Thursday, July 13, 2006

Get out of Indy


[image is of the William Kentridge video installation]

Sometimes you just need to. It's summer. Take a road trip. Go out and explore surrounding cities and see some art. Yesterday, that is exactly what I did. Hopped in a car with a friend and went to Columbus, Ohio. Why? That is where the Wexner Center for the Arts is located. I have for sometime now been aware of the Wexner but had never taken the time to go see what the talk was about. Well, I now wish I had gone there sooner. The programing at the Wexner is superb. Currently showing there was a very nice show called Diptych; a two person show of works by the artists Jockum Nordstrom and Mindy Shapero. I must say that this was a much better show than I had expected and I must give props to the folks at the Wexner for printing a really nice little catalog for the show, or do you call it a brochure? Either way, it was really nicely put together, lots of images of the works, and FREE.

Also on view was a video installation, "William Kentridge: 7 Fragments for Georges Melies". This piece blew me away. It was seductive. I had always found Kentridge's films to be interesting but these pieces were different for me. 9 video projectors all playing a the same time, and all to the same simple musical piece. Everything about this installation worked. Words can not describe these films, I can only hope that one day you too will see them. And Tyler Green would be pleased as they had several comfortable benches in the room for you to sit and enjoy the work.

Everyone we encountered on our short day trip was very plesant and helpful. It was very much a worth while drive. So when you are starting to feel confined and limited by what Indy has to offer, remember that we are just a short drive from other great art viewing opportunities. So, get out of Indy and see some more art. We'll be here when you get back.

3 Responses to “Get out of Indy”

Anonymous said...
July 13, 2006 at 4:42 PM

FYI, columbus also has a great area called "north short" on the near-northwest side that has a lot of galleries and one little art supply store that blows away anything we have here.


Anonymous said...
July 13, 2006 at 8:34 PM

Scott, Thanks for writing this post.

Yes. The North Short, The Wexner Center... I spent a weekend in Columbus, OH in summer of 04. Upon my return to Indy I told a few folks about the resurgence of the area. Blocks after blocks of galleries, restaurants, studios, and artists residences.

Kind of make me think of what Mass. Ave can one day look like. The IDADA, The Arts Council and other arts organizations ought to take a trip to Columbus and learn from what they have done there.

In my view Columbus is a more progressive arts community. Indy can learn so much from it.


ChristopherWestPresents said...
July 13, 2006 at 10:49 PM

Indy could learn a lot from numerous places - it just seems that we're sometimes fighting this isolationist approach to anything beyond 465.

And Kentridge rocks!


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