GREENFIELD — Although Greenfield does not have an art museum, it does have small galleries throughout the city with changing exhibits and artwork. Many of the galleries are within walking distance of one another and close to restaurants and downtown shopping. Here’s a look at some of what’s available:
Twenty North State
The Hancock County Arts Council’s new location at 20 N. State St. houses the city’s newest gallery. It opened in December. The first major show, in January and organized by Beth Clary Schwier, featured nine award-winning Indiana artists. Since then, the exhibit has changed at least every two months with shows like “Art Noir — Le Battement,” and most recently, entries in the Will Vawter art competition.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
The current exhibit, “Convergence: A Gathering of Emerging Artists and One Old Broad” showcases local artist Joan Webb and her classmates, all of whom just graduated from Ivy Tech with degrees in art.
Arts council treasurer Connie Schmidt and secretary Nancy Leslie are in charge of the changing exhibits. Their goal is to hang as much local art as they can.
“We have a broad base of artists in Hancock County,” Leslie said. “We don’t want to go outside Hancock County. We want to be as local as possible.”
Schmidt and Leslie have several shows in the works, one of which they hope will be a photography exhibit of the pair of eagles that have been nesting in Hancock County.
The new gallery is nonprofit and run by volunteers, so open-for-business hours remain somewhat irregular, but you can be sure that they’ll be open for every second Friday of the month, in conjunction with downtown’s Second Fridays, with receptions for the artists or other events.
The Creative Arts and Event Center
The Creative Arts and Event Center, 2 W. Main St., is actually home to two galleries, the Center Gallery and the Window Gallery, both on the first floor of the building. Both galleries are open whenever the building is open for events; that includes weddings, receptions, Second Friday events and the day-to-day operation of the two businesses — SoupHerb restaurant and the Red Banana gift shop — that reside within the Creative Arts and Event Center.
The window gallery, where artwork hangs on the walls of the restaurant seating area for SoupHerb, currently features the work of oil painter Bobbi K. Samples.
Bob Hunt, owner of the building, credits the bimonthly rotating exhibits to the gallery coordinator, Webb.
“We are probably the most visible gallery,” Hunt said. “We have about 100 people a day come through the building and over 2,500 a month who have the opportunity to see the art. Foot traffic has increased considerably in the past few months.”
Shows are booked through the end of the year in the Window Gallery, but sometimes, the Center Gallery can be empty for a couple of weeks.
“Naturally, artists prefer to hang in the Window Gallery, which can be seen from the street,” Hunt said, “but the Center Gallery is the perfect space for emerging artists or a teacher who wanted to hang student art.”
Greenfield Area Chamber of Commerce Gallery
Plans are on hold right now for the next exhibit at the Greenfield Area Chamber of Commerce Gallery, 1 Courthouse Plaza, during the search for a new gallery coordinator. The space, maintained by the Hancock County Arts and Cultural Council, stands ready for its next show. Schmidt is looking for a volunteer who would be willing to coordinate the next exhibit. Schmidt, whose office is in the chamber building, pointed out plenty of wall space.
Those interested may contact her at [email protected].
Greenfield Banking Co. Art Gallery
The Greenfield Banking Co. Art Gallery, on the second floor of the main office of the Greenfield Banking Co. (1920 N. State St.), opened in 1975 under then marketing director Judy Brown with a vision to enrich the arts within the Greenfield community.
Like most of the local galleries, the exhibit changes every couple of months. All the art is for sale, but the bank receives no commission for sales, and customers interested in purchasing art contact the artist directly.
The bank’s marketing department schedules each show, drawing from the artist pool of Central Indiana. The gallery currently houses the work of Greensburg artist Connie Nobbe, an oil painter who specializes in landscapes and still lifes. Her work will be on display through the end of June.
The gallery is open during banking business hours.
Still more art
Not to be forgotten are the numerous other places where art is on display in Greenfield. A small collection of artwork, assembled by the CrazyLake Art House, hangs along the walkway to Mayor Chuck Fewell’s office in city hall, 10 S. State St.
The Hey Café, 16 N. State St., sells the photography that hangs on the walls of its restaurant.
The Artists Upstairs on the second floor of the Creative Arts and Event Center maintains individual studios and galleries for artwork.
And one cannot forget about Art, the 10-foot industrial steel walking man, who is currently stationed along the Pennsy Trail to the west of town.
To learn more about the art and art galleries of Hancock County, visit hancockcountyarts.com.
