Being Indypendent

So, I see lots of cars driving around all the time with those bumper stickers that say, "Be Indypendent. Buy Indy art." And I have to say, I'm really impressed with the art scene here in town. There are lots of interesting places in town to go see, buy and even make art, and I continue to be amazed at the affordable prices.

This past Friday was another "First Friday," when many of the galleries in town host opening events. While living in Chicago, I attended a few gallery walks in River North (I used to live in the neighborhood), but was always really discouraged by how pricey everything was. Yes, I saw lots of pieces I loved, but never for less than like 5 large...which can be a little tough to stomach, particularly on a PR-girl's salary.

So imagine my glee at discovering The Harrison Center, where the majority of works at every show are under $1,000 - typically WAY under. If you've not attended any Harrison Center openings, I highly recommend it. Last Friday's was just how you want it to be - a big crowd of interesting people, with music, art and free wine. Yay!

From there, I headed down to Fountain Square. I hit Big Car Gallery, which is always interesting (and makes me feel very hip just for knowing how to find it on the second floor of the Murphy building) as well as Alchemy. Alchemy is cool - a combo salon and art gallery. I never see a lot of people in there getting haircuts, but the art hanging in there is worth a look. Alchemy was hosting a silent auction of works donated by local artists to benefit the First Friday opening events. I guess the money made pays for the cheese trays or something. Anyway, I felt a little guilty getting away with a giant and very cool painting for $250 - after all, these are starving artists, right? But hey, it was for a good cause. Now I just need to figure out how to get it home...

Fun Night at French Pharmacie

French Pharmacie hosted a holiday open house last night, which was of course fabulous. Even though I didn't win any of the door prizes (like a Balanciaga wallet or a cute fur hat), I drank plenty of champagne and made new friends with some fellow fashionistas.

FP has started to receive some resort wear, and it's very cute. Lots of Tory Burch and 3.1 Philip Lim. I purchased a very cute Philip Lim dress that I can wear now with a black turtleneck underneath and some black tights (thanks to Stacy Kosene for that great suggestion), and then pull it out for parties in spring/summer on its own. I think it would be perfect for, say, a wedding on the beach in Naples, FL - should such an event crop up on my social calendar in '08 (fingers crossed).

There's also some GREAT stuff on sale at FP right now, including a ton of jewelry marked down 50%. That's right, 50%. So of course I couldn't resist snapping up a ring I've had my eye on essentially since I moved back here in April. Merry Christmas to me! And it looks great with my new dress.

So if you've still got a little money rattling around in your pocket after your holiday shopping, head to FP and buy yourself something shiny to put in your stocking.

Tonight is First Friday, so I'll be attending the opening of the Indianapolis Art Center show at Barnes & Thornberg (11 S. Meridian), followed by the Harrison Center and possibly Big Car in Fountain Square. Should be fun!

Upcoming Events

Hi, all. I thought I'd let you all know about a couple of important events coming up next week.

On Thursday, December 6, French Pharmacie will be hosting a holiday open house from 4-8 p.m. In addition to a jewelry trunk show, I understand that there will be music and other fun things - perhaps even some discounts...which could add up at FP! Another new development at my favorite local store - there is now a manicurist in-house so you can squeeze in a mani/pedi next time you're out shopping. Genius!

Next Friday is another First Friday in Indy, so the Harrison Center will be hosting another of their quirky yet fabulous opening nights. December's exhibit is titled "What You Crave" - a play on White Christmas/White Castle (one of the sponsors), so I've got to believe there could be some slyders served. At any rate, the show is a group show of Harrison Center artists, many of whom will also be opening their studios. The event runs from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Big Car also has a First Friday event. Their December show is "Under the Weather: Paintings and Other Things by Alfred Eaker, Bill Ross, Keith Banner and Joe Griffith." I'm not familiar with the artists, but the show looks interesting (at least from the postcard). Big Car's opening night goes from 6 p.m. - midnight, with live music happening at 10 p.m.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

Online Art Explosion

Ok, so maybe it's because I just spent a weekend at 21c being inspired, or maybe it's because I've been feeling a little fat lately so not so into the clothes thing, but I've been semi-obsessed lately with art. Hence all the postings about red penguins and such.

Well, my art obsession led to the discovery of a really great website - www.etsy.com. Technically devoted to crafts, the site also has quite a bit of art for sale, and all at very reasonable prices. I think the most expensive thing I've seen on the site has been $700, and that was a very large and elaborate quilt.

From glass to jewelry to needlework to oil paintings, collage and sculpture, you'll find it on Etsy. And if you have arts or crafts you'd like to sell, Etsy's the place to do that, too.

Good news on "Project Penguin" and the obsession with large plastic animals that has spawned - I won the white, light up reindeer on Ebay. It will soon be taking up residence in my home as a lighting fixture. Yay!

Won't Be Purchasing Any Red Penguins

Ok, so I have found a gallery in Belgium, called Artiscope, that has three of Cracking Art's Red Penguins still available for sale, for the low low price of 3000Euro. That's right - that translates to $4,300. Add in shipping from Belgium for the 5-foot tall penguin, and I'm sure you're up to five large.

So needless to say, I will not be purchasing a Red Penguin, much as I want to. Even for me, it's tough to justify $5,000 for a large plastic penguin.

However, where there's a will, there's a way, so an experiment is underway. I found two plastic penguins on Ebay - no, not quite like the big red one, but perhaps close? They're a bit shorter, only about 2 ft tall, and painted black and white. But I've found some spray paint, Krylon Fusion, that supposedly bonds to plastic with no primer. So I'm going to paint my own plastic penguins, just to see if maybe - maybe - they'll be some sort of reasonable facsimile of the famous Red Penguins???

