'Paranoia' by John Duff. John's work will be shown in 'The April Show' at 322 N. Arsenal Ave. on Friday, April 25th. (Submitted photo)

'Gamblin' by John Duff. John's work will be shown in 'The April Show' at 322 N. Arsenal Ave. on Friday, April 25th. (Submitted photo)

'Poet' by John Duff. John's work will be shown in 'The April Show' at 322 N. Arsenal Ave. on Friday, April 25th. (Submitted photo)

'Mop' by John Duff. John's work will be shown in 'The April Show' at 322 N. Arsenal Ave. on Friday, April 25th. (Submitted photo)

For those of you who don't feel like heading to the Stutz Artists Open House this weekend, or the pecha kucha event at Big Car Gallery tonight, or the IMA's art parade tomorrow, consider an alternative: The April Show.

Now in its 11th year, The April Show is a showcase for visual artists who have faced unusual obstacles or challenges, and the event is stronger this year than ever before.

"Through word of mouth it's just gotten bigger and bigger," said show organizer David Hittle, who tacks more than 400 works of art to the walls of his home especially for the annual event. "We have 17 artists this year. And we get about 600 people come through the night of the show."

The inspiration for the event was Harry Blomme, a one-time farmer who ended up homeless in Indianapolis, but continued to paint despite his circumstances. Blomme died at 68, in 2003, but the prolific artist left behind a large body of work, and a larger legacy.

William McKenna, who produced a short documentary about Blomme, said the show gives people a glimpse of something different from the norm.

"Everybody's got these really unique stories," McKenna said. "What they've seen and what they've done. I mean, Harry's done things and been places that I'll never know about. And it comes through in the work."

The show involves what might be called "outsider art," but essentially they are people who were once or are still disenfranchised in some way, through mental health problems, addiction, or a general lack of stability in their lives. But the work they produce is far from the fringe, and often sells well.

"We don't open the doors until 7, and there's a line down the block," said Hittle. "They come in because they want to snatch up all their favorite things early."

The show is an all-volunteer effort, led by Hittle, who said the event strives to celebrate what can be achieved despite adversity, and to nurture the artistic spirit in places and people in which it might otherwise have been overlooked.

The works of art range from $8 to $500 (although polite negotiating is encouraged), and the money made goes to the artists themselves, although some artists have agreed to donate all or a percentage of what they make to Stopover Inc., a local emergency shelter and counseling center.

Matt Hall, a 34-year-old who was at one point homeless and an alcoholic, has produced work for the show for three years, and said all the artists appreciate the money people spend on their work.

"People come here knowing that this is kind of a cause really, so I think they have it in their mind that they might be buying something," he said. "But I don't know what drives people."

The April Show

Featured artists, in addition to Hall, include Jerome Neal, Berry Connell, Brian Duff, Kevin Johnson, William McKenna, Liberty Sutton, Cheryl Myers, Lena Dearing, Mary Brown, James Horn, Kathy Nelson, Sherri Gruber, Thomas Hamilton, J. Brian Sparks and Morris Kurz.

Where: 322 N. Arsenal Ave., Indianapolis

When: 7 p.m. until late Friday, April 25.

Admission: Free

Info: Visit www.aprilshow.org or call (317) 974-1163