Fishers Arts Council (FAC) in partnership with Ignite Studio at the Hamilton East Public Library and the City of Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability will offer a month-long gallery of art by individual artists and artists who are part of organizations providing services to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The exhibit, which is split between Ignite Studio and the FAC Hub Gallery, is part of Fishers’ annual March Disability Awareness Month celebration, which features special events and programs around the community.
Ignite Studio’s exhibit can be found inside the north entrance to the library, as well as in the hall leading to Ignite Studio, and is curated by the Arts Education Coordinator of Ignite Studio, Sydney Brink. Fishers Arts Council’s gallery is located at the Collaboration Hub at the Hamilton County Community Foundation in Fishers, curated by the Fishers Arts Council board and Executive Director Les Reinhardt.
Ignite Studio’s gallery will be on display March 1 to 28, seven days a week, while FAC’s gallery will be open March 4 to 27, Monday to Thursday, and by appointment only on Fridays by contacting FAC directly.
See works like Unity by Johnson Simon this month. (Art provided)
To celebrate the over 80 pieces of art shared between the gallery spaces, there will be a Second Friday reception from 6 to 9 p.m. on March 8 at the FAC Hub Gallery, which is free and open to the public. The reception is sponsored in part by Conner Prairie and the Fishers Arts + Culture Commission.
Live music will be performed by Andy Schomburg, a Special Education teacher for HSE Schools. A warm welcome from the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability will take place at 7 p.m., followed by a guest lecture by artist Johnson Simon.
“We added a guest lecture to our reception last year with Fishers comic book artist Jason Funk,” Reinhardt said. “This year I’m pleased to have Indianapolis artist Johnson Simon speak about his artistic career. Both of these individuals have inspirational stories and how their art is part of that story.”
Guests are welcome to come and go as they please during the reception, meet and shop directly from the artists, and learn about the supportive organizational resources that exist in the Fishers community. People of all ages are welcome and wanted in the gallery. ASL interpreters from Luna Language Services will be present during the reception. Artwork will be available for sale in both gallery spaces which can be purchased through QR codes on site.
The following organizations are participating: ArtMix, Janus Developmental Services, Noble, and Studio Outside the Box. Students from Hamilton Southeastern High School’s Exception Learners program, under the art direction of Dan Moosbrugger, are also participating: Jowan Ahmed, Drew Benedetto, Harraj Ghotra, Miguel Hernandez, Nilay Kasture, Carson Loggins, Yin Yin Mon, and Collin Young.
Individual artists who are self-representing, many of whom have participated in this exhibit since it started, are: Krista Darrow, Blake Dauby, Jason Funk, Anna Inger, Hikaru Kikuchi, Nick Mangos, Warren Miller, Mark Rouse, and Johnson Simon.
“While all artists are welcome to participate in our monthly themed exhibits, there is a core group of individuals who have participated in our March Disability Awareness exhibit for as long as I can remember,” Reinhardt said. “I love seeing their creative styles grow and change over the years and I am always so happy to welcome them back to the gallery.”
If you need assistance to enjoy FAC’s events, please reach out and let them know how they can help by emailing info@fishersartscouncil.org.
About the Fishers Arts Council
Fishers Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization whose mission is to support, advocate, and cultivate visual and performing arts opportunities that educate and/or enhance the lives of those who live, work, and visit Fishers. Visit the art gallery space at the Collaboration Hub at Hamilton County Community Foundation, 11810 Technology Drive, Fishers, online at FishersArtsCouncil.org, or call or text at (317) 537-1670.