The cool breezes of fall are upon us and the kids are back in school. As summer comes to an end, come to the Carmel Arts & Design District from 5 to 9 p.m. today, Saturday, Sept. 11, for Allied Solutions’ Meet Me on Main.
This month will feature a fun make-and-take art project to create fall critters, presented by the Art Lab in the breezeway off of Main Street next to Sub Zero. The Art Studio of Carmel will have a Hamsa hand coloring project at their location, 30 N. Range Line Road. Kids can design a pencil pouch full of school supplies while parents shop at the Indiana Design Center, 200 S. Range Line Road.
Meet Me on Main is the City of Carmel’s monthly, second Saturday event along Main Street and Range Line Road to highlight local galleries, restaurants and design-related businesses in the Carmel Arts & Design District. Art galleries and businesses will feature special events to help you experience the wonderful art-related and design-related features in the District. Live music will play in the streets and prize giveaways will be offered.
In addition to the hands-on art projects, there will be an opportunity to register to win one of three $100 gift cards by visiting participating merchants and dropping your name and contact information into a special drawing that will take place the following week. The gift cards will be from select Arts District businesses. Be sure to visit as many galleries and shops as possible to increase your chance to win.
Below are some of the special attractions featured today:
All Things Carmel
The gift shop is welcoming Carmel Christian Church’s retired minister and author Jerry Zehr who will be signing his new book The Peacemaker’s Path, which is on sale at the store. The store will also offer samples of seasonal offerings from the Carmel Brews & Barrels Trail. (All Things Carmel, 110 W. Main St., #104)
Art on Main
The gallery’s front room will feature artists Marcie Couet and Freddie Kelvin. Their joint show highlights Marcie’s abstract paintings and Freddie’s abstract photography with lots of color and intrigue. In addition, the other 20 or so local artists have brought in all new work for the month, including jewelry, pottery, glass pumpkins (some even glow in the dark), paintings, cards and more. (Art On Main, 111 W. Main St., #140)
Art Studio of Carmel
Decorate your own Hamsa hands, which are common in Middle Eastern and Israeli culture. The hands have an eye, a talismanic symbol that people believed to protect them from harm against the evil eye and brings them goodness, abundance, fertility, luck and good health. (The Art Studio, 30 N. Range Line Road)
Carmel Arts Council
This month’s Art in the Garden event will feature Irina Smulevitch, who will create art in the garden using chalk and pastels from 4 to 8 p.m. Smulevitch is an artist, educator, and the owner of Carmel Art Education Studio. Art in the Garden is an event that takes place in the garden located immediately outside of the World’s Smallest Children’s Art Gallery, which will be open for visitors. There will be a children’s table to allow kids to join in the fun of making art. (Carmel Arts Council, 40 W. Main St.)
CCA Gallery & Gifts
The gallery’s feature show artists are Laurie Alvier, painter, and Kelly Jenkins, fused glass jewelry artist. Join them from 6 to 8:30 p.m. for a reception. Visitors can check out the beautiful display of their work, meet them in person and find out what inspires them. (CCA Gallery, 111 W. Main St., #135)
Indiana Artisan Gallery
This gallery will feature Kevin Harvey’s bowl-carving process that involves only hand tools. He performs most of the wood shaping with an adze, a tool similar to an axe, but with an arched blade. Watch him transform wood rescued from a burn pile into beautiful, functional art. The Brownsburg-based wood artist will carve in the garden next to Indiana Artisan Gifts & Gallery from 5 to 9 p.m. (Indiana Artisan Gifts & Gallery, 22 N. Range Line Road)
Indiana Design Center
Holder Mattress, Rusted Window and Stephanie Wiott Designs will offer light refreshments, a kid’s craft and in-store special offers. Join them inside the Indiana Design Center for a “back to school” themed evening. Kids can design a pencil pouch full of school supplies while moms and dads can shop the new fall home décor arrivals and summer clearance. (Indiana Design Center, 200 S. Range Line Road)
Kuaba Gallery
The gallery will be featuring new paintings by Carmel artist Anne Cleary. Also on display are beautiful new SWAN sculptures by Dominic Benhura from Zimbabwe and a collection of traditional African Masks. (Kuaba Gallery, 404 W. Main St.)
The Olive Mill
Experience a European tradition of sampling the freshest selection of small batch and artisan extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars from all over the world. Drop your name in the fishbowl and you could win a special $50 gift certificate from the Olive Mill. (Olive Mill, 10 S. Range Line Road)
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A map of the gallery locations and more information about Meet Me on Main activities can be found at CarmelArtsAndDesign.com.
Public parking is available in the Carmel Lions Club lot (141 E. Main St.), Sophia Square parking garage (entrance off of 1st Ave. NW), Indiana Design Center parking garage (200 S. Range Line Road) or on-street. Click here to download the Arts & Design District parking map.
About the Carmel Arts & Design District
The Carmel Arts & Design District is the Midwest’s premier arts and design destination. Home to more than 200 businesses, including art galleries, restaurants, antique dealers, design showrooms, boutiques and creative service providers, the Carmel Arts & Design District promises to stimulate the senses. The Indiana Design Center is housed in the Carmel Arts & Design District. In addition, hundreds have taken advantage of the wide variety of housing opportunities and call the Carmel Arts & Design District home.