The show will be located in the Schwitzer Gallery on the second floor of the North Studios, Friday, November 5th, 6-9pm, as part of the First Friday Art Tour. Admission is free.
Five Seasons Studio, Nahrwold’s CCIC home over these three decades, will be closed for the evening as Nahrwold will be focusing her work on the Schwitzer Gallery show upstairs.
“In 30 years’ time, I have seen businesses and artists come and go,” Nahrwold said. “I have seen the building change from near ... view more »
The show will be located in the Schwitzer Gallery on the second floor of the North Studios, Friday, November 5th, 6-9pm, as part of the First Friday Art Tour. Admission is free.
Five Seasons Studio, Nahrwold’s CCIC home over these three decades, will be closed for the evening as Nahrwold will be focusing her work on the Schwitzer Gallery show upstairs.
“In 30 years’ time, I have seen businesses and artists come and go,” Nahrwold said. “I have seen the building change from near abandonment to prosperity. I have collectors, and made dear friends with my art. I have seen the neighborhood renewed. As I leave from the studio at 5pm, I am pleased to see young families strolling, and dogs being walked along Brookside Ave. The triangle park has been brought to life with picnics, and even our parking lot has found multi-purpose and fun uses. I have reaped the reward of appreciation of my art work and knowing it is enriching others’ lives. During our pandemic I shipped paintings that brought happiness. What more could I ask for other than to continue to be a part of this wonderful experience!”
Martha began renting studio space in the Circle City Industrial Complex in 1991, after visiting Dolphin Papers in their location in the building at that time. She recalls that there were few tenants in the massive 500,000 square foot building, none of them artists.
In 2008, the late Wug Laku opened a studio across the hall from Nahrwold’s Five Seasons Studio. Together, they joined IDADA, the Indianapolis Downtown Artists and Dealers Association, ushering in the current era of the CCIC as a home for artists while nurturing a scene during the First Friday Art Tours. Today, there are over 100 artists throughout the building in studios and galleries, with the CCIC under the ownership of Teagen Development.
“Our building is so expansive that, during the pandemic, I continue to safely have visitors to my studio,” Nahrwold said. “To see the CCIC come from a somewhat scary building with few occupants to the energetic, largest art-centered building is a joy that I look forward to staying a part of for more years, and wonder what comes next!”
About Martha Nahrwold
Martha Nahrwold was born in Georgia, but traveled the country before arriving in Indianapolis via Lousiana in the late 1960’s. “I’m a Hoosier now!” Nahrwold said. She holds a degree in zoology and chemistry and relocated to Indianapolis to work as a researcher for Eli Lilly.
Nahrwold creates her signature marbled impressionistic artwork by floating acrylic inks on water. The inks are applied with a dropper, a whisk, or a glass rod and manipulated into a composition with a bamboo skewer. She then lays paper on top of the water-and-ink mixture and transfers the design. It’s a centuries-old art that she’s elevated from traditional into a contemporary nature over 12 years of experimentation.
Nahrwold has studied with Floyd Hopper, Paul Sweeny, and Sandy Ezell. Her favorite subject matter are landscapes and tree studies. “Places where I would like to be, and in painting, I am there,” Nahrwold said. “Occasionally, I need to be non-serious and create dogs or cats.”
Martha Nahrwold has been a frequent presence at the Penrod Arts Fair and the St. James Court Art Show in Louisville, Kentucky, during which she recently won an award.
About the Circle City Industrial Complex Artists
The Circle City Industrial Complex (CCIC) is a nearly half-million square foot industrial building, located at 1125 Brookside Ave., and was formerly home to the Schwitzer automotive company. Its industrial appeal remains and artists and artisans have made the space their home, carving cozy studio, work, and show spaces from the concrete and steel structure, and the CCIC Artists have grown in number to over 50 galleries, individual artists and artisans. The main artist entries are the North Studios entrance and the South Studios entrance, each marked with signage along Brookside Avenue. The CCIC provides free parking in a large lot, and is accessible by the Pogue’s Run Trail, connecting to the Monon Trail and the downtown Cultural Trail system. The complex also offers other art-supporting destinations such as the Centerpoint Brewery, Lick Ice Cream, and Eighth Day Distillery and The Fowling Warehouse.
For more information on the building, please visit: http://circlecityind.com
For more information on the artists please visit: https://ccicindyartists.wordpress.com/
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