In Brown County, art doesn’t just hang on walls. It lives in the hills, the gardens, and the quiet homes that once nurtured some of Indiana’s greatest creative spirits. This fall, the Brown County Art Gallery invites you into that story with a landmark exhibition and performance that capture the enduring legacy of T.C. Steele and his wife, Selma.

Friday Evening – Settle into the Hills

The weekend begins the way all Brown County adventures should, by settling into the charm of Nashville. Whether you tuck into a rustic cabin beneath the trees or choose a welcoming inn downtown, you’ll feel the pace of life slow almost immediately. After check-in, wander into town for dinner at a locally loved spot. The aroma of comfort food and the sound of live music spilling from cafés remind you that you’re not just visiting, you’re part of something.

👉 Planning tip: Explore Brown County’s lodging and find dining options that suit your style, from farm-to-table menus to casual cafés.

Saturday Morning – Step Into the Exhibit

At the Brown County Art Gallery, a remarkable collection awaits: The House of the Singing Winds; en Homage. Ninety paintings tell the story of Steele’s home and gardens at their most vibrant, interpreted through the vision of artists Charles Warren Mundy and Rita Spalding.

Highlights include
• Twelve original Steele works on loan from private collectors
• Rita Spalding’s interiors, painted from inside the historic house, the first artist granted that privilege since 1926
• C.W. Mundy’s seasonal studies, from lush gardens to a snowfall so thick you can almost hear the crunch beneath your boots

Its history reimagined, fresh brushstrokes capturing the very spaces where Steele and Selma once found their inspiration.

Just a short drive away, the T.C. Steele State Historic Site offers the chance to walk through the world that inspired both Steele and today’s artists. Wander the same gardens, linger by the studio, and listen to the whisper of wind through the trees. Here, art and landscape blend seamlessly, much as they did a century ago.

As evening falls, return to the Gallery for a performance that brings voice to the woman behind the art. “Selma and the Painter,” written by Lyn Letsinger-Miller and starring Broadway actress Jill Tasker, tells Selma’s side of the story, the devotion, grit, and love that helped create the art sanctuary we know today.

Told in one act and three scenes, it’s a heartfelt reminder that behind every masterpiece there is often a quiet, steady hand making it possible.

Sunday Morning – Carry the Inspiration with You

Spend your final morning exploring Nashville’s shops and galleries, where local makers keep Brown County’s creative pulse strong. From pottery and textiles to fine art, the spirit of the Steeles is alive in every handcrafted detail. Many works from the exhibition are also available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting the Brown County Art Gallery.

A Celebration Not to Be Missed

This isn’t simply an art exhibit. It is an invitation to step into the home and gardens where art and history entwined. To see those spaces reinterpreted by artists who walked them in every season. To hear Selma Steele’s voice and honor her enduring legacy.

📞 Reservations are required. Call the Brown County Art Gallery today and be part of this extraordinary celebration.