Did you know that The Conrad Hotel has a gorgeous, well-curated art gallery within its walls?!…read moreAccessible either through the hotel lobby or through the gallery's own entrance on Illinois Street, anyone can walk through the doors and enjoy the art, for FREE. Just be sure to check their hours, as they're different from the hotel's! The gallery only has two locations: NYC and Indianapolis. I feel pretty blessed that our city has such an esteemed spot. Boasting both local art and world-famous art, this gallery switches out exhibits every few months, and holds a first Friday party when they have a new one. Currently, their winter exhibit is called "Rock, Paper, Metal" that will be up until February 2020. Long-Sharp Gallery curates the art in the entire hotel. The Conrad has world-renowned art allllll throughout. Boasting names like Dali, Picasso and Warhol, you'll be amazed by what you encounter by simply stepping inside. There are even several art ambassadors on hand to take you around the hotel and show you some of the masterpieces. So fun!

Long-Sharp Gallery is a lovely space that would be a perfect stop during an intimate date-night…read more Located right inside the Conrad hotel, it features artists whose aesthetic seems to lean toward contemporary and modern styles. What I really love about the space is that the collection is not just limited to the designated gallery space; you can find pieces from the collection throughout the hotel's public spaces. Also, pieces from the collection are featured in the museum's gallery rooms, which are available for use in the hotel itself. Long-Sharp is free to visit; simply make an appointment with the gallery staff, or stop by during their normal open hours.

What an intriguing concept! Naturspire offers personal decorating of your front entry for the…read moreholidays! I was just passing by their little blue house in downtown Carmel, when I saw the sign and stopped to get the scoop. First, the shop is adorable, filled with plants, "moss art" and other home decor. You had me at plants - I love plants. I spoke with Makenzie, one of the co-owners. She gave me info about Fall and Christmas holiday options to decorated your front door, patio and even put up a Christmas Tree. For $480 you can get a Christmas wreath, garland and decorated side planters for the porch. They bring it to your home and decorate for you. What a great idea for people that are too busy to decorate (or like me, just not creative). I was encouraged by Makenzie to visit their website to see examples of their different decorating packages before ordering. The shop porch is also decorated. Worth a visit for anyone who wants easy decorating.

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!

We often walk or drive past the Art & Soul Gallery and Frame Shop and admire the paintings in the…read morewindows. During the seasonal gallery walk in Carmel's Arts and Design District, we stopped in to take a closer look. There are many paintings here that I just love, especially a Fall scene that looks like a photograph if you squint your eyes ever so slightly while gazing at it. Our other favorites include a range of floral paintings rendered in bright and deep hues that are simply breathtaking. I would provide the artists' names in this review, but I cannot pull them from memory and a trip to the gallery Web site did not prove helpful at all - for a gallery with the inventory this place has, the site is disappointingly sparse in terms of digital images. Speaking of inventory, I did think Art & Soul was something of a sensory overload - at least for the eyes - as its works are kind of crowded together. Now, I am not a professional and have no gallery experience to fall back on, but I do appreciate the airy layout of Evan Lurie much better. I find it tough to truly enjoy one painting I may be attracted to when another is creeping in and imposing itself from the periphery. Also, we were not greeted in this store, either. We wanted to know more about the prices of the above-mentioned paintings, but we didn't want to interrupt the staff member's noshing. Weird, going on a gallery walk and not being approached or spoken to kind of feels like more of a trip to the art MUSEUM.

This is an awesome store to visit in Danville IN. They are located on the main road of Washington…read moreStreet. They showcase the local artists collection - glass making, wood burning, silk scarves, etc. They also have time at the store to reserve for painting. The local artists also do classes there. You will just have to contact the local artist to find out details about the classes. The customer service is wonderful and they have all local artists contact information at the store. This is a definite stop! The parking is on the street during weekends. Try and find local stores like this to support local artists and our community.

