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Indiana Art Fair and other events enliven the winter cultural scene
Posted: Feb 21, 2008 in Things to do, Culture
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Tired of looking outside and seeing nothing but gray: gray trees, gray sky, gray ground? Shake up your sense of sight with a visit to a local museum, gallery or exhibit space. The Indianapolis area offers plenty of opportunities to expand your visual-arts horizons while shutting out the winter doldrums.
This weekend's Indiana Art Fair, for example, features works by more than 75 artists representing 26 Hoosier counties. Other wide-ranging exhibits now on display include contemporary installations, classic nature-based photography, explorations of the human form and celebrations of black-American history.
Eager for a late-winter break? Head out to one or more of these events for some sensory inspiration.
Indiana Art Fair
Some 2,000 art lovers turn up for this annual show, now in its fifth year, and no wonder. Not only can you browse through a wide variety of inventive works, but if you see something you like, you can purchase it on the spot.
The juried show's artist roster changes yearly, ensuring a mix of returning favorites and new discoveries, says Joanna Hahn, Indiana State Museum's fair coordinator.
"We have (items) as inexpensive as $10 or $15 to as expensive as into the thousands," she explains. "(The fair) also gives a person a chance to find an artist that they might want to commission."
Featured works include jewelry, paintings, photography, ceramics, glass, furnishings, wood carvings, drawings, pastels and mixed media, as well as items classified as "surface decoration -- anything that could be used as a decoration in your home, something for the mantel, for the fireplace, or a table (for example)," says Hahn. "Fiber" items include wearable art and quilts.
The latter is the specialty of 2008 Indiana Art Fair signature artist Judy Rehmel of Richmond. Rehmel created a quilt titled "Swinging Indiana Puzzle!" It incorporates the museum's iconic Foucault pendulum as well as the Indiana Puzzle pattern.
The Indiana Art Fair opens tonight with a preview in cooperation with the IMAX Theater. In addition to getting a jump-start on artsy purchases, guests also can take in the Really Big Short Film Festival, a juried presentation featuring short films by Indiana filmmakers.
Where: Indiana State Museum, 650 W. Washington St.
When: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. today, Indiana Art Fair preview and Really Big Short Film Festival. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Indiana Art Fair.
Tickets: Today: $5 Indiana Art Fair preview, $9 Really Short Film Festival; $10.75 for both. Saturday: Art fair is included with general museum admission ($7 adults, $6.50 seniors, $4 children ages 3 to 12).
Info: (317) 232-1637, www.indianamuseum.org.
Group Exhibition
The Indianapolis Art Center's group exhibition spotlights the diverse works of 13 men and women. The six-part show ranges from an impressive installation custom-designed for the Center's Sarah M. Hurt Gallery to intriguing woodcuts.
Some of the elements of the exhibit include:
poly_genic by Kristina Arnold: The Western Kentucky University instructor uses hand-blown Plexiglas to re-create the inside of the human body. "Cartoon-like cells," plastic body parts and lighting-as-arteries explore the "obsession with surface beauty and the manipulation of the human body," the Art Center promises.
Other Worlds/Altered Visions: A collection of works representing a range of media. Included are photographs by Mark Abrahamson (Stanwood, Wash.), Ian Bang (Indianapolis) and Andrea Hoelscher (Santa Claus); paintings by Amy Kollar Anderson (Dayton, Ohio), John DenHouter (Edwardsville, Ill.) and Sarah Gutwirth (New Concord, Ky.); wall hangings by Charlene Marsh (Nashville) and drawings by Randy Simmons (Paducah, Ky.).
Where: 820 E. 67th St.
When: Through April 20. 9.a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets: Free.
Info: (317) 255-2464, www.indplsartcenter.org.
Interpretations of the Figure
The University of Indianapolis continues its commitment to cultural contributions through its latest visual-arts offering, a regional exhibit exploring the human form.
Returning for the third time, "Interpretations of the Figure" features nearly 30 works from 24 artists who use a variety of media to depict the body.
The exhibit spotlights Hoosier artists as well as those representing Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio.
Where: Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center Art Gallery, University of Indianapolis, 1400 E. Hanna Ave.
When: Through March 14. 6.to 8 p.m. today (exhibit reception). 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Tickets: Free.
Info: (317) 788-3253, http://arts.uindy.edu.
Rendered in Black / Events Are
New York-based artist Adam Pendleton brings two exhibits to iMOCA in a show that museum curator Christopher West calls "a beautiful exhibition. It's very simple and minimalist in nature."
"Rendered in Black" consists of a room containing 100 10-inch, black-ceramic cubes arranged by the artist in an exploration of "minimalism and performance art," according to iMOCA. "It's basically nothing on the walls, just (the) black cubes -- kind of lyrical, almost," says West.
