Downtown gallery prepares for arrival of artist P. Buckley Moss, signings slated for Friday & Saturday
(Talk of the Town photos by Jennifer Zartman Romano) Alma Freeman, above, owner of Columbia House Interiors Antiques and Art Gallery in downtown Columbia City, is excited to display artist P. Buckley Moss's newly created artwork for Rotary International. The print will be unveiled for the first time in the United States at the gallery in Columbia City. Below, this new print entitled "Back Home in Indiana" will also be released for the first time in Columbia City. Artist P. Buckley Moss will be in Columbia City for an artist's signing on Friday from 4-8 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
After several weeks of eager preparations, including a newly painted sign and redesign of space inside the store, well-known artist P. Buckley Moss has arrived in Columbia City today to participate in a two-day signing event at Columbia House Interiors Antiques and Art Gallery. 
The signings are planned for 4-8 p.m. on Friday and from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday at the gallery.
Alma Freeman, owner of Columbia House Interiors Antiques and Art Gallery, located on the southeast corner of Van Buren and Line Streets in downtown Columbia City, says there are three things about the artist’s visit that are particularly exciting.
“We’re doing three different things,” Freeman said.
Freeman is most excited to announce that one of Moss’s newest prints will be released first in Columbia City. “Back Home in Indiana,” depicts several images of cultural, sports and historic images related to the state.
There are also two fundraising raffles of signed prints that Freeman describes as “very exciting.”
Most exciting for many is the raffle of a unique painting Moss created with Rotary International’s human service projects in mind entited “Bridging the World -- Peace Through Rotary Service.”
“We have the blessing of being the first gallery in the United States to share this Rotary art,” Freeman said. Local Columbia City Rotarians are excited as well, not only with opportunity to be among the first to view the piece, but to benefit from the raffle as well.
This raffle begins tomorrow and will continue until December 20. The print and framing has been donated to the Columbia City Rotary for raffling by Columbia House Interiors Antiques and Art Gallery.
Nationally, 10% of the proceeds raised from the sale of the print will be donated to Rotary International which provides a variety of services from constructing clean water sources to providing treated netting to reduce the incidence of malaria in third world countries. Additionally, Rotary has been on the forefront of addressing polio vaccinations worldwide.
Another raffle will benefit Red Cedar Camp, a non-profit camp in the Fort Wayne area. The piece, entitled “Spirit of the Valley,” has an estimated value of $450. Tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5. This raffle is being coordinated by the local P. Buckley Moss collectors society, Pat’s Happy Hoosiers. The winner will be drawn September 29.
P. Buckley Moss was born on Long Island, New York, and will be celebrating her 75th birthday with a party thrown by Freeman while she’s in Columbia City. She now lives in Virginia.
Freeman and Moss met through her sale of Moss’s artwork many years ago.
“After we really got to know each other, she became interested in us, in our store,” Freeman said. “It has been a really wonderful relationship,” she said of the friendship that has bloomed over the years.
“She and I are the same age,” Freeman said, adding that the two have become very good friends over the years. “We visit at least twice a year.”
This will be the artist’s fifth signing event in Columbia City. Visitors, in addition to having the opportunity to have works purchased during the event signed, may also bring up to two pieces of previously purchased works with them to have those signed as well.