Arts Guide

UNIQUE. HAND CR AF TED. ONE- OF-A-KIND.

B R O W N C OU N T Y A R T I S A L I V E

B R O W N C OU N T Y A R T I S A L I V E

The art scene in Brown County, Indiana, is flourishing. And when you immerse yourself in it, you’ll never feel more alive.

BROWN COUNTY ART IS

Clay vigorously shaped into a decorative stoneware vase. Handspun yarn dyed to create a vibrant woven scarf. Unique designs meticulously crafted into stunning leather boots. Minerals and gems layered into a handmade necklace.

Nearly everything in Brown County is handcrafted art, from watercolor paintings, wooden bowls, and sculptures carved from native Indiana limestone to custom furniture, woven baskets, and homemade ice cream! It’s original, authentic art you can only find in Brown County.

So, tour an art studio. Enjoy an art walk. Take an art class. Whether you marvel at the artists while they work or try your hand at creating a masterpiece yourself, you’ll be inspired. You’ll feel energized. You’ll add something beautiful to your day.

Discover the artist within you! Roll up your sleeves and make a handwoven rug or custom candle for your home.

Sip Chardonnay while crafting an abstract design in a paint pouring class. Sit on a hilltop and sketch your breathtaking surroundings “en plein air.” Hone your skills with private art lessons.

There’s a make-and-take art experience for everyone!

And the best part? You’ll create a one-of-a-kind souvenir you’ll always cherish.

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Brown County Art: Unique. Handcrafted. One-of-a-kind.

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B R O W N C OU N T Y A R T I S E V E R Y W H E R E

B R O W N C OU N T Y A R T I S E V E R Y W H E R E

everywhere BROWN COUNTY ART IS

It’s an acoustic guitar strummed on a Nashville stage.

It’s a glorious landscape captured on canvas from a picturesque hillside. It’s stained glass windows in a log cabin near Cottonwood. It’s whimsical metal artwork fabricated in a mill outside of Gatesville. It’s unique holiday ornaments painted by hand in a shop along Main Street.

Handcrafted art is everywhere you look in Brown County!

It’s created in artists’ studios dotting every back road, from Belmont to Bean Blossom to Story. It’s crafted in distilleries and wineries near Gnaw Bone. It’s showcased in art galleries, boutiques, and public art throughout the Village of Nashville.

And it’s easy to find, too. Just look for the leaves designating all the official destinations in Arts Village Brown County.

However you choose to explore Brown County, you’ll quickly realize handcrafted art is on every corner … down every dusty road … and inspired by every breathtaking vista.

And it’s perfect for every home, too.

Ready to discover the handcrafted art that Brown County is known for? Just look for the Arts Village leaves on the doors of official arts destinations around town.

The inspiration for the leaves?

Soaring, the sculpture at the corner of Van Buren and Main Streets. Created by local artist Jim Connor and veteran organization Mission 22, the swirling leaves in this piece of public art symbolize the 22 veteran suicides that occur every day.

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B R O W N C OU N T Y A R T S T I R S T H E S E N S E S

B R O W N C OU N T Y A R T S T I R S T H E S E N S E S

The sweet scent of lavender artisan soaps.

The sound of a chainsaw carving an ornate wooden sculpture. The texture of oil paints splattered on a canvas. The heat of a furnace intricately shaping a glass-blown figurine.

The rich, smooth flavor of a craft beer.

Stroll through Brown County’s eclectic shops, boutiques, and galleries, and your senses are sure to be awakened as handcrafted art of every kind takes shape before your eyes.

Surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty, Brown County’s artists and musicians have an endless source of inspiration. From the fragrance of blooming crabapple trees and the sight of a white-tailed deer nesting in a forest clearing to the crunch of autumn leaves underfoot and the warmth of a stunning summer sunset, Mother Nature is the ultimate muse.

Brown County art is stimulating, exhilarating, and energizing. It’s a feast for the senses and a balm for the soul. You’ll love how it makes

BROWN COUNTY ART

you feel.

