Arts Association Flourishes in Historic Crown Point Building
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There are riches in the People’s State Bank building in downtown Crown Point once again. That’s because the historic structure houses a branch of the Northern Indiana Arts Association‚ where artistic works representing a wealth of styles and cultures are displayed and where artists teach classes of eager students.
The arts association branch in Crown Point opened in 1998 with the renovation of the bank‚ which is now dubbed the Crown Point Community Art Center. The bank‚ built around 1910‚ suffered its share of indignities‚ says John Cain‚ executive director of the association and a resident of Crown Point.
“ It wasn’t even a bank for that long‚” Cain says. “Then‚ when the stock market crashed and the Depression set in‚ it closed. It was kind of a derelict building. It’s seen through the years various so-called cosmetic improvements such as rust-colored‚ indoor-outdoor carpeting and avocado this and that. Yet‚ as it turns out‚ the building has very nice architectural detail – terrazzo floors‚ pilasters and moldings. When we went to rehab it‚ we found this very pretty detailing.”
The building’s renovation contributed to Crown Point’s downtown revitalization efforts and lures art patrons and pupils to the town square during and after business hours‚ he adds.
“ We opened the branches to bring our art programs to new audiences‚” Cain says. The arts association branches include the one in Crown Point and another in Hammond‚ which also opened in 1998. The Northern Indiana Arts Association‚ which is headquartered in the Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster‚ was founded in the late 1930s by a group of local artists who organized an annual exhibit. That exhibit was presented in the Minas Department Store in Hammond “after the ladies’ hats were put away after Easter‚” Cain says.
A large part of the association’s mission is education‚ and Cain says the organization’s “bread and butter” is its art classes. At the Crown Point branch‚ four class terms are offered annually‚ and classes feature a variety of media‚ including oil painting‚ watercolor‚ ceramics‚ photography and drawing.
Classes target students from pre-school age to senior citizens‚ and after-school scholarship classes attract school-age students. Northern Indiana Arts Association artist members also reach out into the community‚ teaching classes for mothers and their children at the St. Jude House domestic shelter and for at-risk juveniles who reside at Hoosier Boys’ Town.
The association occupies the main floor and the loft of the Crown Point building‚ and runs a gift shop in the bank’s old vault‚ complete with the brass cage door.
Story by Sharon H. Fitzgerald
Photo by Martin Bennett
