paintings have been sold internationally, namely France, & New Zealand and throughout the United States.

5. Lawrence D. Rudolech

Larry Rudolech has spent most of his life admiring and studying the simple beauty of southern Indiana’s country side. Guided by his high school art teacher Mr. Lou Knoble, Larry won or received many scholarships. In the Julius Epstein National Competition Scholarship, he entered 3 of the 5 categories winning 1st in oil, 1st in watercolor, and placed 2nd in pencil. With his college education secured, Larry selected The John Herron School of Art in Indianapolis, where he pursued a career in Graphic Design and went on to own a freelance design and illustration company. He picked up his brushes again to participate in the Hoosier Salon Show in 2001, and as a member of the Indiana Plein Air Painters Association, he now feels he is beginning to nurture the artistic urges he has suppressed for so long.

6. Kevin Carlson

Kevin Carlson began painting at 10 years old, taking lessons from Julia Hofstadt, a renowned Madison artist. He graduated from Purdue University with a B.A. majoring in Fine Arts. He started Carlson Art & Sign in 1986 producing hand lettered signs and other commercial artwork. He joined of the Madison Art Club in 1985, serving several terms as president. Carlson is also past vice-president of Indiana Plein Air Painters Association (IPAPA). He has exhibited in Madison Art Club member shows, regional shows and IPAPA member shows. Awards include MAC Annual Regional Show (2nd, 3rd, and HM); 2nd in Southern Indiana Center of the Arts 2004 Summer Arts Festival; 1st in oils at the 16th T.C.Steele Fall Paint-out in 2005 and 2nd in 2006.

7. Marguerite Ligon

Marguerite Ligon’s artwork reflects the beauty, nostalgia, and serenity of this rural river valley. She enjoyed folk painting, evolving to china painting and later found her love of oils and fine art. She studied oil painting under Elle Smith of Hanover College, and took workshops from Robert Johnson, John Michael Carter and Todd Reifers, among others. Marguerite joined the Madison Art Club in 2001, serving as a Board Member until 2009. She has been a participant, the Chairperson or Co-Chairperson of the annual Madison Art Club Show and Competition since 2001. In addition to the Madison Art Club Gallery, her works hang in homes throughout Indiana and as far away as Massachusetts and Florida. Marguerite and her husband, Keith have two children and three grandchildren.

8. Jane DeVito

“I’ve been an artist all my life, but only started painting seriously in 2003. That was when I realized I had to paint. I had things inside that needed to be expressed! Painting is more than a hobby for me, it’s my art, it’s me, it’s what I am supposed to be doing with my life. People ask what inspires my paintings. What works best for me is to have nothing in mind when I start to paint, just simply trust that something will happen, something will be there. And almost always, something does appear! Sometimes it completely surprises me! Sometimes I say ‘of course!’ I don’t understand or question the process, I just have faith in it, and find it very rewarding.”

9. Geoff Crowe

Born in Maryland, artist Geoffrey Crowe has lived in California, Puerto Rico, Ireland and Indiana while pursuing his art education and exhibiting his work. He studied at La Liga de Arte and La Escuela de Arte Plasticas in Puerto Rico and Kinsale Pottery on the south coast of Ireland. His shows include a solo exhibition of paintings in 2004 at La Liga de Arte, an exhibition of ceramic sculpture at Galeria Sanchez (Puerto Rico) in 2005, exhibitions of paintings and sculpture during Kinsale Arts Week (2006-2007) and Cork Art Fair (Ireland, 2007) and a solor exhibition of paintings at the Artisan Gallery, Madison, Indiana.

10. Eric Phagan

Eric Phagan, a native of Madison, Indiana, has studied at the Penland School of Craft in North Carolina and abroad in Paris, France. In 2006 he received his BFA- Ceramcs from the Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis. He has received numerous awards and showings across the nation and is widely collected. His patrons and public works include San Angelo Museum of Fine Art in San Angelo, Texas"Upstream", Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis"Sailor Man" and the City of Madison at Lytle Park"Ties That Bind". He is represented by HG Galleries in Orlando, Florida.

