Events & Exhibitions

Upcoming Events

Northern Indiana Pastel Society Meeting
Saturday March 28, 2026
Francis Branch Library
52655 N. Ironwood Road, South Bend
10:30 a.m.:  meet and greet social time
11 a.m.:  news and program

Members are invited to bring an appetizer, fruit, or light brunch item. Guests are welcome. We would appreciate help in organizing the room and refreshments before the meeting and clearing up afterward.

Program
Brandon Davis Jennings will tell how studying Albert Handell’s paintings has helped him improve his own art. He will focus on a few of Handell’s works that helped him to develop form and depth with shadows. Several of Brandon’s studies will be included in the slide presentation.

He has found Handell’s book, Intuitive Light: An Emotional Approach to Capturing the Illusion of Value, Form, Color, and Space to be especially useful, and much of the language used to discuss shadows will be based on Handell’s statements in the book itself.

Brandon Davis Jennings PhD is an artist, author, and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran from West Virginia. His art and writing often explores military themes.

He won a judge’s award in the recent NIPS exhibit at Colfax Cultural Center for his pastel of a service member. He won a juror’s award at the SBMA student/faculty show, and his painting “I’m Not Touching You” is on display at the ALOFT show in downtown South Bend.

Recent Events
Holiday Potluck Luncheon | December 12, 2025
A great chance for NIPs members to celebrate the season!
Over 30 members and guests enjoyed conversation,  a delicious potluck meal and the opportunity to share our common enthusiasm for all things pastel! Members donated books for a book exchange and everyone received a gift of Great American pastel samples.
Thanks to all who worked hard to organize the event, especially Dee Thornton!

It was great to see recent artwork completed by members.

NIPS member Susie Piper created and donated a wreath adorned with pastel supplies, which was won in a drawing by Beth Hamilton.

 

Upcoming Exhibitions

South Bend Museum of Art
NIPS 20th Anniversary Show
May 23– July 5, 2026
Art will be delivered to the museum in early May. Details will be available soon.

Recent Exhibitions

Northern Indiana Pastel Society
Members’ Exhibit: Self Portraits and Other Personal Visions
Friday, September 12 – Thursday, October 16, 2025.
Colfax Cultural Center
914 Lincolnway West  South Bend, IN 46616

29 works by 18 artists, on view in the Robert Seifert Gallery.
Award recipients include Dan Slattery, Mary Firtl, Brandon Davis Jennings, and Liz Kuntz.


 

Inspirations: Northern Indiana Pastel Society Members’ Exhibition

March 21 – June 1, 2025
Fernwood Botanical Garden, 13988 Range Line Road, Niles, Michigan

Featuring 46 works by 26 members of the Northern Indiana Pastel SocietyPrize judge: Katie Neece, Curator of Education and Studio Programs, South Bend Museum of Art.

Award Winners:

Beth Hamilton,  “Rejoice of the Birds”
Elizabeth Kuntz, “Meditation”

 

Greg Lorch, “The Beach Shed”
Diann Nelson,” Rhythm of the Beach Path”
Jude Phillips, “Gnarly Tree”

Recent NIPS  Events

Several NIPS Members participated in this event on August 2, 2025

Landscape by Mary Firtl
NIPS President Cathy McCormick offered a presentation on the art of pastel.
NIPS Member Mary Firtl capturing the scene

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 2025 NIPS Meeting

South Bend native, Elizabeth Kuntz, an intuitive fine artist working mainly in pastel, discussed her inspiration, her process and the journey behind it, and the healing power of art. Liz’s pastel, “Five Medicine Beings” won an award in our NIPS exhibit at the Box Factory for the Arts in St. Joseph, Michigan, September-October 2024.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leave a Reply