History of the IAA

The history of the Indiana Art Association is rich and intriguing. The Spring Exhibition booklet of 1950 notes that the "Indiana County Art Association" was holding its 9th exhibition in the "Library Community Room." If so, that would seem to date the first exhibition, and the establishment of the Indiana Art Association, at 1941. However, the 1955-56 yearbook states "The Indiana Art Association was formed May 9, 1943 to stimulate public interest and creative activity in fine and applied arts." The yearbook announcements include the statement "Purpose... to promote interest, appreciation and participation in the arts. This has been its purpose since it began with a small group which met at the Pattison home 'The Rambles about 1930." In the meantime, five boxes of archived materials including scrapbooks indicate that the Indiana Art Association possibly began as an arts-related fraternity on what was then "Indiana Teacher's College."

Down through the years, the association held exhibitions at various locations, including the Indiana Library, a center called "Catawba House, at the corner of College Avenue and Maple Street," McElhaney Hall on "Indiana State College" campus, Rustic Lodge, Dean's (later McSorley's, still later "New Dean's") Restaurant, Foster Hall, the IUP "Student Union Gallery," Kipp Gallery at IUP, Hoss's Restaurant, and the Indiana Courthouse. The organization had a variety of meeting places, including the art room of the Indiana Senior High School, and the first floor of Dr. Orval Kipp's "Studio 635" on Church Street in the mid- late 1980's. Today, the IAA maintains "Studio 405" and meets in "Gallery 406," on the fourth floor of the Indiana Theater Building, downtown Indiana.

As the membership recognized a succession of local businesses, donor organizations, artists and patrons, exhibit awards were named in their honor or memory. The organization hosted oil and watercolor classes, sketching workshops, Junior Art Shows, dinner events, and in 1973, the annual exhibition program noted that the Indiana Art Association participated in the New Growth Arts Festival, "a thrilling addition to the life of our community," according to Mrs. Morton (Ted) Brody in her "Message from the President."

The association began awarding student scholarships in 1978, starting with an IUP student. Today, the Student Scholarship is awarded to an Indiana County high school student who will go on to higher education in art. Indiana Art Association hopes to research its history in earnest in the year 2005.