11. Lillie J. Wingham

Lillie Wingham first took art lessons at age 40 and continues to study. Her goal is to continue learning through studying and painting with fellow artists. Lillie has had two one-woman shows and one show shared with three other artists. She has belonged to the Madison Art Club for 28 years, serving as President and Vice President at various times. The book Beloved Madison features her painting of the Delta Queen. In Indiana, her works have been available at Back Home Indiana in Indianapolis, the Franklin Gallery in Franklin, The Madison Art Gallery, Golden Treasures and the Trolley Barn in Madison, and the Julia Knox House in Vevay. Additionally her paintings are in France, England and Japan. Lillie and her husband Tommy Wingham and have four children.

12. Hal Davis

A native of Paducah, Kentucky, Hal Davis graduated in 1967 with a BA degree in art from Emporia State University and completed a MS degree in education from Indiana University in 1971. He taught art in the public school system (Madison and Indianapolis) for 27 years. In the 1970s, Davis worked with community members during the founding years of Madison’s art festival. He served as President of the Art Education Association of Indiana in 1976. Hal enjoys working in oils and was commissioned to paint the Madison Chautauqua Festival of Art Poster in 1995, 1996 and 2000. He has exhibited at the Madison Art Club Annual Show and the Hoosier Salon, where he won the Best Still Life in Oils award in 2007.

13. Steve Bickis

Steve Bickis lives east of Madison in an old log cabin surrounded by hills and hollows. He was born in Ft. Wayne, Indiana and studied art at Ft. Wayne Art Institute and Indiana University. He moved to Key West, FL, in 1979 where he painted signs, sailed and fished. Steve married in 1982 and has been blessed with three sons. He moved to Madison in 1991 where he has worked construction and painted signs. He enjoys many mediums from woodcarving, oil and watercolor painting to graphic design. Painting - or any art - helps him stay in the “now” and makes him feel more connected with the spiritual and natural world. Immediate hopes and goals are to paint more and become more involved in the community.

14. Patty Cooper Wells

Patty Cooper Wells is known for her colorful acrylic paintings and portraits as well as her imaginative assemblage pieces. Her art may be found all over Madison, from CD art created for local musicians Roy Gentry and Rusty Bladen, to murals for the City of Madison at Comfort Station. Patty curates the "On the Wall" Art Gallery, a monthly rotating art exhibition space at Joeyg's Restaurant & Nightclub, and is active in an informal arts group she founded with artist Jane Devito, "The Gadfly Arts Association".

She enjoyed being a part of the Mural Project as Madison’s history has special meaning for her. One ancestor was one of the first settlers in Jefferson County. More work by Patty Cooper Wells can be seen at www.secretcircus.com.

15. Bill Borden

Indianapolis native William Borden is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art with a B.F.A. in industrial design. A freshman class at Cleveland sparked his interest in transparent watercolor painting and since the early 70’s he has pursued a second career as a painter of landscapes and mechanical compositions. In 1988 he was elected a signature member of the American Watercolor Society. He is now a full time watercolor painter. Bill holds signature memberships in the American Watercolor Society, the Watercolor U.S.A. Honor Society and the Watercolor Society of Indiana. He is active in the Indiana Plein Air Painters Association , the Indiana Artist’s Club, Indiana Heritage Arts and The Madison Art Club. He has instructed numerous watercolor painting workshops in Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky.

16. Louis E. Knoble

“In my paintings you will find five little squares in succession hidden among the painted images. They have become a fixture in my paintings and now verify that the painting is indeed “a Knoble.” When I started seriously painting in my senior year of college, I was an abstract expressionist, a student and product of the 50”s. My instructor was Peter Busa, close friend and compatriot of Jackson Pollack. Life has been exciting and I find that the only dull moments are the ones you create yourself.”

Lou Knoble was born in Buffalo, served four years in the Air Force during the Korean War era, came to Madison, Indiana in 1964 to accept a position as art department head at Madison Consolidated Schools, and coached track and cross-country for over 40 years.