Reed gives her art to PC Museum

Thursday, November 12, 2009
Putnam County Museum Assistant Director Tanis Monday looks over some of the pieces of art donated to the museum by Artist Lynette Reed, a former Putnam County resident. Reed's father Tom Graffis delivered the pieces to the museum earlier this week where they will be on display.

GREENCASTLE -- The Putnam County Museum has a new display in their gift shop area, thanks to former local artist Lynette Reed.

Assistant Director Tanis Monday received a very eclectic grouping of artwork from Reed that includes oils, watercolor, polymer jewelry and fiber art.

Reed was born in Alabama, but spent most of her childhood in Greencastle.

"She was born into a family of artists and art patrons that include her great-grandmothers, grandmothers, aunt, father, mother and sister," said Reed's father Tom Graffis.

Reed attended Greencastle High School where art teacher Chris Brown further developed her interest in art.

"She exchanged study halls for extra art classes and extra credit projects she wheedled out of the teacher," Graffis added.

In 1980, Lynette received a BFA in printmaking and painting from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.

She left school with a keen interest in fiber arts that were introduced to her during her last year of classes.

Over the years, she moved many times with her military husband and children and her ever expanding stash of fiber equipment and materials.

For nearly 20 years, Reed's interest was primarily in weaving, spinning, dyeing and felt making with an occasional painting thrown in.

She used her skills to illustrate three cookbooks, numerous newsletters, ads and commissions.

In Feb. 2004, Reed began painting again in earnest. Her favorite medium is oil paints, but she has also rediscovered watercolors.

She still weaves and has "fallen in love" with silk painting. Some of her hand-painted scarves can be seen at the museum.

Reed added polymer jewelry to her list of interests and is pretty sure there are new discoveries waiting for her.

"I am constantly amazed at the well-spring of support that flows through the art community and contend that this is what makes it so easy and so conducive to be creative. Artists supporting artists are a little piece of art heaven," said Reed.

Some of Reed's items for sale in the museum include a hand-woven red mohair scarf for $55, a berry pie coiled basket with mohair locks for $48, a "Rock Garden" five by five oil painting for $65 and a solar flare watercolor collage for $275.

Her wares also include watercolor and silk print note cards, hand painted silk insert pillow and scarf.

Visit the Putnam County Museum at 1105 N. Jackson St. in Greencastle. Call them at 653-8419 for more information or visit their Web site at museum2@co.putnam.in.us.

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