New Bloomfield art gallery/studio hopes to be a place of inspiration

Casa del Muse business partners and artists Robert Kral and Jill C. Spires. (Greene County Daily World/Nick Schneider) [Order this photo]

It's a place for art and photography, a place to dream and experiment in a cultural and economical way.

"Casa del Muse Art Gallery and Studio" opened Oct. 3.

Casa del Muse is Spanish for House of Inspiration, according to business partners and artists Robert Kral and Jill C. Spires.

They say the gallery/studio is a unique place to acquire out of the ordinary art work at extraordinary affordable prices.

Case del Muse offers original art work, antiques, handmade jewelry, vintage clothing and tailoring, antique furniture, bric-a-brac. In addition, the store offers art classes, art supplies, matting, framing, and photography services. They can also be commissioned to design and create the ideal art item for home or office.

"We are featuring art work from local Indiana artists. We have a wonderful supply of hand-made blown glass vases and probably the largest local collection of Chalet Art Glass from Canada in the area," Robert says. "What we are trying to do is feature local artists and bring those folks in here and given them an opportunity to either teach some classes as well as display their art for exhibit or to sell their items for a commission. We are trying to given them some different venues.

"We want to be an outlet for local artists. Right now we have about five artists featured in the gallery and that's kind of exciting for us. We want to get more."

Aside from Kral and Spires, Vickie Hatfield is involved with the vintage clothing line. Vic's "My Finer Things" section of the shop is doing very well since the opening.

The gallery/studio began as an experiment by Spires and Kral. The two artists noticed that there was a thriving underground art scene in Bloomfield, yet the community-at-large, including budding artists and children, were not aware of local exhibits, performances, and educational opportunities.

The couple realized that an unifying organization could bring the arts to Bloomfield in a productive and inspiring way.

"I am looking forward to getting Greene County on the tourism map. Our goal is to make Greene County the Nashville of southwest Indiana. I truly think that collaborating with the other artists in the community we can pull it off," Robert said. "We meet more and more folks every day with the same mindset and goals of making Greene County an artistic community. We are truly excited about all of the opportunities in front of us."

Jill and Robert are in the process of creating a volunteer board to establish the Bloomfield Arts Association. They say their studio is not established to replace local galleries and arts groups, but instead build a collaborative effort to bring all of the Greene County artists together with a mutual goal of sharing their love of the arts.

"I would really like to see an artists guild of some sort, a not-for-profit group, get together and hold some activities on the courthouse square and have what the Apple Festival used to be, which was a lot of local artists showing their wares, where they just come and everybody sets up a table or a booth and people at least for no other reason can see some of the creative stuff that goes on and give an outlet for them," Jill explained.

According to Robert, the studio wants to provide a communal presence to help local artists thrive, and unlock the artistic potential of every Greene County resident.

"We love art and there really unfortunately isn't any place here in Bloomfield a place where people in Bloomfield can display their work or even purchase art. They have got to go to Bloomington, so we want to offer an outlet for their artistic expression. We are doing classes now and we have a good number of students who are doing drawing, watercolor and acrylics right now. We'll be doing stained glass in December. Those are the things that we are actively doing. We've got plans to do other kinds of stuff," Robert explained. "We really want to break out of the mold. We don't just want to say here's what we offer, if you don't like it go somewhere else. We are asking the community what do you want? What are you interested in learning? What would you like to do?"

The gallery is also planning a Writers/Poets Workshop in December. At the end of the workshop, the gallery will be re-arranged and a coffeehouse will be set up and a poetry reading night will be conducted.

"We think that will be fun," Robert, who works for SAIC's Global Deterrence & Defense Department at Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane, said.

Robert and Jill are also thinking outside the box of conventional art and have made inquiries about doing exhibits of weapons and motorcycles as art next spring.

The couple is looking to collaborate with other local businesses through Greene County, including The Carnegie Heritage and Arts Center in Linton.

Jill said a focus of their plans will be working closely with the youth in the area schools.

"We'd like to get the high schools and junior high schools involved," she said. "I've like nothing more to be a part of the curriculum at Bloomfield Junior-Senior High School and be able to say 'we'd like sculptures for our window' and give the kids a venue to do that as part of their curriculum. It's just an opportunity that we can help with. Parents will come down and see their kids stuff. We've got a gallery here and could have an art opening for the kids."

Jill explained there is grant money to help with projects like this and she is pursuing those in order to provide that opportunity to local artisans.

Robert added, "We want to provide them with inspiration."

The couple is also planning a community fashion show in February.

"There is a big interest for us to get the local schools and 4-H involved. Obviously, we will be looking for runway models, but we want actors and actresses, stage hands and lighting and backdrop painting," Robert said.

"We want people to come here and take classes and have lots of opportunities. Our goal, we'd love to have Greene County be the Brown County of southwestern Indiana. We need a good group of active people to start working toward that common goal. We perceive art fairs and others kinds of stuff coming up in the spring that we really want to promote the area."

The gallery owners also want to do their part to give people a reason to come to downtown Bloomfield and shop.

"If we can get people down here and they can learn more about the local businesses and come back and spend money we would be successful," Robert concluded.

The studio/gallery is open Tuesday through Friday 6-9 p.m. and Saturday noon - 6 p.m.

For more information about their classes and services call (812) 322-8986 go to www.casadelmuse.com .