Art museum collaborates for upcoming exhibit

By Abbie Louvar
Staff Writer

Wednesday, January 18, 2006


A book by Indianapolis authors inspired the art exhibit opening Jan. 26 and running through April 2 at Columbus Museum of Art and Design.

In Skirting the Issue, Stories of Indiana's Historical Women Artists, Judith Vale Newton and Carol Ann Weiss tell the stories of more than 40 Indiana women who pursued the arts and rejected the traditional roles of early 20th-century women.

The art of these women included in this exhibit, Out of the Shadows: Art by Indiana Women, is from the Indianapolis Museum of Art's permanent collection. The exhibit's preview gala reception will be Jan. 26 and will include the showing of Out of the Shadows: Portraits of Historic Women Artists, a documentary co-produced by WFYI and the Indiana Historical Society.

The 30-plus pieces will include Woman in White by Ruth Pratt Bobbs, an oil painting, which is showcased on the cover of the award-winning Skirting the Issue book.

Art in various other mediums  everything from watercolor and ceramic pieces to textile and 3-dimensional pieces  will also be on display.

"This exhibit is very fulfilling," said Pica Saddler, marketing and outreach coordinator for CMAD.

She emphasized that the exhibit is not going to be girly but will highlight the equality issue between men and women.

"It's still an ongoing struggle," she said. "There are still women who feel they don't have the right to have a fulfilling and productive life."

She is excited about the exhibit and hopes it will have a positive impact on women.

"They (the women artists) had to really fight what society expected of them. We hope this will help local women step out of the shadows of fear."

Some of the local women she hopes will be affected are from Turning Point Domestic Violence Services, whose clients are mostly female.

Turning Point's families will have the opportunity to attend the exhibit with ARTColumbus staff and then visit its studio to explore various materials and ideas to create their own works of art.

"Offering this unique opportunity for our families to express themselves through art will aid their healing process," said Patrick Smith, Turning Point's executive director. "We have found especially with children that using the creative arts in many forms allows them to convey their emotions and life experiences in ways they may be unable to articulate."

Harriet Warkel, curator of IMA, hopes the impact on Turning Point's clients will be positive, too.

"I am thrilled that the Columbus museum is collaborating with Turning Point," she said. "What a great way to show victims of domestic violence that women can succeed even when faced with obstacles."

CMAD is selling copies of Skirting the Issue for $59.95 and $10 will be donated to Turning Point from each book sold. The book will be on sale until Feb. 25, when the donation will be given to Turning Point at a reception. "We are honored that they wish to donate a portion of the proceeds to our organization," Smith said. "We plan to utilize the proceeds around education and prevention programs with teens."

The envisioned benefits of this exhibit and collaborative effort with Turning Point inspired Edinburgh Premium Outlets to get involved.

"Edinburgh Premium Outlets is always pleased to support the local arts," said Donna Christian, the mall's general manager. "This exhibit, featuring art from Hoosier women, is especially interesting and worthwhile.

The center's information booth has brochures about the exhibit, and those who visit the exhibit will receive a voucher for a VIP Coupon Booklet.

Saddler is excited so many have jumped on board with this effort.

"Partnering is so great," she said. "We can have a bigger impact with what we do."