The Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is hosting two new art exhibitions this month – showcasing the talents of Hoosier students, and an Indianapolis-based artist’s digitally manipulated representation of Indiana grass.
Produced by student artists – representing 11 different middle and high schools, and one homeschool program from across central and southern Indiana – the 23 award-winning artworks were chosen to be featured at the Indy airport. This exhibition is part of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Regional Tour.
All of the students featured in the airport exhibition are either Gold or Silver Key winners in the 2016 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition. For more than 90 years the competition has recognized exceptional work by students in grades 7-12, selecting regional and national winners from over 250,000 submissions annually. It is the United States’ highest honor for teens in visual arts and creative writing, and the largest source of scholarships and artistic support for youth.
“Every year I am amazed at how professional-looking the Scholastic winners are,” said Julia Moore, director of Public Art at the Arts Council and a member of the team who selected the Regional Tour participants. “It’s often difficult to remember that these are only students doing this work.”
Several of the award-winning pieces on exhibit include color photography, a charcoal and graphite portrait, oil on canvas paintings, and a wooden sculpture. Artwork in categories such as digital art, mixed media, drawing and illustrations, and ceramics are also displayed.
“Since the opening of this terminal in 2008, the Indianapolis Airport has been committed to showcasing the talents of Hoosiers to all of our passengers,” said Mario Rodriguez, executive director of the Indianapolis Airport Authority. “The caliber of artwork created by these award-winning student artists will not only captivate our passengers, but inspire our youngest travelers.”
Passengers can view artwork from the Scholastic Awards Regional Tour in the Ticket Hall from now through July 15. A landscape drawing by Indianapolis-based artist Benny Sanders continues to be exhibited in Concourse B, also through July 15.
Wind-blown grass inspires video from Indianapolis-based artist
A second exhibition on display this spring features local digital artist Bryn Jackson and his work called “SHIFT,” a video of contrasting colors swaying in stylized, yet familiar, movements using footage of Indiana grass blowing in the wind.
Jackson recorded the movements of grass on a windy day with his cell phone. Utilizing a controlled-production technique, Jackson uses the bright, contrasting colors to focus the viewer’s attention on the visual aspect of the wind-driven movements.
The mesmerizing artwork is featured on the big screen in Civic Plaza – playing at irregular intervals, several times every hour – above the main escalator through June 30.
