Explore Japanese Lacquer Magic in Urushi Odyssey |
World-renowned artist Nhat Tran sees each show as an opportunity for discovery, and the aptly titled Urushi Odyssey is no exception.
Tran works with a material called kōkiyū garasu urushi, a Japanese lacquer made from the sap of the Rhus Vernicifera tree, commonly known as the Chinese lacquer tree. With this lacquer, Tran painstakingly paints onto plexiglass to create beautifully patterned abstract paintings.
For some pieces, she uses heat to bend and shape plexiglass into three-dimensional forms, thereby bringing these paintings into the realm of sculpture. Her work on these techniques earned her the Indianapolis Creative Risk Fund grant, as she was the first artist to use urushi lacquer to create three-dimensional sculptures.
Online Gallery | Blog |
Step Into An Other-Worldly Collaboration |
Have you ever wondered what a dialogue between wooden furniture and oil paintings on decomposition, surrealism, and renewal would look like? In their collaborative show, titled Apokalupto, Morgan Binkerd and Conner Knoll seek to answer that question. The Greek word "apo+kalupto," means "revelation" or "unveiling" and can be translated as "to disclose" or "to uncover."
Binkerd's main focus in her work is to process life and death through the physical act of painting, pairing seamlessly with Knoll's surrealist sculptures, which provoke reflection on time, environment, and human relationships with nature and others. These two artists' work offers different ways to navigate and process our emotions around topics such as the cycles of life and aging, inviting viewers to step into the conversation. Online Gallery | Blog |
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| Welcome New Fellow, Najah! |
Najah Tai (29) is a local Indianapolis producer, cinematographer, photographer, and graphic designer. After four years of teaching, Najah became a creative director at a digital marketing agency. In 2021, she co-founded Culture Punch, a youth fine arts program that breaks down cultural barriers and provides opportunities for Indy youth to participate in large-scale productions.
"My art has taken me in spaces I've always dreamed of being, and coming back to work at the Harrison Center is a part of that dream. I'm excited about what I can bring to the table to help further the mission and goals here." Learn more about Najah here. |
Protect What Matters Most |
Spring is the season for clearing clutter and making space for what matters most.
At the Harrison Center, we see renewal every day through artists bringing new ideas to life, neighbors gathering through creativity, and our community growing stronger through the arts. It’s a reminder that thoughtful planning today helps creativity flourish tomorrow.
As you tackle your own spring cleaning, consider organizing one more important area: your plans for the future. With our partner FreeWill, you can create or update your will and plan beneficiaries in about 20 minutes, completely free of charge.
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Celebrate May With Porch Party Festivities! |
May is a special month here in Indy. This past Friday, we had a blast kicking off Porching season right here outside the City Gallery. The Gordon Pipers filled the street with jubilant tunes, cookies were shared from the Illinois Street Food Emporium, and aerialists wowed the crowd with thrilling performances. This is just one example of the many different ways Porching can come to life across our city. Pick a day, invite your friends and neighbors, and spend your summer building community and creating lasting memories.
Decorate your porch and register here for a chance to win prizes in the official Indy 500 Porch Party Decorating Contest! |
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