Upcoming Exhibitions
Northern Indiana Pastel Society 20th Anniversary Exhibit
May 23–July 12, 2026
Crowley Community Gallery
South Bend Museum of Art
Reception with awards: First Friday, June 5, 5-8 p.m. (with “Around the Bend” exhibit)
Releasing from exhibit: Monday, July 13. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Jurors: Bill Tourtillotte, art faculty at Indiana Univ. South Bend, and Julie Tourtillotte, art faculty at Saint Mary’s College
Plan ahead for these upcoming exhibitions:
Heartland Art Center, Aug. 4-29, 2026
214 N. Michigan St. Plymouth, IN
If this location is not available due to renovations, the show will take place at One More Chapter Books at 108 N. Michigan St., Plymouth
Deliver work: Saturday Aug. 1, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Reception, awards and releasing of art: Saturday, Aug. 29, 1-3 p.m.
Food and drinks will be supplied by Heartland, but members are invited to bring appetizers and desserts also.
Fernwood Botanical Garden
Feb. 19 – May 2, 2027
Reception Sunday, Feb. 21, 2027
Roti Roti Art Center
Buchanan, Mich.,
2028
Recent Events
Northern Indiana Pastel Society Meeting
Saturday March 28, 2026
Brandon Davis Jennings told how studying Albert Handell’s paintings has helped him improve his own art. He focused on a few of Handell’s works that helped him to develop form and depth with shadows. Several of Brandon’s studies were 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.
Holiday Potluck Luncheon | December 12, 2025
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.
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:
Recent NIPS Events
Several NIPS Members participated in this event on August 2, 2025
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.