Indiana is teeming with natural beauty throughout the state – and now guests traveling through the Indianapolis International Airport (IND) can experience that beauty with the new Indiana, Naturally photography exhibition that’s on display now through December 2021.
The exhibition is part of a larger, ongoing cultural collaboration between the Indianapolis Airport Authority and the Arts Council of Indianapolis, making up a combination of permanent and temporary art collections displayed in both public access and post-security areas at the Indy airport. Many of the collections were created by artists who live in Indiana or have ties to the Hoosier state.
The Indiana, Naturally exhibit, currently on display in both the Ticketing Hall and Concourse A and B cases, also includes a partnership with the Indiana chapter of The Nature Conservancy.
“The IAA strives to provide travelers with a glimpse into the vast range of beauty and culture that makes up the larger community of Indiana,” said Mario Rodriguez, IAA executive director. “This exhibit does that, with landscapes and wildlife that present our local neighborhoods to the expanses of our state parks and nature preserves.”
The "Indiana, Naturally" photography exhibit features more than 50 photos representing 33 photographers whose work was selected from among more than 700 submissions in a statewide competition. The artists represent adult amateur, adult professional and youth photographers.
Additionally, 10 photographers received special designations in the exhibit. Honors were awarded for photos in the categories of best adult amateur, best adult professional, best youth, best plant life, best wildlife, best artistic, best landscape, jurors’ awards, and The Nature Conservancy Award.
• Best Adult Amateur: Radhika Cherukuru, Stealth Hunter
• Best Adult Professional: Ronda Hamm, Frog for Dinner
• Best Youth: Arthur Mansavage, The Last Drop
• Best Plant Life: Jeanette Jaskula, Blue Sky Coreopsis
• Best Wildlife in Natural Habitat: Ryan Jeske, Two for One Special
• Best Artistic: Zolt Levay, Fireflies and Milky Way
• Best Landscape: Susan Ross, Woodland Morning
• Juror's Award: Ronda Hamm, Camouflaged Spider
• Juror's Award: Komail Quraish, Virginia Rail in the Swamp
• Juror's Award: Zalman Wainhaus, Somewhere Silent
• The Nature Conservancy Award: Michelle Holycross, Invasion of the Common Redpoll
The Nature Conservancy is also holding a “People’s Choice” competition on its Facebook page in conjunction with the exhibit. Done tournament style, voters will narrow the field of 50+ photos week by week, until the two most popular images will go head-to-head. The number of “likes” and “shares” will determine the winners. Cast your vote at www.facebook.com/TNCindiana.
Landscapes ranged from backyards to city and state parks to nature preserves, and subject matter included plant life and wildlife. Both traditional photography and artistic interpretations are included in the exhibit.
“Indiana has so many great natural areas, and we’re glad to see TNC places such as Kankakee Sands so well represented,” said Larry Clemens, director of The Nature Conservancy’s Indiana Chapter. “Through this exhibit, we hope that visitors to Indiana — as well as Hoosiers — will gain a greater appreciation for the natural beauty our state has to offer.”
Click here to view the award-winning photos in Indiana, Naturally.
To learn more about these artists, and others previously showcased via the IND Arts Program, click here.
