Hazel Hannell has made a lasting impact in the arts in the Duneland area, as well as at Art Barn School of Art. From June 10-September 25, 2025 Art Barn will be celebrating Hannell's contributions in printmaking, watercolor, and ceramic work in an exhibit titled Enduring Connection: Exploring Hazel Hannell As a Lifelong Artist & Influencer. This exhibit highlights the connections between Hazel's lifelong artistic practice, Art Barn’s mission to support creative learning for all ages, and the ways learning can positively impact aging adults. Hazel Hannell’s environmental inspiration and commitment to conservation will be a key theme in this exhibit, aligning with Art Barn’s broader focus on fostering appreciation for nature through the arts. Notable works from Art Barn founder, Jan Sullivan, and artist Harriet Rex Smith will be included from Art Barn's private collection to showcase how Hannell's influence is woven into the fabric of Art Barn's history and her connection with Jan. An opening reception and informal talk with Serena Ard, Westchester Township History Museum's Museum Curator, will be held at the Art Barn on Friday, June 13, 2025 from 6-8pm, including light bites and refreshments. The informal talk will focus on the Hannell's environmental activism and their involvement with Save The Dunes.

Hands-on Printmaking Workshop

There will also be a Gelli Printing Workshop taught by Goshen-based printmaker Ida Short on Saturday, July 12 from 9am-1pm at Art Barn. During this workshop, participants will find inspiration from the surrounding flora to inform their work, just as Hazel Hannell did when she created her nature-based prints. Students will collect leaves and other natural materials to experiment with and create various shapes, textures, and images using a gelatin printmaking “plate". Visit artbarnschool.org/registration to register today!

Hazel Hannell's Connection to Art Barn School of Art

Hazel Hannell, and her husband Vin, were part of a large community of artists that migrated to the Duneland area and built a strong creative community that continues today. As charter members of Save the Dunes and members of the Chicago Prairie Club, the Hannell’s advocated for the preservation of the dunes during a time when industrialization threatened the Southern coast of Lake Michigan. The Hannells began their artistic journey in Chicago and made a new life in the 1930s in the natural areas of Northwest Indiana. Similarly, Bud & Jan Sullivan, built their life and careers in Chicago, purchased and sought refuge on their Jackson Township farm, moving here permanently in the late 1960s. In the early 1970’s Jan began teaching out of the barn, and by 1984 she founded the non-profit now known as Art Barn School of Art. 

Hazel Hannell was a life-long artist who started making art at a young age and remained productive into her 100s. From participating in various activities, teaching classes, consigning her artwork in the Art Barn gallery, and traveling with Jan and others to Ajijic, Mexico during the winter months, Hazel Hannell's influence has left its imprint on Art Barn. Through her pursuit of art, Hazel Hannell exemplifies the profound importance of staying active and engaged throughout one’s life. 

For the past five decades, Art Barn has provided a space where people of all generations and abilities can escape the demands of daily life and find inspiration in both creativity and community. Our tranquil 69-acre campus has nurtured countless individuals, fostering personal reflection, discovery and connection.

One of Art Barn's core beliefs is the power that art has to inspire learning at every stage of life and to offer programs that engage all generations in creative exploration and growth. Art Barn actively supports learning late into life through new specialized programs for older adults. Art Barn's small-group outreach classes offer sequential arts instruction for adults over 65 which provides access for those with physical limitations, transportation needs or financial constraints.  Classes are available to a public audience and include a social component to combat social and cultural isolation. 

About the Collaborative Exhibition Series

A collaborative community-wide exhibit, "Vin & Hazel Hannell: Creativity, Community & Conservation" between May and October 2025 will celebrate and explore the artistic legacy of Vin and Hazel Hannell and their influence on the thriving arts community in the Duneland area. Through exhibitions, educational programs, and unique events, the project will bring together several key organizations—Art Barn School of Art, Chesterton Art Center, Porter County Museum, Pines Village Retirement Communities, and Westchester Township History Museum—to illuminate the Hannells' life and work alongside their peers who were foundational in building a creative community in the region. For more information and details on the other exhibitions taking place in this series, please visit www.hannellexhibitseries.com.

This collaborative exhibition series and related programs are supported in part by Indiana Dunes Tourism.

Photo: Hazel Hannell, Wild Ginger, Linocut print

ABOUT ART BARN:

Art Barn offers a diverse range of programs, including adult & youth classes, community workshops, and guest artist workshops, fostering creativity, diversity, and connection. On May 30 at The Great Hall at Purdue Northwest in Westville, Art Barn will host their annual gala fundraiser, One To Grow On, with this year's theme being "An Inspired journey". On September 30, Art Barn hosts its annual outdoor Art Blitz art festival which engages thousands of visitors in art-making, demonstrations and fun for the whole family. The mission of the Art Barn School of Art is to inspire creativity across generations by providing an inclusive, nature-based space where artists of all skill levels can explore, experiment and grow through the arts.