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Robert Kroeger’s Ohio Barn Project is coming to Bellevue!

Robert Kroeger of Cincinnati defines his Ohio Barn Project as “ preserving American history … one old barn at a time.

On his website, www.barnart.weebly.com,  Bob explained his inspiration in this way:   "A crazy old barn in Ohio’s Licking County started it. 'Granville Gray' as I call him, planted the idea – quite by accident. When, on our annual wedding anniversary weekend in 2012, my wife and I turned down the road to our bed and breakfast, we passed this gentle gray giant. Its roof sagging, its side boards warped and tilted – a few missing here and there, the barn grabbed me. Disheveled, it begged for attention. I don’t know how or why, but the idea sprang into my head that I had to find out more.   So, the next day I met the owner … and learned about its story.”   

Since then, Bob has traveled the backroads and byways of more than 2/3 of Ohio’s counties, recruiting ‘barn scouts’ to find the memorable, historic and unique barns he paints, using the impasto oil technique on Masonite panels. He prefers to use original barn wood – from the barn being painted -- to frame the painting.  

Bob’s foray into north central Ohio involved a chill, windy day, looking at barns big and small, from the mid-1800’s to the early 1900’s in the four-county area surrounding Bellevue.  The results of his research and his works will be showcased this summer in Bellevue.   In addition to preserving the images and stories of these historic structures, Bob shares his talents with the communities where the barns stand, through local charity auctions benefitting organizations in each community. 

The Tremont House Block Party on August 3rd will feature four of Bob Kroeger’s paintings, representing historic barns in Erie and Huron Counties, to be auctioned, with proceeds benefiting both the Bellevue Historical Society and Art at 106, Bellevue’s local Artists’ Guild and Gallery Shop.  Erie County barns are the Pickett Cherry Barn, now dismantled, which drew customers from all surrounding states to its Portland Road site, and on Strecker Road, the Tommas barn, a marvelous old fellow with an empty corn crib that begged to be full again, which the painting complied with.  Featured in Huron County are the Schwiefurt barn on Sandhill Road which rocked to many dancing feet over the years, and the Roeder barn on Route 20 west of Monroeville, recording its racing history as well as its farming origins. 

The Tremont House Block Party will be held on North West Street and in the alley behind the Tremont House, in the center of Bellevue, from 3 to 8 p.m.  The paintings will be auctioned at 5:00, by Baker, Bonnigson Auctioneers.  Join us for the festivities!  Food, live music, wine and craft beer tastings, historic displays, artisan vendors and raffles round out the events of the day.

For more information on Robert Kroeger and his barns, visit https://.barnart.weebly.com.  See the paintings and essays by County under the ‘Ohio Barns’ tab.

For event information, visit Bellevue Historical Society on Facebook or www.BellevueHistoricalSociety.com and Art@106 on Facebook.  

 

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In 2020, the Tremont House Block Party Auction will feature barns from Sandusky and Seneca Counties.