INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis art collectors and patrons are invited to visit over 70 studios filled with one-of-a-kind artwork on display and for sale at the Raymond James Stutz Artists Open House Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27 at the historic Stutz Business and Arts Center, 212 W. 10th St. Proceeds benefit the Stutz Residency Program.
Started in 1997, the Stutz Residency Program provides studio space for up to two emerging artists. This is one of the largest cumulative grants to individual artists in the state. Since its inception, more than 30 emerging artists have benefited from studio space and mentoring from professional artists at the Stutz. Past residents are now professors, leaders at Indianapolis-based art non-profits, leaders in the national arts community and have works in galleries and museums throughout the country. The 2018-19 residents, who will have open studios during the open house, are Johnson Simon and H. Ward Miles.
Johnson Simon is a painter who says, “My art is about movement.” Simon has cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that affects his motor skills. He studies motion and movement (dancing, walking, running, swimming and sky diving) for research and ideas. When he paints, he uses sweeping motions with his paint brush to transfer motion and feeling of movement onto the canvas.
H. Ward Miles is a painter who says, “My work is an attempt to take a world that can be so negative and find the light, bright beauty of our fragile existence.” Her paintings focus on what she calls great joys (love, parenthood, ambition and community) and great sorrows (personal sacrifice, politics, social injustice). She says the works “accurately depict a big, messy life containing both.”
During the event Stutz artists and business owners will welcome guests to their studios. Guests can browse artworks in creative spaces, experience the thriving Stutz art community, enjoy live music, take a selfie in a Stutz automobile and tour the turn-of-the-century car factory turned business and arts center.
The Stutz Open House will be open Friday, April 26, 5:30 to 10:30 p.m., and Saturday, April 27, 1 to 5 p.m. Expanded free parking located in specially marked lots surrounding the building.
Tickets are $16 in advance available at the Stutz Business office, 1060 N. Capital Ave., Suite C200, and online at www.stutzartists.com until April 24; $20 at the gate; children 12 and under free. Tickets can be used for entry both days.
