Artsville! and The Barn collaborated for the first ever Around the World Animated Film Festival
The Barn | Woman’s Art Club Cultural Center and Artsville! presented the first ever, animated film festival on Saturdays from February 11 through April 21, 2023 at Artsville in Madisonville, Ohio. Some of the films fearlessly explored uncomfortable topics such as bullying, alienation, women’s roles, etc. Common Sense Media’s age ratings were posted as viewing guidance. Attendance was free and open to the public.
When the lights came back up, artist and educator Dave Laug hosted an energetic, educational, and informative discussion about each film and how animated films expand our understanding of other cultures in a way live-action films often do not. In addition to refreshments, there was directed artmaking for exploring each film’s theme and setting. The artworks produced were, at the conclusion of the film series, exhibited at a reception for artists, their families, and guests. It, too, was free and open to the public.

Historic Restoration of the Barn’s Exterior
The Barn’s original split cedar shingles are nearly a century old and are showing age. Especially affected are the shingles on the south-facing and courtyard walls where the sun and weather have done the most damage and where replacement is most urgent. Replacing those shingles is Phase I of the restoration project.
Grants from the Thomas J. Emery Memorial Foundation and the Helen G., Henry F. & Louise Tuechter Dornette Foundation, personal donations, and the Give a Shingle campaign have made completion of Phase 1 possible.
Painting the new shingles is on the calendar for this spring.
Many thanks to all of you who have helped us preserve this beautiful place where art happens.
Mariemont Preservation Foundation Funds Eighth Series
We are thrilled to announce that Mariemont Preservation Foundation has once again underwritten our family cultural series at the Barn, Mariemont Preservation Presents! This series has brought such great events as the Playhouse in the Park Off the Hill touring shows, Madcap Puppet shows, performances by Children’s Theatre, and countless parent/child artmaking events.Events like these showcase the original Resthaven Barn, which MPF had a hand in preserving, and reflect Mary Emery’s life passion as described by Rich in Good Works (GoodReads): “She embarked on a philanthropic program that endowed or initiated children’s programs, … an art museum, … various cultural agencies, and other causes that benefited humankind.”
We are deeply grateful for continued funding from the Mariemont Preservation Foundation.
The Barn on The Art Show
In December 2019, Rodney Veal, host of The Art Show, sat down for a conversation with Dodie Loewe, Board President of the Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati in the Loft Gallery during the Cherrywod Fabrics Prince Tribute Tour Exhibition.
You can watch the interview HERE.