Cheerie is extremely creative, talented, and ambitious. She has a vast amount of creativity in her…read moreartistic mind that is endless in new ideas. She is inspirational to her community and has put forth immense amounts of effort to establish herself as a true professional in the Artist community of Indiana and in Beech Grove where her studio is located.

From the owner: Cheerie Joy is a local indiana girl whos been an artist for over 18 yrs. We're offering studio…read moreclasses for all ages, and paint parties! Check out our website, or instagram, or feel free to stop in.

As someone with a disability who is also a creative, there's no question I resonate with ArtMix's…read moremission to transform the lives of people with and without disabilities through the creation of art. ArtMix is an Indianapolis-based non-profit organization that has been in existence since I was a kid in school, though it began life as Very Special Arts. They have four core programs, a variety of special projects, and quite a few opportunities to support them ranging from visiting their art gallery to joining them for First Fridays and others. As they note on their website, in the early days of public education for those with disabilities it was uncommon for us to be integrated into regular classrooms. An organization like this was used to fill in that gap. While I was often discouraged from creativity, this was an organization that encouraged it. The fact that I'm now a published writer, film critic, producer, and occasional actor is proof positive of how positive their influence can be. It should be noted that shopping in their gallery is by appointment only. Like a lot of non-profits, they have a small staff. The core programs for ArtMix include urban artisans, entrepreneur artisans, community classes, and artists-in-residence. In terms of accessibility, despite being in a challenging building they do well with ramps at the back entrance (and free parking in the back lot). The building itself is locked - there's a call box that you'll use (again, they request appointments). First Friday events are cool, the gallery is wonderful (and does support artists with disabilities. Yay.). I'm very pleased with this organization. It's only gotten better over the years. While I'm no longer that student sitting in a classroom, ArtMix reaches out even more these days and is truly a community organization. If you've never checked them out, I definitely recommend it.

Interested in supporting local artists, giving back, and purchase beautiful art? Art mix is the…read moreperfect place for this! I went for the second year to their holiday open house to do my yearly ornament shopping for family and friends. There are beautiful, one-of-a-kind ornaments, plates, bowls, and other ceramic pieces. All of the pieces are carefully made by the artists, fired on-site, and then made available in their gallery. I have been thrilled by the items I've purchased and the recipients love them!

The pictures tell it all. I know I have reviewed this before but for some reason the pictures fell…read moreoff so I wanted to add them back. I would have to say that service is the number 1 one thing you can expect from this place besides location and the jaw dropping beauty of it. All the brides I have talked to for referrals say: Bill will find a way to make your wedding dreams come true.

High end gallery some very interesting pieces. If you want to look around or are looking for…read moresomething for you our a gift. Art is of course very subjective ... what one person loves .. another might dislike but I saw a lot here that I thought was interesting.

I claim the Contemporary Art Museum of Indianapolis (CAMi) as one of my favorite places in Indy…read more What a hidden gem! They have packed a lot of cool stuff into this space that's adjacent to The Tube Factory. One of the best parts of CAMi: It's free! Just come in and be greeted by a sweet and friendly person behind a desk who will answer any questions you might have. I didn't have any questions -- I just wanted to explore, and you are free to do that. This is an art museum and art gallery, but it's so much more. You'll find a few different storefronts upstairs and downstairs. There's a really cool record shop / 'zine shop on the ground floor, which recently hosted a Found Magazine event. The owner is very friendly and let me know that she teaches 'zine-making workshops, which melted my formerly teenage 'zine-making heart. I love that people are still making 'zines in the digital age. There's also a pottery shop, with really beautiful, handmade goods. Wander around, and you'll find art installations in different rooms of the building. One of my favorite exhibits was interactive, and asked you to erase a drawing and collect the eraser shavings into a jar. How absolutely kooky and wonderful. Another exhibit asked you to think of one really good thing and one really bad thing, and write them down in a notebook. There are places to sit and read or work everywhere. There are secret little nooks with chairs that look out a window. There are spaces to spread out, explore, gather and sit in quiet. One of my favorite places is a building that's just outside of the CAMi building that houses a shrine to motherhood, as well as a shrine to chickens. Oh, the juxtaposition! It was a nice place to sit and be surrounded by dried marigolds, eggs, crystals, and other sacred objects offered up to life-giving goddesses. If you can't get enough of the chickens, then check out the chicken coop that's located just outside the building. I was told that it is a very well-made chicken coop by a chicken expert, and when I peered inside, the chickens looked very happy and content. What a fun and random thing to come across in this art space.

