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John Helfrich
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Literature becomes visual art in the ‘Literally’ exhibit

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The Arts Council challenged artists to create a piece inspired by a literary work from a predesigned list of books and poems.

The result was inspiring.

Fifty-eight artists submitted work in the exhibition. Paintings, prints, film photography, ceramics and all styles of mixed media were incorporated into the show. You can check out the full list of books artists could choose from here.

Sam and Adam Morris, owners of Your Brother’s Bookstore, juried the exhibit and chose three works for cash awards.

  1. “Venomous Kerosene” (mixed media) by Elizabeth Isaac. $451. Book: “Farenheit 451”
  2. “Frankenstein” (oil on canvas) by John Helfrich. Not for sale. Book: “Frankenstein”
  3. “VILLAIN(S)” (acrylic on canvas) by Lauren Adcock. $600. Book: “Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead”

“Literally” is available to view in-person at the gallery 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday until May 25. The next exhibit at the Bower-Suhrheinrich Foundation Gallery is “Art in The City,” the Arts Council’s members-only show.

If you are interested in purchasing the pieces below, or have any questions, please contact Gallery Director Andrea Adams.

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On The Roof returns this spring with exciting new lineup

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Evansville’s most unique outdoor concert experience is back.

On The Roof returns to the Arts Council’s Rooftop Art Deck in Downtown Evansville with a packed lineup of diverse genres.

The doors for On The Roof concerts open at 6:30 p.m. Music begins at 7 p.m. Seating is available but limited. The Rooftop Art Deck is handicap accessible.

All ages are welcome. There is also a cash bar available for those 21+.

On The Roof 2023 schedule

May 20: Darabello // The Strangers
June 17: The Randys // Toby Ellis & The Breakdown
July 1: The City Grimm // Together In Dust // The Snakes
July 8: Gibson & Pirro // Top Dead Center
July 15: Jason Lee McKinney Band // D.R. Bridges
Aug. 5: The Chugs // xanderwolf
Aug. 12: Nero Angelo Hip-Hop Night
Aug. 19: The Smoke Rings // Georgia Funkadelic
Sept. 9: Dekar Justus & Friends

The Arts Council launched On The Roof in 2019. The project has provided free entertainment for thousands in Downtown Evansville and offered paid gigs to more than 100 performing musicians.

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‘Art in the City’ registration open for ARTSWIN members

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Registration for the Arts Council’s popular annual exhibit Art in the City is now open. The exhibit is a showcase of current work from active ARTSWIN members.

Art in the City registration deadline is May 26. The exhibit will be on display in the Bower Suhrheinrich Foundation Gallery from June 6 to July 26, with a special reception and concert on June 17.

To learn more about Art in the City, click here for the prospectus or visit our Calls for Artists page to see exhibit opportunities.

About being an ARTSWIN member

Membership is $50 a year. Members receive free and reduced registration fees into Arts Council exhibits. For artists that submit work into two or more exhibits a year, membership is the economical way to go.

But membership goes further than that, and also helps the Arts Council remain the only free art space in Evansville.

Our organization supports more than 850 artists every year through exhibits, events, workshops, and networking opportunities. During the pandemic, we expanded our online galleries, virtual exhibits and online store while continuing to facilitate the sale of nearly 500 pieces of artwork and distribute hundreds of dollars in artist awards and commissions annually.

Becoming an ARTSWIN member means the Arts Council can continue to support artists and art lovers like you.

ARTIST MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
• Free exhibit entry & fee reductions
• Exhibition in members-only shows, like Art in the City
• Workshops & networking events
• Opportunities to sell original work
• Access to display equipment
• Support of your Arts Council

Use this link to become an ARTSWIN member online today.

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Four free things for families to do in Evansville this spring break

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It’s spring break. You have a house full of restless kids and their friends, and you need something to do, but you don’t want to spend a ton of money doing it. Luckily, there are a few free events and things to do in Evansville that you may not know about.

The vast majority of events the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana hosts are free and open to the public, including art exhibits, concerts on the gallery roof in Downtown Evansville, creative exploration days for kids and this popular annual event …

Kids Movie Day – The best of the New York International Children’s Film Festival

12-2 p.m. Wednesday, March 29
Browning Room, Central Library
Free

One of the only events of its kind in the city, the Arts Council’s annual Kids Movie Day is this Wednesday. The event showcases the best short films from the New York International Children’s Film Festival.

The event starts at 12 p.m. in the Browning Room at Central Library in Downtown Evansville. The short films range in length of 3-10 minutes. Watch one film or watch them all — families are encouraged to come and go as they please. The Arts Council will also provide complimentary international snacks.

The event is completely free and open to everyone. These films are geared towards 4-10 year old children. Here’s the description from the New York International Children’s Film Fest:

Let your imagination take the wheel with Kid Flick One. Whether dreaming up the fantastical, like a cat the size of a house, or the practical, like finding a beloved teacher a summer romance, these shorts are sure to surprise and delight.

