History

River City Art Association was founded in August 2008 by a group of seven artists with a common vision, promoting art in the Wabash Valley.

Founding members: Debi Martinez and her late husband Marty Martinez, Ruthann Brady, Kit Fisher, Adrianus Fraza, the late Monty “Indiana” Jones, and the late Rob Robbins.

History: Members met in the Raven Art Gallery owned by the Martinezes in the 800 block of Ohio Street near the arts corridor in downtown Terre Haute.The first year in existence the RCAA implemented a major project (Art on the Bash) to place members’ artwork in empty store front windows along Wabash Avenue! That same year they founded a youth mentoring program, conducted a free seminar for artists getting their art into galleries and began an educational program “Encouragement and Exposure” at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology where they interacted with students through talks, demonstrations and Fine Art exhibitions.

Mission statement: To establish and remain a non-profit organization open to the general public to promote, support, and enhance an appreciation of the visual arts in the Wabash Valley through art exhibits, demonstrations, seminars, study groups, and any and all other appropriate means.

The RCAA blog header photograph of the Wabash River in Fairbanks Park at Terre Haute, Indiana, was created by co-founder the late Rob Robbins. The 2020 graphic element was added by graphic designer Dian Der Ohanian Phillips, RCAA past president.

RCAA’s new logo design was introduced in March 2020. Design © Dian Der Ohanian Phillips. The updated mark incorporates elements that represent a partial Terre Haute skyline, a winding Wabash River (which is so much a part of the Wabash Valley), and the green elements that represent the beautiful green spaces in the city of Terre Haute.