Raised in a house full of art and creativity, Beatrice Hartig Zimmerman was no stranger to seeing the beauty in everyday life. Her father, artist Arthur E. Hartig, instilled in her and her sister Genevieve an appreciation for artistic expression and creative pursuits. The family’s creativity even extended into the culinary arts, with mother Emma being renowned for crafting delicious homemade noodles at the family home in Osceola. At the age of 16, Beatrice went on to study painting in Chicago and brought back to St. Joe County skills which won juried awards in the Midland Academy of Art exhibitions and placed her among her peers in the region.
Beatrice created well over 1,000 paintings in her life, and took her love of art not just to paper and canvas but to unorthodox locations as part of an effort to introduce more art to public spaces. In 1936, she participated as a chairwoman for “arranging displays in schools, libraries, clubs, and merchants’ windows,” eventually painting for the Menaugh’s Hardware storefront in Osceola. Her paintings were described as “outstanding in color and beauty,” a blend of charm and technical skill.
She was a librarian, an accomplished musician, and a prolific artist who, along with her family members, was invested in beautifying the region through her works and engagement with the community. The Hartigs were involved in and charter members of many artist societies ranging from the St. Joe Valley Chapter of the American Artists Professional League, Midland Academy of Art, the St. Joe Valley Watercolor Society, and the Northern Indiana Artists Association, where Beatrice’s legacy lives on through the Beatrice Hartig Zimmerman Memorial Award.
Beatrice and the Hartigs demonstrated how utilizing your skills and passions creates a more beautiful environment and a more fulfilling life. And more than that, they showed how gathering with like-minded individuals to foster a positive atmosphere goes a long way toward making where you live a better place to be.
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Reading List
Fine Arts of the South Bend Region, 1840-2000
The Artistic Heritage of South Bend: 1930 – 1970 (in-library use only)
Hoosier Painters of the 21st Century
References
Anderson, E. (1931, Nov. 15). Hartig family will show art work in Osceola: Father and daughters display paintings Friday night. South Bend News Times. South Bend, Indiana.
Collins, W.R. (2014). Fine arts of the South Bend region, 1840 – 2000. Wolfson Press, Indiana University South Bend.
Cotter, D. (1962, March 8). Osceola librarian is capable artist and musician; loves both hobbies. The South Bend Tribune. South Bend, Indiana.
Oberhausen, J. & Zimmerman, B.H. (1987). The artistic heritage of South Bend 1930 – 1970. South Bend Art Center.
(2020, Dec. 31). Jean Warner Magrane. The South Bend Tribune, C2.