This is a nice little gallery, with a lot to look at! They have a variety of medias present…read more(painting, photography, ceramics, jewelry, stained glass, woodwork, textiles...) and a range of prices, as well. Probably a good place to find a unique (and of Hoosier-origin!) gift - there were many things I would have liked to have for myself there. An extra bonus - they offer classes! To be honest, I only briefly surveyed the course offerings, but it showed variety and prices seemed reasonable. As much as I enjoy other people's art, I also enjoy making it myself :)

This is the world's smallest children's art gallery, according to an official plaque outside of…read morethis building awarded by the Guinness World Records. And it IS tiny! It's about as big as a large shed. But inside is a whole lot of art made by children at local Carmel schools. Each month, the artwork changes, and art from different elementary schools are featured. There is also a revolving display of artwork from the Carmel middle schools and Carmel High School. You'll also see artwork from children from Kawachinagano in Japan, which is the sister city of Carmel. The woman who works inside the children's art gallery is super friendly and knowledgable, and was able to answer all of our first-timer questions. Don't plan to stay very long here -- it's super tiny, so at most, it would take you about five minutes to examine all of the art. But it's worth the visit if you happen to be in the area when the gallery is open!

Also known as the Carmel Arts Council Gallery, this tiny building (actually 2 small buildings front…read moreto back) sits on a prime space on Main Street. The front room as you enter is filled with thematic artwork arranged in groupings from local elementary schools. Periodically, the work is changed to showcase the work of a different school. The back room is for the middle and high school artwork. Where the front room is filled with images that feature the combined impact of the themes, the back room has less artwork, but more advanced in technique, allowing the individual pieces to become the focal point. Some of the artwork is very skilled and you really see the progression as you step from the front to the back room. The gallery has very limited hours, so for all my visits to Carmel, this was the first time I've seen the gallery open. Still, I like that it gives the kids a chance to see their work showcased and encourages art in the curriculum. The gallery has an arrangement with two sister cities, one in Japan and one in China. The artwork gets shared and at those times, the students can check out how their counterparts view themes as well as know their work is being looked at in a foreign country. Very cool! The gallery's small size makes for a quick visit, so if you catch them when they are open, then stop by. Review #2495

While I've talked a lot about my recent journeys through Hendricks and Putnam counties, I've not…read moregiven as much time to my frequent trips through Speedway on the way to my parents' home following my father's death. I'd seen the Speedway Artist Collective multiple times as I pass 16th and Lynhurst just about every time I make my way to US 36 (Rockville Road). The Speedway Artist Collective is a permanent program coming out of the Mars Hill Arts Center. MHAC has the mission of encouraging, supporting, and promoting local artists by giving them a place to sell their works. The founders of MHAC are from the Speedway area and have been committed to really promoting Indy's west side. Located in the end spot of a small strip center, Speedway Artist Collective is open limited hours. It's a non-profit shop featuring art from local artists. Speedway is obviously a racing-centered community, however, you can find much more here than racing themed items. The art has a diverse price range and you can easily find affordable art that also supports local artists. There are also classes here and I kind of fell in love with the "Free Little Art Gallery" out front (think "free library" but with art!). I might be exaggerating a bit to go 5-stars here, however, I don't think I am. I love the art work. I love the vibe. I love the community. I love the fact that you can introduce yourself to local artists and snag some art for the home. The sidewalks have curb cuts here. there's street parking alongside the building. You can enter through a single glass door that's level to the ground. Yes, there's a lot inside, however, I found it immensely workable and worth the effort. Given the limited hours, I'd be sure to check that they're open (hours may vary with special events). However, once I was finally able to stop in I fell in love with this little gem in Speedway.

Nonprofit shop full of affordable artist creations, including t-shirts, pillows, paintings, etc…read more Owner is very welcoming and knowledgeable about Speedway history and lore. My sister loved some coasters, but there were only 3 left. The owner called the artist and arranged to have more made to my sister's specifications. Above and beyond!

I worked with the owner to create a customized ladies' paint night. We had an absolutely fantastic…read moretime! The space itself is very cool and easy to get to, although you do have to deal with downtown parking. Our instructor was so sweet and had a great playlist for us to listen to as we created our beautiful abstract pieces. I was able to bring drinks and snacks and overall just had a great relaxing and fun evening with my friends doing some thing unique. I will never attend another standard paint night again, and I would recommend the space for all sorts of events. The vibe and the purpose for the space is so cool, specifically designed to hold space for black and international artists, and you are definitely treated like family by everyone there.

Great responses and very professional, I would recommend more people to get in touch and visit this…read moreplace