Annual Fund Donation

Did you know that a gift of $250 to the Indianapolis Art Center's Annual Fund will provide a one-week summer art camp for an at-risk youth, art supplies for one ArtReach site for one semester, seven hours supply of electric and gas for the entire building, or signage and material expenses for two exhibitions?

A gift of Annual Fund is an all-inclusive method to support the programs of the Indianapolis Art Center. From changing light bulbs to supporting our nationally recognized Outreach initiatives like ArtVan, this type of donation is important because of the wide range of its application. In coordination with membership dues, Annual Fund gifts help the Art Center maintain a balanced budget and support everyday operations in order to continue providing quality programming to the Indianapolis community.

For more information on gifts supporting Art Center programs, contact Kelly Lamm, Director of Development at 317.255.2464 ext. 260. If you would like to donate to the Indianapolis Art Center's Annual Fund you can do it online, here, or mail it to:

Indianapolis Art Center

Marilyn K. Glick School of Art

Attn: Annual Program Support

820 E. 67th Street

Indianapolis, IN 46220

Please help us support the arts with your donation!

--Kate Oberreich

Photo of the Week (Nov. 16, 2009)

Indianapolis Art Center- Photo of the Week:



The skylight illuminates the Ruth Lilly Library with natural light. Often host to holiday parties, weddings, and other gatherings, the Library is available to rent for your next event. Contact Special Events Director Iris Dillon for details.

Photo by: Kate Oberreich

Holiday Season Begins at the Basile Studio Shop

The holiday season has begun at the Basile Studio Shop! Manager Melanie Reckas has stocked her walls and shelves with the best in handmade gifts from local and regional artists. Everything from glassblown ornaments to greeting cards, jewelry to decor.

Handcrafted art is a beautiful personal gift and you'll be supporting a working artist. Gift certificates are also available at the Guest Services desk if you just can't decide.

The Basile Studio Shop is open Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm (open until 8pm on Thursdays) and Saturday, 10am-3pm. Check out our special building hours here as the holidays approach.

2009 Annual Student Show

After several years in Guest Services at the Indianapolis Art Center I've registered a lot of people for classes and workshops and had the chance to see some amazing artwork come from people who started out saying I'm not creative or I can't draw...paint...sculpt.

I believe we all have a creative spark in us, whether it be for the visual arts, dance, music, theatre or in another area. One of my favorite things about working here is helping students to identify classes that will help ignite that spark. The results of that spark make the Annual Student Show one of the best exhibits presented by the Indianapolis Art Center every year.

This year will be no different. The 2009 Annual Student Show will take place from November 19, 2009 to January 24, 2010 with a reception and awards ceremony on Friday, December 4, 6-8pm. It will feature more than 100 works of art from students of all ages, backgrounds, careers, experience levels and more. For many it's the first time they'll be presenting their work in a gallery setting. We invite you to come out and cheer them on.

The jurors this year are Nancy Miller and Wug Laku (adult divisions) and Gayla Hodson (youth divisions). You can learn more about them, here.

More info to come...the artwork take in starts today and runs through noon on Sunday. I'll be sharing pictures and more throughout. You can follow the process on Facebook, here, or click on the Facebook badge to the right.

--Kate Oberreich

The Indianapolis Art Center Student Experience

Art changes and enhances lives.

Last week I told you about Matt Warren who after a 20+ years working in landscaping and construction found a new passion, and career, starting with a steel sculpture class at the Indianapolis Art Center. With a new semester of classes approaching I wanted to share with you the stories of a few more of our students.

HEIDI MANDICH

In 2005, Heidi Mandich signed her son, Alec, up for a summer pottery camp at the Art Center as a way to get him out of the house and with no intention of taking a class herself. However, she and her husband quickly became intrigued by their son's experience and decided that the three of them should take a private glass class, dubbing themselves the von Trapp Family Glass Blowers.

While her husband found his niche in the world of glass, Heidi realized it was not glass that she dreamed of, but jewelry. "Having taken a lamp-work glass bead class years ago, I felt that if I could just take a metalsmithing class I could figure out how to present the beads," recalled Heidi. However, she didn't stop there. Each semester brought on a new challenge in her jewelry making, daring her to take a different class, to bring a new element and way of thinking into her pieces.

After four years Heidi has decided to take her learning to the next level and teach a class. "I don't really know how it happened. I've been monitoring the open studio for the past three years and loved the feedback and appreciation I have gotten from students. I love coaching them through questions and seeing them succeed. Teaching a class just seemed like the next step" she said. For Heidi, the Art Center is more than just a place to come and take a class.

