Guichelaar Gallery looks like a humble house, but it actually houses some great artwork, which is…read morefree to peruse. Just step inside this art gallery that looks like someone's home, and you'll find an exhibit to experience. This art gallery is located next to The Tube Factory and the CAMi (Contemporary Art Museum of Indianapolis), which is owned and operated by Big Car Collective. This space also serves as a home for visiting artists, which is pretty neat. The exhibit in this gallery was very small, but it was nice to be in a contained area to experience it as a complete whole. After you're done looking at the art at the Guichelaar Gallery, you can bop around to the rest of the campus and check out the other artistic expressions awaiting you.

If you're in Fountain Square for first Friday, chances are you've stopped in iMOCA or walked past,…read morenot realizing it was open. It's located next door to Red Lion Grog House in the Murphy Arts Building, accessible from both the front and back. I've missed many a great exhibit doing just that, specifically The White Album project, featuring artist, Ruther­ford Chang that received rave reviews and kicked myself for not going sooner. Led by Executive Director, Shauta Marsh, this non profit focuses increasing the understanding and appreciation of the significance of artistic contemporary culture in the city of Indianapolis. With Halloween just days away, I was taking a date to their feature: 'A Taste of Jean Rollin', a collection of three 1970′s European sex and horror cinema. http://www.indymoca.org/2013/10/a-taste-of-jean-rollin/. I figured I'd either scare him to death or we'd end the night reenacting scenes together. There was a small group of people in the casual seating screening room. The mood was exciting and playful as we were exposed to racy scenes of nude vampire goddessess through the use of ancient effects and technology, highlighting the skill possessed by the legendary filmmaker. Three films for a $5 suggested donation was a deal for this experience. The band playing next door at Red Lion (or was it upstairs in Joyful Noise?) was a bit distracting, but nothing some sound proof foam on the ceiling can't resolve. The Living Dead Girl, 89 minutes A toxic spill revives a beautiful, dead heiress who, with the help of her childhood friend, must quench her insatiable thirst for blood. The Iron Rose, 80 minutes A young couple out for a walk decide to take a stroll through a large cemetery. As darkness begins to fall they realize they can't find their way out, and soon their fears begin to overtake them. We made it through the first and most of the second feature before the desire to bite one another overtook us. Well played iMOCA!

I like weird shit. And in the case of iMOCA, weird shit is present. Like a hot tub filled with…read morebikini'd folk in the middle of a First Friday open gallery neighbored by a room with neon yarn and a projected 80s film. Indy has plenty of room for more weird. I'll try not to rattle on about the things that other reviews have already covered like the small size, location and fun installations that make for a great stop along the First Friday mosey in Fountain Square. Food for thought: It'd be neat to see more of iMOCA's presence spread onto the sidewalk with guerrilla style art - especially during First Fridays. Aka weird on the streets.

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!

When you're a museum addict like me, you're looking for anything to see and experience. This was…read moremore art gallery than museum, as the nice lady was a bit surprised when I came in and asked to see the art. But with plexiglass and masks, plus the fact that I was the only one here made for an interesting experience. Lots of landscapes and a few portraits. Amazing interesting and the talent of the artist shines through. The gallery is a great collection of his works and worth a visit. Oh, and it's free. I agree with Ken's point. There are no captions or explanations with the pictures. Those would really help. Street parking and nothing for sale here. [Review 13519 overall, 838 of 2020.]

The museum is a daughter's tribute to the lifetime work of her father's passion for art. Alkis…read moreKeramidas is the sole artist in this free collection located at Vermont and College. During regular office hours (M-F 9-5), visitors may view the dozens of representative pieces in numerous styles in the gallery. The colorful and whimsical landscapes are from his native Greece as well as of time spent in Indiana. Most of the paintings are in bright autumn colors. But don't be fooled by the whimsy. Below the large paintings are a couple smaller paintings that have the most realistic water images I have ever seen in a painting! Absolutely amazing! Towards the back of the gallery are pieces that represent the dark experience and observations of the artist from World War II. The color and whimsy of the landscapes really contrast the dark tones of this part of the collection. The caricatures of each painting express the emotions that many of the people experienced during the period of war. The gallery also has a nook where other style of painting are represented. My only negative about the gallery is that there has been no attempt at labeling any of the pieces. Some of the signatures include year references, but otherwise, there is very little information. No flyers or handouts. The only information about the artist or any of his work is at the website. If they would add small descriptions for each piece, it would add to the experience for the viewer. Review #249

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

For those looking for the Museum at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument (middle of Monument Circle)…read moreto find this museum, you are looking in the wrong place. Back in 2018, the collection was moved to the Indiana World War Monument (431 N Meridian) to provide more display space and to do repair work under the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. As of the time of this review, the collection has been moved for over a year and my thoughts are part of the review listed on that location. According to the staff working in the Soldiers and Sailors gift shop (located on the south side of the monument at the top of the steps), something new will occupy the space under the monument once repairs have been completed. It has not been released what will go in the space. Review #2581

How are there not more reviews of this place? Do you not know it is here? Read my review and then…read moreget your butt over there! This is a FREE MUSEUM, so that alone bumped up the stars to at least four. Add in the fact that the museum is Indiana-centric, in the basement of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, is dark and super creepy, has really cool artifacts including a chunk of tree trunk with a cannon ball stuck in it that soldiers cut from Gettysburg and brought back here, how could I not give it five stars?!?! - It's free, but don't be a jerk - donate a couple bucks. - You won't need much time. If you only skim the exhibits, you will be out in five minutes. Read every card and you might be there an hour. - Did I mention, please donate to this lovely free museum? - Read the medical treatment cards and be so grateful we live in a time of modern medicine. - Can't figure out where to get in? The entrance is on the southwest side of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument (Monument Circle).

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.

Oldfields is one of my favorite spots to visit in Indianapolis. I visit a couple times each year,…read morebut my favorite time to visit is during the Christmas season when the mansion is decorated for the holidays. Oldfields was designed by noted architect, Lewis K. Davis, in 1910 for the family of Hugh Landon, an executive of Fletcher Trust. The Landon family lived in the house from 1913-1932, when the house was sold to J. Lilly, Jr. the Lillys donated the property to the Arts Association of Indianapolis in 1966, where it became part of the present day Newfields Art Museum. All this information is summarized in detail on placards in the basement of the home. The home is huge, of course, and has been restored and maintained to its 1913 glory. I like to imagine living in the home during the early days. There is a music room, library (built by Lilly), dining room, pantry, kitchen. The upstairs bedrooms are not opened to the public. Downstairs there is a billiards room and carriage house. Information about each room is described on small boards. Paintings of a young Ruth Lilly, adorn several walls. The back of the house overlooks the White River. Gardens surround the mansion and make a delightful springtime stroll. During Winterlights, the front grounds are filled with Christmas lights that dance to the music of the Indianapolis Symphony. In the basement, there is a small gift shop that sells the "shirt" and seasonal gifts. Admission to the museum (or Winterlights) includes a self guided walking tour of the mansion. The home is definitely worth a visit.

Amazing place to visit. There iis always something new and exciting to experience…read more The IMA is constantly changing with the guest's experience in mind.