"Events Are" features four silk-screen prints, some of which are text-based. "He considers them portraits," West says, "although basically what you're seeing is text on a canvas."
Where: 340 N. Senate Ave.
When: Through March 22. 11.a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Tickets: Free.
Info: (317) 634-6622, www.indymoca.org.
Ansel Adams in Yosemite
The crowd-pleasing work of Ansel Adams returns to the Eiteljorg for the first time since the record-breaking 2001 exhibit. "Ansel Adams in Yosemite" features 23 images of Yosemite National Park as seen through the lens of the photographer, who received his first camera as a 14-year-old during a family vacation to the park.
The exhibit focuses on Yosemite landscapes and other natural phenomena and serves as a prelude to the Eiteljorg's upcoming exhibit, "Yosemite: Art of an American Icon," opening March 22.
Where: 500 W. Washington St.
When: "Ansel Adams in Yosemite" runs through 2008; "Yosemite: Art of an American Icon" runs March 22 through Aug. 3. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Tickets: Included with general museum admission ($8 adults, $7 seniors age 65 and older, $5 children ages 5-17 and full-time students with ID, free for children 4 and younger).
Info: (317) 636-9378, www.eiteljorg.org.
Karl Wirsum: Winsome Works(some)
"Winsome Works(some)" celebrates the talents of Chicago artist Karl Wirsum, a painter, sculptor and printmaker. Wirsum gained fame with the 1964 "Hairy Who" exhibition in the Windy City's Hyde Park Art Center. Today, his works can be viewed in every major public-art collection in the country.
Known for his cartoon-type images, he often depicts his whimsical creatures and superhero-like characters enacting surprising scenes. More than 100 of Wirsum's pieces are on display.
Where: 735 W. New York St.
When: Through March 1. 10.a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday.
Tickets: Free.
Info: (317) 278-9418, www.herron.iupui.edu.
Art and Soul exhibition by Donald Burlock
Indianapolis photographer and painter Donald Burlock presents a collection of photographs centering on musical imagery as part of the Art & Soul celebration.
Using black-and-white and color techniques, Burlock turns his lens to Indiana Avenue and area jazz legends for a grouping of compelling works.
"What I wanted to do is a fusion between the history (of Indiana Avenue) and then, in addition, taking into account the landmarks that are actually on Indiana Avenue," Burlock explains.
Where: Intersection of Washington and Illinois streets.
When: Through Feb. 29. 9.a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday; noon to 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets: Free.
Info: (317) 631-3301, www.indyarts.org.
Browse the galleries
Can't get enough of the visual arts? Here are a few more choices:
Japanese Show
See an early 1900s kimono, as well as art by Shoko Schutte (ceramics, calligraphy) and Yuri Okamoto (blown glass).
Where: Dean Johnson Gallery, 646 Massachusetts Ave.
When: Through Feb. 28. 11.a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Tickets: Free.
Info: (317) 634-8020, www.deanjohnson.com.
Hats of Africa: From Asante to Zulu
More than 50 traditional hats representing 30 African ethnic groups are displayed, including many never before placed on public view.
Where: Indianapolis Museum of Art, 4000 Michigan Road.
When: Through Sept. 28. 11.a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday; 11.a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets: Free.
Info: (317) 923-1331, www.imamuseum.org.
Third Annual Art Walk on the Square
Six artists rotate through six "paintings in progress" -- each contributing his or her own talents to the works -- at restaurants on or near Noblesville's Courthouse Square. Bid on the finished works at a silent auction.
Where: Noblesville Courthouse Square.
When: 6 to 10 p.m. March 7.
Tickets: Free.
Info: (317) 776-6345, www.cityofnoblesville.org.
New Paintings by Barry Gealt
Be among the first to view the latest exhibit by Hoosier artist Barry Gealt.
Where: Ruschman Art Gallery, 948 N. Alabama St.
When: 5 to 9 p.m. March 7 (opening reception). The exhibit runs through March 29.
Tickets: Free.
Info: (317) 634-3114, www.ruschmangallery.com.
Transition by the Garage Artist Society
The group of five artists (all of whom work out of their garage-based home studios) debuts its latest show.
Where: Dean Johnson Gallery, 646 Massachusetts Ave.
When: 5 to 9 p.m. March 7 (opening reception). The exhibit runs through March 24.
Tickets: Free.
Info: (317) 634-8020, www.deanjohnson.com.
Through the Lens
More than 70 photographs focusing on Indiana. Presented by the Indiana Photographic Society.
Where: Garfield Park Arts Center, 2432 Conservatory Drive.
When: 6 to 9 p.m. March 7 (open house, including a presentation on the oldest road in Indiana.). 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets: Free.
Info: (317) 327-7184.
- By Julie Cope Saetre Star correspondent
