Art In Action: The Ball Family

By DARLA McCAMMON
Lakeland Art Association

Are you familiar with the Mason Fruit Jar or the old Ball Canning Jar? I was intrigued to find how both these products had an impact on our art world. In 1880, two very entrepreneurial brothers, Frank and Edmund Ball borrowed $200 from their uncle to purchase the Wooden Jacket Can Company that made tin cans full of kerosene that were wrapped in wooden jackets.

Right away the brothers encountered a problem when they saw how the acid used to refine kerosene caused corrosion in the tin. The brothers found that glass could be used for the inserts and would withstand the corrosion. Originally they were supplied with the glass by a factory in New York but that factory was destroyed by a fire.

Glassblowers, now out of work, suggested to the Ball brothers that they build their own factory, and of course hire the glassblowers. A larger factory and larger furnace came into existence in New York and because of the increased capacity the brothers looked for alternate ways to produce and market other glass products.

In 1884 the Mason Fruit Jar patent expired and the two brothers quickly determined this would be a good market because they could make the glass jars but also use their metal factory to produce the metal lids needed to seal the jars. By 1886 the brothers were looking at the possibility of moving their company to one of the gas boom towns in Indiana or Ohio.

They were courted by several but Muncie won the bid by giving them seven acres for their factory, some cash, a gas well and the city also promised a railroad connection.

Muncie came to life with the new Ball factory. The Ball Company lasted in Muncie for over 90 years and has now expanded into Avionics, space systems and other areas. Ball State University, of course, is named after the founders.

But how did all this involve art? In 1892, the Art Students’ League was formed in Muncie a little later than when the Ball Brothers became involved with their factory. The art organization grew and formed a permanent collection which was held in several places until the Ball Brothers founded the Indiana State Normal School.

The Ball family was generous to this community. In 1931 a permanent building was planned and by this time the Ball Family had begun acquiring massive amounts of art that were later turned over to the Ball State Museum of Art which now has one of the most comprehensive collections, due to 3,000 items donated by Ball family members, in the State of Indiana. The collegiate gothic style museum, was completed in 1936 costing $420,000. The painting “Bird-song-organ” by Chardin is in the permanent collection in that same museum.

Upcoming and Current Events:

• Lori Biggs exhibit closes Monday, April 6 and will be immediately followed by award winning artist, Bev Garner’s fantastic display. Visit Warsaw City Hall Gallery for free 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. weekdays.
• Honeywell Clark Gallery will sponsor a themed art competition coming in April. The theme will be trees. Contact Clark Gallery for more details.
• More info on LAA can be found at www.lakelandartassociation.org or on Facebook. Also call (574) 594-9950. Open now with new exhibits.

We have a winner in our definition of art contest. Pam Hester will receive an original painting later this week. Thank you to everyone who sent in entries. Hester’s definition was “Art is the expression of your soul.” There were some other great ones but the judges selected Hesters. Contact mcdar7@gmail.com with comments or questions.