Gallery Walk Showcase May 23, 2008

Carmel Arts and Design District welcomes spring with its third Gallery Walk showcasing local and international artists, edibles and entertainment

Although May in Indiana is best known for racing, a signature event hosted by the Carmel Arts and Design District is helping to cast the spotlight on the budding arts

mecca beyond the Brickyard.

The Gallery Association of the Carmel Arts and Design District will welcome spring with its third Carmel Gallery Walk on Friday, May 23 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

This event is free and open to the public.

During the Gallery Walk, area galleries will host receptions featuring works by local and international artists, and offer customized hors d’oeuvres and signature drinks

that reflect the theme of each location’s unique show.

Guests can explore a string of nine galleries spanning Main Street , offering a diverse range of styles and mediums appealing to any taste. For example, the Evan Lurie

Gallery provides art aficionados a sharp contrast through its Pop Art exhibit, featuring the work of the iconic Burton Morris as well as Merrillville-born John Leaser,

whose collection of licensed art inspired by the film “Speed Racer” is as timely as it is topical. Both artists will be present at the gallery during the Gallery Walk, along

with Latin pop artist Leonardo Hidalgo and renowned top sculptor Brad Howe.

Just down the street, Magdalena Gallery of Art will celebrate the work of Noblesville artist John Reynolds with an exhibit entitled, “A Life in Art.” The collection will

feature Reynolds’ snapshot of life in Indiana through paintings of farm animals and rich Hoosier landscapes. Frazier Pettee Fine Art will celebrate spring through its

show “Art in Bloom,” featuring Denise Frazier Pettee’s collection of garden paintings celebrating the bloom.

Guests in search of non-traditional art will also not be disappointed. Grosser and Co. will mark the event with its grand opening party, juxtaposing Master Jeweler

Mark Grosser’s handmade fine jewelry alongside the graffiti and rock art of painter ERIV. The Blue Egg Gallery’s night of poetry and a surprise Arts and Design

District unveiling of a sculpture by artist J. Seward Johnson, Jr. adds even more excitement to the gala.

Beyond providing entertainment for central Indiana art lovers and a forum for Carmel ’s deep bench of galleries to showcase their venues, events like the Gallery

Walk are essential to the economic growth and development vision of Carmel , explained Evan Lurie, executive director of Evan Lurie Gallery.

“Our goal is to create a market, not cater to the market,” Lurie said. “By continuing to develop the central Indiana arts community, our businesses can not only attract

more top talent, we can help make those people want to stay. People shouldn’t have to sacrifice art to live here – by diversifying our cultural scene, we can do a

better job of improving quality of life and making this area a richer place to live.”

Parking is available at the Carmel Lions Club parking lot, Carmel High School parking lots and other public parking areas, as well as on-street parking. A shuttle will

be available to transport visitors to the galleries from the Carmel High School front lot located on Main Street .

For a more information about Gallery Walk events and a list of participating galleries, visit http://www.carmelartsanddesign.com or call 317.571.ARTS.

Official Website: http://www.carmelartsanddesign.com