Happy first Fridays start here! I was here for first Friday and had a great time to kick off the…read moremonth of May! CAMi is the reborn space of the Tube Factory Artspace (and might now be considered one campus). It houses a bar, a few storefronts, a few art exhibits, and many more studios. The campus is also a five acre collective that helps maintain affordable housing for artists. There's a good bit to see and do outside and inside. Entry is free and there's ramps for everything around the space. There is also a designated parking lot for CAMi as well. I liked all of the exhibits inside. I recommend the Research Gallery, highlighting some prominent people in Indy's history in a slightly humorous way. I won't spoil too much of the visit, so that way you can see for yourself!

If it's related to the arts in Lawrence, there's a pretty good chance that Arts for Lawrence has a…read morehand in it. Started as a non-profit in 2006, Arts for Lawrence is the largest non-profit arts organization in Lawrence and Indy's northeast quadrant. The organization serves as the steward for the historic Theater at the Fort and offers a remarkably diverse array of affordable arts programs at Theater at the Fort, Fort Ben Cultural Campus, and the Visual Arts Campus. VERY often, these activities are provided at no charge to the community. This was the case for this past weekend's Shakespeare at the Fort: A Midsummer Night's Dream directed by longtime Indy radio personality Matthew Socey. At one point, I was contemplating placing a memorial for children lost to violence in the Fort Ben area - It was Arts for Lawrence that responded and had some dialogue about the idea. Essentially, I've found the organization pretty amazingly responsive when it comes to exploring ideas for creatively improving the lives of Lawrence residents. The musical chairs at Fort Ben? Arts for Lawrence is behind this wonderful, family-friendly installation operating daily from 9am-10pm. (I do agree with some who've observed it would have been ideal to include at least one accessible swing). The Fort Ben Cultural Campus as launched in 2021 with the former Fort Harrison Communications Building moved to the campus and re-established as a Visual Arts Center with monthly exhibitions, a ceramics studio offering classes for all ages and abilities, and upstairs area offering additional classes. Programs include festivals, theater performances, outdoor concert series, art classes, art exhibitions, poetry readings, and more. Food trucks often appear at outdoor events. Being right by Lawrence's City Hall, this area seems to have become a central locale for many of the City's sponsored community activities. Arts for Lawrence also has a strong equity statement on their website indicating a desire to ensure that arts programming is accessible to all. The Visual Arts Center is now open from 6-9pm daily and during festivals. Additional features include the Sterrett Center, Marching Sidewalk, Lawrence's public art, the amphitheater, and an app offering AR/VR experiences. Arts for Lawrence only assumed stewardship of Theater at the Fort in 2016. They began a vigorous upgrading of the 1929 theater and while it's certainly not perfectly accessible (what 1929 building is?), it's dramatically improved and there's an attitude of access. As a city, Lawrence fairly recently established a commission on disability. It took me quite a while to realize that many of the activities I attend here in the Fort Ben area fall under the umbrella of Arts for Lawrence. I'd imagine it will only improve once the currently under construction Fort Ben branch of the Indianapolis Public Library is completed. There's so much to love here and Arts for Lawrence is behind much of it and they've become a guiding player in the growing Lawrence arts scene. With friendly people, great events, and opportunities for all, I'm definitely a fan of Arts for Lawrence.

I love coming to support local artists here! I have been a few times now for Crossroads Dance Indy…read moreperformances and I love it every time. The venue feels small, but still fits an audience of 100+. The staff are always so friendly and do a good job of guiding you where to go. The restrooms are always clean as well. The parking situation isn't super great, however. I usually park in the lot across the street, but there isn't a ton of room on show nights. You'd have to find street parking if it were a busy night. Plan extra time just in case!

Pottery. It's not stuff you go looking for at a farmers market, but that's where I found Dancing…read morePottery. I'm not sure where or how the name came about but I can tell you this. This artist's work has danced into my family's daily life. Be it our slowly procured collection of hand crafted bowls that are as unique and beautiful as snowflakes and yet durable enough to take the daily use my children put it through. If you're a person that maybe prefers a handle on their bowls Dancing Pottery also makes these things called mugs. I have mugs that have survived a teenagers temper tantrum of having to hand wash the dishes. It's easy to say that the quality is on par with Corning Ware.Yet it is no light utterance to compare the esthetic of Rookwood, Pewabic, or Van Briggle. The pride, love, and regard that Dancing Pottery puts into every piece make my cornflakes seem rather insignificant.

From the owner: One of a kind stoneware pottery for the home and garden…read more Fiona makes vessels that allow you to drink your beer (coffee, tea, whiskey) out of a one-of-a kind piece of art! She specializes in functional pottery--mugs, bowls, and more that are perfect for everyday use. Fiona occasionally makes fun little native birds of Indiana as ornaments, quirky yarn bowls, and squids tend to sneak into her designs when she's not paying attention.