Our FREE Opening Reception will show 4 brand-new exhibitions: JoeWill: BetterTogether by Joe and Will Lawrance, Stations of the Cross: A Fairytale by David DeCesaris, Xylem & Phloem by Rob Millard-Mendez, and Salon Des Savants by Elise Howell’s Independent Study: Painting – Advanced course.

JoeWill: BetterTogether is a two-person exhibition of artworks by twin brothers Joe and Will Lawrance. Joe and Will were deeply connected, expressed through their mutual devotion to art-making. Through diverse media, themes, and subjects, BetterTogether tells the stories of two burgeoning Indianapolis-born artists whose lives tragically ended as young adults. BetterTogether traces the creative prowess of the Lawrances, the significance of art-making as a means of self-expression, and the profound impact these two artists leave behind.

“I call this series (a fairytale) because I hope that it will have that same wonderous ingredient that stimulated my imagination years ago, opening new worlds to explore in my mind. I understand that a fairytale may offer profound meaning to children and play a role in shaping their imaginations and perceptions of life, with all its intricacies and burdens. These stories become vehicles of learning that teach how to absorb an image, a sound, or a word, in a meaningful way.” -David DeCesaris (Stations of the Cross: A Fairytale)

“The primary aim of my work is to illustrate concepts that I find enthralling.  The resulting objects are layered formally and conceptually. I hope to show an equal blending of art and craft while presenting engaging ideas in intriguing ways. The works are meant to involve the viewer visually and intellectually. My sources include mythology, politics, history, and American Folk Art. The objects I make reflect the sensibilities of a person steeped in New England practicality who (for better or worse) ended up learning about things like art history, existentialist philosophy, and post-structuralist theory.” -Rob Millard-Mendez (Xylem & Phloem)

Salon Des Savants is an exhibition of new works by students in Elise Howell’s Independent Study: Painting – Advanced course at the Indianapolis Art Center. Artists featured are Rick Beardsley, David Beatty, Joan Cimino, Kimberly Conrad, John Gaebler, Sharon Hoog, Craig McDaniel, Lee Ann Miller, Susan Olden-Stahl, and Ursula Niklas Peterson.