Art fundraiser for local Arts Council April 13 at The Elms

The Greencastle Arts Council invites art and food lovers to Bonne Soirée, a special event at The Elms, home of the president of DePauw University.

Bonne Soirée will take place from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, April 13.

The soirée will feature live jazz, fine art, hors d’oeuvres by Bon Appetit, wine and cash bar. During the social hour, guests may take self-guided tours of the historic mansion, where they can view paintings from the DePauw Permanent Art Collection by T.C. Steele, Wayman Adams and others.

The Elms has been celebrated as one of the best-preserved and most elaborate examples of the Colonial Revival style in the region. The stately home was built at 125 Wood St. in 1907 by William VanArsdel, lawyer, businessman, politician, graduate of Indiana Asbury, and founder of Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

Among many notables hosted at The Elms over the years have been Margaret Mead, Amelia Earhart, Winston Churchill, Gen. Colin Powell and Richard Nixon.

DePauw President Mark McCoy will open the event with a few words at 7:15 p.m. Highlighting the program will be readings and performances of original works created by several local artists in response to the art present in the home -- writers Barbara Bean and Gregg Schwipps, visual artists Lavinia Hale and Theresa McGuire, and singer/songwriter, Chris Wurster. A brief business meeting will follow.

Proceeds of Bonne Soirée will further work of the Greencastle Arts Council to support arts and artists throughout Putnam County. Tickets for the event are $25 for a single or $40 for a pair.

Guests may make reservations online at www.greencastleartscouncil.org/bonne-soiree or by contacting Lynne Tweedie at 720-8058 or lynne_tweedie@hotmail.com. Attendees are asked to reserve tickets by April 9.