Spectacular

Tucked away in the corner of an upper stairwell lies a tall and narrow painting. In it, impressionistic-like figures assume different seated or standing positions on a trellis. It was this piece that first inspired artist Kyle Ragsdale's newest show, Spectacular: a collection of elongated, primarily oil paintings he describes as pageantry mixed with brooding.

Intrigued by Indianapolis's racing scene, the Swan Lake ballet, French films, and local historical figures, Ragsdale embarked on what he admits is a fresh approach to his creative process. He began by putting brush to canvas, then using trowels to "mess up" the paint, and finally pulling everything back together in a blended, texturized display. Ragsdale also experimented with a 70/30 color palette - an uneven application of light and dark tones and vice versa in each piece.

The result? 20 unique creations depicting people and animals atop towers and trellises as they search for better views. At the heart of the show is a celebration of July 4th; however, there is no clearly defined narrative. Rather, the artwork provides beginnings of stories in hopes that the admirer will form their own interpretation. When asked which painting is his favorite, Ragsdale says he loves the poster image because he finds the deer amusing. 

Come wander through Spectacular and enjoy the freedom of writing your story.