I'll let you know how it goes.

Obsessing Over Penguins

Just returned from a wonderful weekend in Louisville, an unexpectedly hip town, I must say. You've got to love a city whose motto is, "Keep Louisville Weird."

I stayed at 21c Museum Hotel, and loved it. The concept behind the hotel is just what its name states - it's a combo contemporary art museum and hotel. The whole lobby is filled with art, as is the downstairs gallery. Very cool. There's also supposedly art in the rooms, although not a lot.

My favorite thing about the hotel was its signature Red Penguins, created by Cracking Art from Italy. While the penguins are very whimsical (and fun to taunt your friends with after a few drinks), they actually have a deeper purpose. Cracking Art has done several installations of plastic penguins, turtles and other endangered animals "invading" populated parts of Europe. Check out the video and photos of their work on their website, www.crackingart.com.

I only wish I could take one of the Red Penguins home, but, sadly, they're not for sale. You'd think they'd be selling replicas in the hotel shop, but apparently there's some copyright issue. We discussed several options for absconding with a penguin, but all had their flaws. We were concerned that the penguins were too large to wrap in a coat and smuggle out, and we considered tossing one out of the window to be caught and shoved into a waiting car below, but that seemed tricky to pull off, too. As I didn't want to go to jail for penguin stealing, I'll be pursuing other options. Have no fear, emails have been sent to both Cracking Art and their primary gallery in Belgium...

In the meantime, inspired by Cracking Art, I've bid on a big white plastic deer on Ebay, that even lights up. Fun! Just don't outbid me, please.

"Danke Schoen" at the Harrison Center

As I've written before here in this space, Kyle Ragsdale is just about my favorite local Indy artist that I've discovered so far. His paintings are beautiful, and fashionable - many of them incorporate images of women in evening gowns.

I highly recommend a visit to the Harrison Center for the Arts to see his solo show, Danke Schoen, hanging through the end of the month. I missed the opening last Friday evening, but I understand it was quite an event - apparently the cops even showed up and busted the Harrison Center for illegally operating a dance hall when several polka dancers took the stage.

Even without the hoopla - and free wine - of the opening, the show is worth a visit. Lots of the works have sold, so hurry if you'd like to add to your collection.

Big Weekend Coming Up

Ok, so I know it's only Wednesday, but I'm getting very excited for the weekend. Which sorta, kinda starts tomorrow, with a fab trunk show at French Pharmacie. All day Thursday and Friday, 10/25 and 26, the Colorado sisters who design The Woods jewelry line will be at French Pharmacie showing their stuff. You might remember the rough cut diamond bracelet I've been lusting after at FP? Available for a mere $8 large or so? Yeah, that's The Woods. But I've been assured that not everything in the line is so pricy - apparently prices start around $250 or so. I do have that birthday coming up...

Saturday's a big day, as well. I'm planning to check out the Indieana Craft show at the Irving Theater during the day. You read that right; it's "Indieana." Apparently this craft show won't feature the usual country crap, crocheted potholders and doilies - it's a little edgier than that. As it's styled after the Renegade Craft Shows held in various major markets across the country, I think it will be cool. Plus, I'm a bit of a knitter myself, so I enjoy communing with fellow crafters.

Saturday night is "Strange Fruit," at the Wheeler Art Center. This should be a very cool event, with tons of artists' work on display, and a wearable art fashion show. I also think the crowd will be fun, with some interesting ensembles, I'm sure, the Saturday before Halloween. There's an after party at Radio Radio, so the whole thing sounds right up my alley.

I just need to decide what to wear...

Supporting the Indy Art Scene

Last night IndyStyle hit the closing reception for "The Curious City" art exhibit at the Harrison Center. For those of you who've not been to an event at the Harrison Center, you have to check it out. It's a very cool place - particularly when the artists there have their studios open, as they typically do on an IDADA First Friday, for example.

My favorite Harrison Center artist is Kyle Ragsdale, and last night I'm pleased to say I purchased one of his paintings. It was inspired by the Burger Chef murders, which longtime Indy residents will recall happened in the late '70s and have never been solved. I know it sounds very dark, but, trust me, it isn't.

Apparently in November Kyle will have his own solo show at the Harrison Center, in the main gallery. I encourage everyone to check it out. Unfortunately, I'll be out of town for the First Friday opening; however, I'm going to be sure to get there soon after, so please don't buy everything on the first night!

Artsparkle a Fashionable Fete

If you missed Saturday night's Artsparkle party at the Indianapolis Art Center, you missed a good one. The crowd was great, the weather was gorgeous, and the IAC staff did an amazing job transforming the grounds of the Art Center into a delightful "lover's lane," lined with luminarias and festooned with lights.

The food was fantastic, as well - my faves were the Asian-inspired pork tenderloin served over seaweed salad, provided by R Bistro, and the mini tenderloin sandwiches from Sullivan's.

I'm still slightly sad that the lovely fox fur coat was quickly bid up above my budget, but at least all the money went to a good cause.

And if you haven't been to the Art Center in a while - I hadn't been in there in years - it's worth a visit. It's much more like an art museum than I remember - although much less stuffy - and, I believe, all the art on the walls is for sale! That's always been a gripe of mine about museums. Yes, it's fun to look at all of the art, but if you can't buy it, what's the point? Yes, I know I could never afford, say, a Picasso, but it would be nice to know what it would cost, if you could buy it.

Anyway, check it out!