While you’re at the library on Wednesday, check out the …

Library of Things

If you like free and accessible activities, then you probably already have an EVPL library card for the access to great books, movies and music. But have you heard about the Library of Things?

It’s a new EVPL collection that includes items you probably never thought a library would loan out.

There are tech items like a digital microscope so young minds can explore the world around them in new detail. Or outdoor games like Bocce Ball or Slammo to keep kids active. Or free passes to cultural institutions like Wesselman Woods or the Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science. There are also cooking supplies, musical instruments and board games. There’s a whole another side to the library you probably never knew existed.

Check out the full Library of Things collection here.

Speaking of libraries, you can also check out …

Willard Library’s 138th birthday party

6:30 p.m. – 7: 30 p.m. Tuesday, March 28
Willard Library

One of the most striking building and institutions in Evansville is celebrating its 138th birthday, and the public is invited to the party.

There are activities for both kids and adults at Willard Public Library’s birthday bash. People can hang out in the lower level reading room where punch and cake will be available. A Willard archivist will give a short presentation on the library’s history and also hear stories about the Grey Lady Ghost. In the children’s department, staff will have activities and cupcakes for younger party-goers in addition to story time and crafts.

There will also be a raffle with prize giveaways. The event is free and open to everyone.

Speaking of being free, don’t miss this free art exhibit …

Young at Art exhibit

J.H. Castle Elementary School

212 Main St. Evansville, IN
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesday – Friday
Free

The Arts Council’s Downtown gallery is filled with more than 250 pieces of wildly creative and inventive art created entirely by young artists.

The exhibit, “Young at Art,” is on display now through Friday. All 250 pieces were made by kindergarten through 8th graders in the region. This exhibit is a great opportunity to bring budding young artists to a new gallery for some inspiration. The Arts Council also has free art supplies to keep younger patrons occupied while the older kids check out the work. The gallery is open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesday – Friday. There is no admission fee.

Check out this preview of the exhibit.

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Apply now to be a First Friday vendor for 2023

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(Here’s the link for those who want to skip ahead to the First Fridays at Haynie’s Corner application)

First Friday at Haynie’s Corner returns this spring, and artists are invited to apply for this special Evansville event.

What are First Friday events?

First Friday at Haynie’s Corner is a seasonal arts and community fair in the center of the Haynie’s Corner Arts District neighborhood near Downtown Evansville from 5:30 – 9 p.m. on the first Friday of the month. The monthly event draws thousands of people to experience the art vendors, live music, adult beverages and good community vibes.

There are more than 50 art vendors that setup for First Fridays through the season. ARTSWIN staff help curate the art vendors that setup at First Fridays. If you have some items you want to sell or want to setup a booth to market your art, the first thing you need to do is apply.

First Fridays at Haynie’s Corner Application

Click here to view the online application form. This is a Google form. If you need other accommodations to apply, please contact us at the Arts Council at 812-303-3178 or by email at [email protected].

Apply before the deadline

The first deadline to apply is April 7. Applying by April 7 ensures your fee to setup for the season is only $40 (one-time payment for all six events) if you’re approved to be a vendor. If you apply after the deadline, the fee goes up to $55 — which is still a bargain, but why not apply on time.

After you apply, ARTSWIN staff will vet your application and let you know within a week whether your application was approved. And by April 17, ARTSWIN will assign you an area to setup for the first event on Friday, May 5.

ARTSWIN and Haynie’s Corner Arts District Association staff and volunteers are always available to help or answer any questions you may have about First Fridays.

First Friday Schedule

All events are 5:30 – 9 p.m.

May 5
June 2
July 7
Aug. 4
Sept. 1
Oct. 6

Where are First Friday events?

First Friday is in the Haynie’s Corner Arts District neighborhood near Downtown Evansville. The event is centered around the area of the historic Alhambra Theatre and Haynie’s Corner Fountain. There are seven bars are restaurants in the immediate area of the event.

Other opportunities for artists

The Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana is the place for artists to find opportunities locally and regionally. Be sure to regularly stop by the calls for artists page to see find new ways to exhibit your work.

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View of Osnabrück. Photo by Hans Knöchel on Unsplash
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Celebrate Evansville’s Sister City’s 375 years of peace with a gigantic international art project

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To commemorate the 375 years of peace since the end of the Thirty Years War, Sister Cities of Osnabrück, Germany will assemble a collaborative textile art installation this summer.

Evansville is one of Osnabrück’s 11 Sister Cities, since uniting in 1991. The two cities became cultural and commerce partners in 1983.

Artists from the Sister Cities are asked to submit a 20 x 20 cm (~7 3/4 inch) textile square. The square should represent something that participants associate with the theme of happiness or something that makes them happy. All the submitted squares will be assembled and displayed in Osnabrück this summer. Organizers hope to receive 375 squares to represent the 375 years of peace for Osnabrück.

Regional entries are due to the Arts Council by May 2. The pieces will be displayed this summer in Osnabrück. The pieces will not be returned to the artists. Organizers will stitch the squares to together to create to blankets that will be donated to those in need after the exhibition.

The full guidelines are listed in the call for artists which can be found here.

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