The Greencastle Arts Council, in proud partnership with the Putnam County Museum, is pleased to announce the official opening of the seventh-annual Putnam County Visual Arts Exhibition on Saturday, July 11. To commemorate this significant milestone in our community’s cultural calendar, the public is cordially invited to attend an opening reception at the museum from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with the Award Ceremony beginning at 3:30 p.m.
This annual exhibition represents a deeply valued and highly effective collaboration between the Arts Council and the museum. Established with the core mission of fostering, highlighting, and preserving local artistic expression, the exhibition actively encourages a wide and inclusive representation of talent from across Putnam County. This foundational goal has directly shaped the wonderfully eclectic nature of the collection over the years. It brings together a diverse array of creative ideas, media, and artistic philosophies into a single, unified space, offering visitors a comprehensive overview of the region’s contemporary visual landscape.
The Curatorial Process and Exhibition Opening
The artwork featured in this year’s exhibition represents the culmination of a rigorous, months-long process. Submissions were accepted during a nearly two-month call-for-entries period earlier this year, during which local creators responded with an exceptional volume of high-quality work. Following the submission deadline, the collection was carefully vetted and curated to best accommodate and maximize the museum’s formal gallery space.
Martha Opdahl, the former director of exhibits at DePauw University, once again lent her extensive expertise to oversee the exhibition’s curation. Working in close coordination with the museum’s dedicated exhibits committee—led by committee chair Gwen Morris—Opdahl ensured that each piece was positioned to foster a meaningful dialogue with surrounding works, creating a cohesive and sophisticated gallery experience for all attendees.
The opening reception on Saturday, July 11, will serve as the first opportunity for the public to engage with this year’s selected works. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet many of the participating artists and discuss the inspirations behind their pieces. At 3:30 p.m., the formal portion of the afternoon will commence with the announcement of multiple cash awards, recognizing outstanding technical skill, originality, and thematic execution across the collection.
Preserving Our Cultural Heritage
The enduring partnership between the Greencastle Arts Council and the Putnam County Museum underscores a shared commitment to the long-term preservation of local history and culture. Lavinia Hale, co-director of the Greencastle Arts Council Visual Art Exhibition Committee, reflected on the institutional significance of this ongoing joint venture:
“The Greencastle Arts Council has partnered with the Putnam County Museum for the last seven years to provide an opportunity for local artists to share their artistic visions with the community. We love to see the variety of themes and media represented. Every year, the Museum purchases one of the artworks to add to its permanent collection, providing an avenue to preserve current artistic and cultural heritage for future generations.”
Through this annual museum acquisition, the exhibition transcends its role as a temporary gallery show. It functions as an active archive, ensuring that the unique perspectives, creative triumphs, and cultural conversations of our current era are securely preserved for the benefit, education, and inspiration of future generations.
Introducing the 2026 Adjudicator
To maintain the highest standards of artistic evaluation, the Arts Council invites an independent professional from the wider contemporary art world to judge the submissions each year. For the seventh-annual exhibition, the Council is privileged to welcome Anna Stein as the official guest adjudicator.
Stein currently serves as the assistant curator of paper-based art at Newfields, the acclaimed cultural campus that houses the collections and exhibits of the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Bringing a rigorous academic background, a deep passion for the visual arts, and extensive curatorial experience within a major regional institution, Stein provides an invaluable perspective to the selection process. The Arts Council extends its sincere gratitude to Stein for her meticulous leadership in evaluating this year’s outstanding submissions and determining the recipients of the 2026 cash awards.
Engaging the Public: The People’s Choice Award
In addition to the formal awards determined by our guest adjudicator, the Greencastle Arts Council believes that community perspective is an essential component of any artistic dialogue. To that end, all visitors to the Putnam County Museum are strongly encouraged to actively participate in the exhibition by casting a ballot for the People’s Choice Award.
As you tour the gallery, we invite you to carefully observe the diverse array of themes and media on display and vote for your favorite artwork. This democratic award provides a direct channel for the community to voice its appreciation, honoring the piece that resonates most deeply with the public. Ballots will be available in the gallery throughout the duration of the exhibition, and the winner will be announced at the conclusion of the show’s run.
Important Dates and Information for Artists
The exhibition will remain open for public viewing through the remainder of the summer season, providing ample opportunity for residents and visitors to explore the gallery at their leisure.
The Greencastle Arts Council and the Putnam County Museum extend their deepest gratitude to the many local artists who contributed their time, vision, and talent to this year’s collection. It is through your continued dedication to your craft that our regional arts ecosystem remains vibrant, thoughtful, and resilient. We look forward to welcoming you to the Putnam County Museum on July 11 to celebrate the opening of this remarkable exhibition together.