Practically everything made in Brown County is elevated to an artform, and local libations are no exception. From craft beer to fine wine to smooth spirits, each seems to taste better because of the craftsmanship involved.

With four wineries, two distilleries, and one brewery, Brown County’s craft beverage scene is brimming with places to wet your whistle … one sip at a time. Cheers!

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B R O W N C OU N T Y HO S P I TA L I T Y I S A N A R T F OR M

B R O W N C OU N T Y HO S P I TA L I T Y I S A N A R T F OR M

Where else can you find a centuries-old schoolhouse

BROWN COUNTY

renovated into a charming inn? An authentic log cabin nestled in the majestic forest? A quaint bed and breakfast in an 1800s Victorian home?

From a warm welcome to cozy linens to fresh coffee, Brown County’s innkeepers, proprietors, and B&B owners are artists in their own right, having perfected the fine art of hospitality.

Regardless of where you stay, you’ll savor thoughtful personal touches and remarkable attention to detail that will make you feel right at home.

IS AN ARTFORM

That’s because hospitality comes naturally in Brown County, the hub of south central Indiana’s vibrant art scene. It’s also just one of the area’s official Indiana Cultural Districts.

Discover two more as you venture out along State Road 46 (also known as ArtsRoad 46), each with its own creative spirit and unique take on the arts.

Sixteen miles to the East, you’ll marvel at the modern architecture and public art proudly on display in Columbus.

Driving a few miles west, you’ll admire Hoosier craftsmanship at wineries, distilleries, art galleries, and studios throughout the Bloomington area. Explore all three neighboring arts communities and you’ll quickly see why they comprise three of the state’s 10 cultural districts!

And every time you return to your home base in Brown County, you’ll love retreating to a rustic lodge or hotel, cozying up in a country cottage, or sleeping under the stars in a tent. Because the hospitality is always genuine … congenial … and oh-soBrown County.

Not far from the rustic beauty of Brown County sits a mecca for modern architecture and public art. Columbus, Indiana, boasts over 90 buildings and pieces of public art by internationally noted architects and artists, not to mention seven National Historic Landmarks.

Seamlessly blending world-class architecture and art with small town charm, it’s no wonder Columbus is known as “Athens of the Prairie.”

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B R O W N C OU N T Y A R T H A S T R A DI T ION

B R O W N C OU N T Y A R T H A S T R A DI T ION

BROWN COUNTY ART HAS

Art is more than something to admire

technology and mass production, each piece of

in Brown County. It’s a way of life!

Brown County art is created as painstakingly and

For more than a century, artists have been

honestly as it was long ago.

drawn to this peaceful sanctuary off the beaten

Brown County art exemplifies what many are

path, brimming with breathtaking scenery, rolling

yearning for today: Depth. Stability. Authenticity.

hills, and abundant natural resources. And the

Individuality. These values from days gone by still

stunning beauty still serves as inspiration for

influence every piece of art created. From fine art

artisans today, from weavers and woodworkers

to handcrafted goods, Brown County is a bustling,

to fiddlers and photographers.

vibrant community producing original works of art

Just like the generations of artists who

you’ll treasure forever.

preceded them, Brown County’s artisans value

As Brown County’s beloved artist T.C. Steele

craftsmanship, quality, and time-honored

reminds us, “Beauty outlives everything.”

Enchanted by Brown County’s picturesque landscape, renowned American Impressionist painter, Theodore Clemente Steele (1847–1926), with his wife Selma, built their home here in 1907. Steele’s prominence drew other artists to the area and helped to establish the Brown County Art Colony.

Don’t miss the T.C. Steele State Historic Site where you can tour the house, studio, and 211-acre grounds that inspired the most famous Hoosier artist of his time, just like in the painting above.

For a complete listing of arts destinations in Brown County, visit BrownCounty.com/Arts-Village .

techniques. In contrast to a world driven by 8

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Brown County Convention & Visitors Bureau 211 South Van Buren Street Nashville, IN 47448 browncounty.com | 8 0 0 .7 5 3 . 3 2 5 5