The show will feature Bean the Astronaut, a character created by Joy Hernandez, applied to the images supplied by FC9’s photography membership.

“It started out as a fun little exercise: Drawing Bean on various photographs to just see what the character could get up to, and how the various media would interact,” Hernandez said. “My photographer friends have had some wonderful adventures. This year, so many of us have been stuck inside or in one place. Through Bean, we can all suit up and go somewhere, safely.”

About the Collaborators

Joy Hernandez is the founder and president of FC9 and an aerosol and acrylic painter. She’s painted Bean the Astronaut on canvases and as various murals around Indianapolis. The character is named after Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean, the only artist to have walked on the moon. Hernandez imagines Bean can be anyone with an imagination and an appreciation for space exploration.

Contributing photographers include FC9 treasurer Kimberly Ewing, who has often visited far-flung tropical locales; FC9 member artists Marcus Collins, a 30-year WISH-TV videographer and art photographer who often captures beautiful views he sees on the job; and the August Featured Artist Eric Schoch, a metropolitan traveler with an eye for equality; Ashley Louise, a multifaceted artist that captures haunting buildings; “Captain” Jim Kirk, who specializes in altered photography; as well as friend of FC9 and WISH-TV photojournalist Shawn Pierce. Hernandez and Pierce have collaborated on a similar run of imagery that recently debuted at the High Frequency Arts gallery in Fishers, Indiana.

FC9 board member Terrence Loftus, a frequent art collaborator with Hernandez, will also showcase an expanded display of coasters and swirled designs in the Feature Room.

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