Articles

Cultural void at the debates

Check out this smart Los Angeles Times piece about the “well, duh” observation that culture won’t be a subject for any question during the Presidential debates.

“If I were moderating tonight’s TV debate,” writes Times art critic Christopher Knight, “…

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On the Pentagon 9/11 memorial

A few months back, when blogging about an arts-centric Washington, D.C. visit, I mentioned that one of my most memorable college moments was a spontanious road trip to the city, including a silent midde-of-the-night walk through a tourist-free Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

As…

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Col. Esserman at Start with Art

Today’s Start with Art luncheon at the Convention Center unofficially marks the start of the arts season in Indy.

So were you there? If so, what did you think of Col Dean M. Esserman’s talk?

For those who weren’t, Esserman–Chief of Police…

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Happy birthday, Ben Harrison

Today marks the 175th birthday of our homegrown pres, Benjamin Harrison. The BH home at 1230 N. Delaware is celebrating with free tours today from 10-3:30.

I’m celebrating by trying to think of a list of Best Performance by an Actor…

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When the art hits the fan

At Switzerland’s Zentrum Paul Klee, an inflatable pile of dog feces the size of a modest ranch home came loose from the museum grounds, knocked down a power line, and broke a window in a nearby children’s home. See the BBC report…

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Emptying the A&E notebook

Some thoughts on recent arts encounters that didn’t make it into my weekly IBJ A&E review column:

—  With a trio of young, out-of-town sports nuts in tow, I recently paid my first visit in years to the National Art…

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‘Bodies’ raises questions

“Premier cannot independenty verify that the human remains you are viewing are not those of persons who were incarcerated in Chinese prisons…”

So say the presenters of “Bodies…the Exhibition,” the controversial show–featuring cadavers, body parts, and organs–being presented here at Claypool…

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IMA Great Hall to get greater

Max Anderson at the Indianapolis Museum of Art has finally gotten his wish–a dominant piece of art in the IMA’s Pulliam Great Hall (that’s the open area you enter as soon as you go through the sliding doors at the…

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Preview: Chakaia Booker in Indy

IBJ reporter Jennifer Whitson takes over the blog for a moment with some info on the upcoming Chakaia Booker public art exhibition.

New York-based artist Chakaia Booker’s nine new sculptures will be taking over downtown…

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First look: IMA park art

IBJ reporter Jennifer Whitson takes over the blog today with a sneak peek at some of the work planned for the Indianapolis Museum of Art’s backyard.

Today, the IMA is releasing preliminary renderings for three of the eight inaugural artworks slated…

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Arts and depression

Two books I’m in the midst of reading combine to raise questions about the future of art and audiences.

The first, “Against Happiness,” posits that our society’s increased emphasis on smoothing over the rough edges of life (through pharmaceuticals and…

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Let the art fair season begin

This weekend marks the unofficial launch of the summer art fair season, with the Broad Ripple Art Fair sure to attract mobs to the Indianapolis Art Center grounds (weather cooperating, of course). 

I’m a fan of BRAF and its end-of-summer-IMA-bookend,…

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Art auction record shattered

Last night at Sotheby’s auction house in New York, a 1976 angst-infused triptych by Francis Bacon sold for $86.3 million. Apparently that’s the highest price ever paid at auction for a piece of contemporary art.

My instinct was to ask…

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Robert Rauschenberg R.I.P.

Few artists in history have changed the rules the way Robert Rauschenberg, who died Monday at age 82, did.

By incorporating found objects (a pillow, a stuffed goat…) into his paintings, Rauschenberg challenged contemporary art and artists to connect their work…

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Enochs’ blocks added to Saxony

This Thursday, the folks behind Saxony, the latest let’s-make-a-town-from-scratch in Hamilton County, will be dedicating a new sculpture by Bloomington artist Dale Enochs. The piece will be a prominent part of the 725-acre housing/office/retail community.

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Reading into “On The Road”

In June, the Indianapolis Museum of Art will be showcasing the 120-foot-long scroll on which Jack Kerouac wrote his landmark work “On the Road.” My question: Is the scroll itself art or artifact?

The scroll

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An IMA bridge too far?

IBJ reporter Jennifer Whitson has a scoop on developments at the in-the-works IMA  Art and Nature Park. I temporarily turn the blog over to her:

The proposed 1,200-foot walkway and bridge by artist Mary Miss slated to swoop down from IMA’s…

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Artwork in front/drop box in back

Yesterday I had my first encounter with the new Central Library’s conveyor-belted drive-up drop-off box. And in its own small way, it made me like the library even more — especially when I received a courtesy call saying that we…

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Summer Nights, summer slights?

The Indianapolis Museum of Art’s Summer Nights film series is one of the most popular warm-weather attractions in the city — at least, one where those who want to attend often outnumber the room the IMA has to accommodate them.

This…

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Cows, racecars … and now pianos?

Ever since the Chicago cows appeared in 1999, city marketers and arts folks have been trying to find attention-getting gimmicks to boost awareness of their towns’ coolness. Many of these—including our very own artist-decorated race cars—have been reactive rather than…

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