"It's an inspiring and energizing environment. I have seen it transform people's lives in unimaginable ways. People have found a way to be someone beyond their limitations because of the Art Center. That's amazing!"

DICK NEED

Dick Need has been a student at the Indianapolis Art Center for the past six years. Feeling that he had the ability to draw, Dick signed up for a class. He has tried his hand at ceramics, metalsmithing, jewelry, and making stained glass windows.

For the past three years he has been an avid attendee of the open drawing and painting studios, a class with no instructor but providing the opportunity to draw and paint from life with a different model each week. When asked what he would tell those hesitant about taking a class he simply replied, "You got to do it. You got to try!"

NANCY THOMAS

After 33 years at the telephone company, Nancy Thomas decided it was time to retire and start doing what she truly loves: art. While her reason for signing up for classes at the Art Center was one of convenience, she quickly fell in love with the facility and the people.

Starting off, Nancy dabbled in oil, colored pencil, pen and ink and wood sculpting, but over the last six years she has found that her love lies in watercolor. "I haven't painted in oil since."

About taking classes she remarked "Just plunge in there. Do it and learn. It opens a whole new avenue."

KATE OBERREICH

(Yes, for regular readers of this blog, this is me, your blogger. Write about what you know, right?)

My student experience at the Indianapolis Art Center began in 1992 at the age of eleven when my mom signed me up for the summer Fine Arts Day Camp. Since then the Art Center has been a second home. A figure drawing class in high school gave me the opportunity to build my portfolio to apply to art school, open figure drawing classes allowed me to keep my drawing skills fresh, and an encaustic painting workshop earned me extra credit at school. I now have my Fine Arts degree and am working full time as an artist and arts administrator.

In addition to all this, I'm also a Guest Services Rep at the Art Center. I, along with the rest of the Guest Services and Education Department staff, invite you to give us a call if you are giving thought to a class, workshop or sampler. We are happy to help you find the perfect class to get you started on your own creative experience.

Our Spring Class Schedule (featuring Matt Warren on the cover) will be available online starting Wednesday, November 11. Registration begins December 2. Indianapolis Art Center members recieve an extra discount on classes when they register during Early Bird, December 2-16. And classes begin the week of January 11, 2010.

Story by Kate Oberreich with Meredith Bentz and Lisa DeHayes

Wife's Gift Turns into Career

Wife's gift turns into career

Matt Warren was at a dead end in his job. After 20+ years in landscaping and construction, he was bored and needed a change. The only options were striking out on his own or finding something else to do. A gift from his wife helped him do both.

"I came home and she said 'I got you a class at the Art Center.'" Warren recalls. It may have seemed a bad omen when he almost set his pants on fire during his first steel sculpture class, but Warren sees it as a fitting introduction to at art form that has become his true passion...and calling. Two and a half years after that first class, Warren is still at the Art Center is his full-time occupation is Artist. He's been in several art shows and has even done some commission work.

"There are lots of smiles these days in our household," he says. "Things are just really good. I'm having a great time."

Fab Fall Finds at the Indianapolis Art Center Basile Studio Shop

Treat your friends to a little Halloween madness from the Basile Studio Shop! Check out these treats to add some fun to your seasonal decor...

Ceramic artist Kate Tonguis (Sinistra Studio) of New Orleans creates these whimsical raku cat sculptures. Non-Halloween inspired cats are also available for the cat lover in your life. $24.95.

Blown Glass Pumpkins by Indianapolis Art Center faculty Lisa Pelo-McNiece are a perfect addition to your holiday table and also make a great hostess gift. Price ranges from $36-$45. Interested in making your own holiday treat? Contact Amanda Walters, Tour Coordinator, at 255.2464 ext. 249 for information on upcoming glass activities including making your own snowflake ornament!

Happy-go-lucky artist Allison Strine makes these double-sided pendants with an image on one side and a fun sayings ("Sometimes she can be a little witchy" & "Candy corn is her favorite veggie") on the other. Use as a necklace pendant or on your rearview mirror, or as a fan pull- anywhere you need a little cheer. $32.

A work of art all their own, Halloween themed handmade greeting cards from My Pepita's Magic are great to give and to get. All pieces are hand cut and assembled and add a bit of whimsy to any gift. Non-Halloween cards and gift tags are available too! $6.

But wait, there's more! The Art Center's Basile Studio Shop offers the best in local and regional handmade art. New items are arriving all the time and with the holidays coming up, it's a great place to find special gifts. Located just inside the main enterance to the Indianapolis Art Center, the Basile Studio Shop is open Monday through Friday, 10am to 5pm (open until 8pm on Thursdays) and 10am to 3pm on Saturday.