First Friday Gallery Opening - "I Will Wait by the River"

The Harrison Center is pleased to bring three new shows opening Friday, August 7th at 6 pm for social distance viewing—don’t forget to bring your mask (masks required). In the Harrison Gallery, Benny Sanders will present his newest body of work, “I Will Wait By The River,” a narrative of his time spent alone, mostly by the river, during quarantine. The collection explores a more subjective, reflective and imaginative approach to creating images as opposed to his prior experience in attempting to create objectively correct oil paintings. In the new work, Sanders departs from oil paints and instead uses monochromatic, handmade pigments created from foraged fungus, plants and trees.

The Speck Gallery will exhibit “Rise Up: A Protest Art Show,” featuring work by local artists that speaks against racial injustice.

In the Annex Gallery, the Harrison Center teams up with Indy Urban Hardwood Company to present “Porch Party Platters.” Local artists have painted large charcuterie platters made from reclaimed wood. Each platter represents the artists’ own style, and sales will benefit NXG Youth Motorsports.

In Hank & Dolly’s Gallery, Gina Westergard’s exhibition, “An Angel in the Room,” will feature one-of-kind memorial vessels, reliquaries, and urns. Westegard received her BFA at Indiana University, Bloomington and is currently an Associate Professor of Metalsmithing and Jewelry at the University of Kansas. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally in South Korea, Germany, Australia, Finland, Canada and throughout the United States.

In the City Gallery, Courtland Blade’s “The Unheard: Indy’s Response to Injustice,” remains on display. Blade’s work captures spaces around Indy that are significant to our city’s current fight against racial injustice.

Remaining on display in the Underground Gallery is “All at Once,” a collection by photographer Emily Schwank. The series features photographs that capture the Social Distance Porching movement during the Covid-19 quarantine in Indianapolis.

All art will be available to purchase in person during the First Friday event, and new shows will be available for purchase in our online store beginning Monday, August 10. In person viewings after First Friday are available by social distance appointment (contact Sarah at speacock@harrisoncenter.org).

The Harrison Center’s “Social Justice Window Walk” is also up now. The new installations are inspired by our nation’s current fight against racism. These unique installations by Indy artists are located in the windows on the perimeter of our building. This outdoor installation is open 24/7 for walkers & bikers to enjoy. Please observe all social distancing guidelines when viewing the exhibit.

With support from: the Arts Council of Indianapolis, the Indiana Arts Commission, Christel DeHaan Family Foundation, and Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation.

About the Harrison Center

The Harrison Center is a community-based, nonprofit arts organization that seeks to be a catalyst for renewal in the city of Indianapolis. Founded in 2001, the organization’s work is two-fold. The Harrison Center for the Arts is home to 36 artist studios and five galleries with programming that is designed to foster the creation of new art, build community among artists and emerging patrons, create new partnerships, and provide a forum for public conversations between artists and the community. The Harrison Center for the City seeks to connect people to culture, community, and place to strengthen Indianapolis’s core urban neighborhoods. For more information on the Harrison Center, call 317.396.3886 or visit www.harrisoncenter.org. Connect with the Harrison Center on social media at Facebook/HarrisonCenterArts, Instagram/harrisoncenterarts or Twitter/@HarrisonCtrArts.