“Canvassing Art” by Abe Eyed The real beginnings of a new book on the Brown County Art Colony were formed during a poker game that took place in the early 1970s. The card players included John “Abe” Eyed and Greg Temple, the new editor of the Brown County Democrat. Abe, who was Brown County’s true Renaissance man, had retired to Nashville just a few years earlier and was only in his late 50’s. Abe had crammed a lot of living during those years, attending college in California, riding the rails with hobos, driving an ambulance in World War II and covering the Vietnam War for the Associated Press. He was running an advertising agency in Pennsylvania and racing horses when he decided to return to Indiana. He had a history in the Hoosier State, having been born to Syrian parents and raised in Indianapolis. At the time, his poverty stricken conditions brought sympathy from a 5th grade teacher, who began bringing Abe to Brown County to get away from the city and learn about nature and art. Those lessons stuck with Abe. Years later, while sitting around the poker table, the idea of a weekly column on the arts was discussed and Abe was designated as the man to write it…So in May of 1971, “Canvassing Art” was born. To the delight of readers, each week Abe chose an exhibit opening, an artist, or some other art related story to include. He was dear friends with many of the early artists who were still living in Nashville and they gave him access, history, and a unique perspective on what was happening to their art world during the tumultuous 70s. The columns continued for about a year, when Abe got caught up in the environmental movement and began working with the Sassafras Audubon Society. It became his passion and the columns discontinued.