Open through December 1, 2024

Building Memory: Artistic Interpretations of Notable Landmarks

Art celebrates. It documents. For thousands of years, people have used art to mark significant occasions. Poetry is read at weddings and funerals. Unveiled paintings honor a career, and music heralds the arrival of ships and queens.

Here in our region, artists have been called upon to memorialize the pride of this county’s communities. One way they do so is by looking to the built environment. Buildings tell a story, and through them, artists can capture with precision a specific moment in history or imaginatively reflect on shared values.

Though sometimes overlooked, art that documents and commemorates is invaluable to our understanding of history and everyday life.

Featured Artworks

Explore Building Memory to examine the following artworks:

Vinol (Vin) Hannell and his wife Hazel were notable artists of the Furnessville community. This painting of the third Porter County Courthouse, viewed from the bustling corner of Indiana Avenue and Washington Street looking east, is an exceptional example of the way artists can connect us to history. Every detail contributes to a portrayal of a small community in the midst of transition.

This 1972 watercolor captures the Gardner School at a turning point. The school closed in 1972, prompting much public debate about plans for its use, one involving renovation as an arts center. It was around this time and likely in response to this rumor that Betty Lou Shotliff created this watercolor of the old school. The building still stands and until recently housed the Boys and Girls Club. Currently, it is undergoing development as the Grand Gardner Hotel, a 58-room hotel with restaurant and banquet center.

For watercolor artists working en plein air (French for “in the open air”), architecture proves an attractive subject. These two works painted “from life” capture the shifting light of the day and document a very specific moment in each building’s history.

About the Robert Cain Gallery

The Robert Cain Gallery honors M. Robert “Rob” Cain (1930-2022), a lifelong Valparaiso resident and beloved Valparaiso High School art teacher. In 2014, Cain participated in the dedication of the Robert Cain Gallery in our former location at 153 Franklin Street in Valparaiso. The naming was made possible by a special gift from Joanne & Dan Urschel, whose family members were inspired by Cain from their time in his classroom.