Shown is one of Sunday Mahaja’s metal pieces, which stands about 3 feet tall. It is an interpretation of a soft rose in metal. You will enjoy seeing this and Elizabeth Wamsley’s pottery at our local art gallery. Photo provided.

By Darla McCammon
and DeeAnna Muraski
Guest Columnists

Darla McCammon and DeeAnna Muraski

WARSAW — The Art on the Road series takes us local this week. Our new exhibiting artist has her display installed in the Warsaw City Hall Art Gallery.

But first some back story on the museum. Darla McCammon has a passion for art and helping create awareness and appreciation of art. So, when she heard City Hall was getting a new downtown location, she approached then-Mayor Joe Thallemer. She wanted to see if they could beautify the space, showcasing artists from around Indiana and beyond. They collaborated on how that would happen and ever since she has been working to curate artists and get them installed for a rotating temporary art display.

Our current artist displaying is Elizabeth Wamsley, who lives and works in North Manchester. Like McCammon, Wamsley’s first foray into art was experienced when she lived and worked in California. Wamsley ended up coming back to the Hoosier state, receiving her education in ceramics at Indiana University-Bloomington.

Wamsley received the prestigious Los Angeles Times Critics Award. Her work has been displayed in many galleries and museums throughout Indiana, with a special showing at the South Bend Century Center. Lincoln Life also selected five of her art pieces to purchase and display in its extensive art collection. She has won numerous awards and was president of the American Ceramic Society of Southern California and vice president of the local Lakeland Art Association, where she remains a member.

Wamsley’s work is beautiful, whimsical and creative. She is a master of making her own glazes and carefully firing each piece. You will enjoy walking through the gallery to see her unique display. Interspersed with her pottery work is another artist, Sunday Mahaja. Mahaja specializes in metal work to create stunning displays. The juxtaposition of pottery and metal is perfect together. This is our first time displaying pottery in the gallery, but we are very pleased with how creative Wamsley and Mahaja were in putting up their joint display — that in itself was artistry. Keep in mind the artwork is for sale and could grace your home or office space with 100% commission going to the artists to support their artistic endeavors and continued beautification of our spaces.

To Go

Warsaw City Hall Art Gallery: You can view Wamsley’s and Mahaja’s artwork at Warsaw City Hall, located at 102 S. Buffalo St., downtown Warsaw. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday (except holidays). The gallery space is on the first floor and is handicapped-accessible.

Darla McCammon is an artist, columnist and author. DeeAnna Muraski is executive director of Operation Read USA Inc. Send an email to the mother/daughter team at [email protected].