Additional programming will take place on Facebook and Instagram as a continuation of Virtual First Friday.

“The art is like most people…and life. You never know what’s going on behind closed doors, or in any person’s life,” Cain said. “Just like you never know exactly what went into a piece of art. You never know how much time it took, or what items or media was used in it.” Cain describes her mixed media work as explosions of color and texture and explosions of her mind on canvas, often in abstract form but occasionally in realism.

About Melissa Cain

Melissa Cain is a mostly self-taught artist who began painting in 2012 to relieve stress and help with seizures. Her son, Max, insisted on a painting birthday party, with his two sisters following suit, leading Cain to begin holding painting parties for adults and children.  Cain prefers to dabble in various art forms, to help continue her explorations and to stay fresh in her craft. She also uses painting and sculpture to help work through her emotions, thoughts, and feelings.

“I create for many reasons,” Cain said. “Being creative is the ultimate freedom of expression. You can release your feelings and emotions onto a surface and express yourself in such a way that others feel your pain, energy, happiness, or whatever you felt in that moment, just by viewing your creation, time and time and time again. I don’t hold back when I’m playing around and creating. I use random, everyday objects as a canvas or spread out texture on a canvas. I start out with just an idea and a loose plan and just go for it. Sling paint and see what happens.

About the Full Circle Nine Gallery

The Full Circle Nine Gallery operates as an artist cooperative gallery, with each of the member artists and the board dividing gallery duties and artists roles. The artists will work together to help each other advance in skill and practice, as well as to bring success to the gallery.

With over two dozen artists occupying a large, three-room space of the more factory-reminiscent portion of the Circle City Industrial Complex, Full Circle Nine offers a wide variety of art forms, media, and approaches.

To better work with in the COVID-19 shutdown and restrictions, the Full Circle Nine Gallery has hosted Virtual First Fridays, on the gallery’s Facebook page, @fullcircleninegallery, as well as on its Instagram, @fc9gallery, during the typical First Friday hours. During that time, the artists will host live streams, post videos, or showcase photos of their latest work, in an effort to continue to connect with fans and patrons. The gallery has also resumed weekend hours, 12-4pm on Saturdays and Sundays, with health precautions, such as required masks.

Full Circle Nine Gallery is located at 1125 Brookside Ave., Indianapolis, IN, 46202, in the South Studios section of the Circle City Industrial Complex. For more information, or for artists interested in joining the Full Circle Nine, please visit www.fullcirclenine.com