LOUDONVILLE – A look at Ohio’s historic barns will headline this year’s first installment of the Cleo Redd Fisher Museum’s Speaker Series, slated to launch Friday, Sept. 24, at 10 a.m.

According to a press release, artist Robert Kroeger will perform a live painting demo of “Forsaken,” a dilapidated barn in Hancock County, painted in his signature palette-knife-in-oil and thick-impasto style. Kroeger will then discuss his travels and sign copies of his book of travel stories and paintings, “Historic Barns of Ohio.” Capping the day will be a raffle of the finished painting of “Forsaken” as a benefit for the museum.

Each attendee will receive one free raffle ticket, with additional tickets available for purchase (one for $10 or three for $20). Copies of Kroeger’s book can be purchased for $25 (cash or check only for tickets and books during the event). To pre-order books or tickets via credit card, visit crfmuseum.com/store. 

The series continues Oct. 18, the release said, with author Mindy McGinnis’ discussion of “Blood, Brains and Lobotomies” – the medical history of treating mental illness, a discovery she made while researching her book, “A Madness So Discreet.”

On Nov. 15, the series wraps with Alan Fitzpatrick of Fort Henry Days discussing the “History and Material Culture of Native Americans in the Upper Ohio Valley.” 

All of the Speaker Series events are free and open to the public and held at the CRF Museum, at 203 E. Main St. in Loudonville. To learn more, call the museum at 419-994-4050 or visit crfmuseum.com.