The Circle City Industrial Complex (CCIC) will host an in-person First Friday, August 2nd, 6-9pm. Admission is free. As the CCIC follows state and county regulations, masks are no longer required for vaccinated visitors but are highly encouraged, and individual artist studios may continue to require masks within their space. The CCIC is a 500,000 square foot building, making social distancing somewhat easier than other venues, but the smaller studios may also maintain limitations on visitor numbers at times.
Open Studios and Galleries
Several studios and gallery spaces will be open throughout the building. This list is not all-encompassing; some artists may decide to open that night based on current information and comfort levels.
The Schwitzer Gallery
Located on the second floor of the North Studios, the Schwitzer Gallery will feature a team-up of Adrian Smith and Rebeka Sweetland. Using a diverse variety of media, Smith and Sweetland invite visitors to envelope themselves into a world of divine and spiritual reflection. “Each brushstroke is a step towards capturing the divine essence that water embodies,” Smith said. “I am intrigued with the interweaving of the physical human experience with our inner psyche,” Sweetland said.
Arts & Images by Anthony Armstrong
Anthony Armstrong presents a blend of new abstract paintings highlighting bold colors, deep texture and movement. Armstrong is a self-taught abstract painter and photographer. As a mixed media artist, Armstrong wants the art collector to be engaged with their pieces, hoping to garnish new perspectives and elements of design. Arts & Images by Anthony Armstrong is located in the South Studios.
Bruce Armstrong / Bruce’s Fine Arts
Bruce Armstrong features a wonderful collection of abstract, minimalist, collage and figurative paintings, highlighting bold colors, strong movements and sharp angles. Bruce Armstrong is located in the South Studios.
Aurora PhotoCenter
Aurora PhotoCenter supports visual artists working in photography through exhibitions, residencies, workshops, visiting artist talks, and access to creative tools. As the only nonprofit in Indiana devoted exclusively to photography, Aurora is an essential hub for the medium in our arts community. We have the only rentable darkroom and digital lab in the city. This month, Aaron Turner’s exhibition “Black Alchemy: Resolve (Attempt #2)” re-presents cultural and familial images, exploring them as both subject matter and material. He is concerned with constructing images that address abstraction, history, blackness as material, surveillance, artificial intelligence, the archive, and the metaphysics of race. Aurora PhotoCenter is located on the first floor in the North Studios.
Bebito Toys
Bebito Toys are handmade plush toys created from original patterns by Rachel Hedges. They are constructed from re-purposed and upcycled fabrics in colorful, quirky combinations. Each toy is unique and adorable. Find your favorite, or purchase a one-of-a-kind gift for someone special. Bebito Toys are for humans of all ages! It’s back to school time and Dolores is back from her vacation. We can wait to catch up with you and hear how your summer has been. Bebito Toys is located on the second floor of the North Studios.
Daily Epiphany Studio: Michele Burns and Kurt Kriese
Michele Burns and Kurt Kriese hit with a double whammy of the experimental and the grounded; geometry and political commentary, the new and the old, and more. This month, they present assemblage work centered around the “I Spy” game. “My sister had me make a frame full of trinkets she had collected over many years from several generations, and she was so delighted with it that I decided to make some for everyone,” Burns said. “Each painting comes with a list of things to look for as a game of ‘I Spy.’ It can be simple to play with a child or more challenging to play and debate with adults.” Burns works with photoluminescent minerals to create paintings that are beautiful in the light of day as well as in the dark of night. Kriese’s work centers around rich, layered, evocative abstracts and landscapes, and is a gifted stained-glass artist. Daily Epiphany is located in the South Studios.
Full Circle Nine Gallery
The Full Circle Nine Gallery (FC9) will feature Wayne Bertsch in “Purrfect Paws: A Fusion of Recycled Art.” Bertsch, known for his iconic “Barfly” comic in NUVO, creates vibrant pop art of actors, musicians, and iconic characters made exclusively from recycled materials. The Full Circle Nine Gallery is located on the first floor of the South Studios.
Victoria Gillieron
Victoria Gillieron is an impressionist oil painter who loves to paint images from Sanibel Island, Florida, capturing its beauty before the hurricane, as well as still life and landscapes. Gillieron feels very blessed to have studied with such amazingly talented artists and counts many of these individuals as her good friends and credits them with helping her to become the artist she is today. She invites the curious to visit and see her broad collection of paintings. Victoria Gillieron is located on the first floor of the South Studios.
Glass Arts Indiana, Inc.
Glass Arts Indiana creates a collaborative glass community to support and promote emerging and established artists; to participate in events to increase the knowledge and appreciation of glass arts with Indiana residents; to host fun, interesting and educational events; increase appreciation and understanding of the glass arts; and promote glass-related opportunities in Indiana and the U.S. Finished works are available and visitors will get to see glass-blowing in action. Glass Arts Indiana, Inc. is located on the first floor, in the corridor.
Matt Hurdle / Matt Hurdle Fine Art
Matt Hurdle is an abstract artist of dramatic dreamlike landscapes using blending techniques. His works instill a scene of calm. His studio is open by appointment M-F and is located on the second floor at the corner of the Schwitzer gallery.
Indy Fused Glass
The artist instructors at Indy Fused Glass (IFG) create fused glass art for sale in a retail gallery. IFG teaches introductory fusing sessions, guided by artists to learn to create with fusible glass. IFG offers 14 different fusing projects to select from. These can be fused or “slumped” (another method of using fusible glass to create functional forms). The Indy Fused Glass, LLC Gallery has newly created fused glass art each week on display and available for purchase. For First Friday, IFG Glass Artists either offer hands-on sessions or feature a working glass artist, doing a demonstration. Indy Fused Glass is on the first floor of the North Studios.
Larry Lad, LadArt
Larry Lad is a painter who covers the spectrum of abstract and representational work. He likes to add dimension to his paintings using additional canvas, cigar boxes, collage, and other materials to layer his work. His show “Replication” traces his journey as an artist as he searches for his own style by borrowing from the works of artists he admires. Lad also creates large sculptures and installations. Larry Lad, LadArt is located in the corridor on the first floor.
Nancy Lee of Nancy Lee Designs Studio
Nancy Lee is a metalsmith, enamelist, and artisan jeweler. She specializes in alternative wedding and engagement rings in a warm and inclusive space. Her offerings include copper sculpture and kiln-fired enamel landscapes on copper. “Details delight me, and I can easily get lost in them, whether in gold, silver, or enamel. You might say tiny things are my superpower!” Lee said. Lee is the author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Making Metal Jewelry, has juried in as an Indiana Artisan for her jewelry, and is one of the three original artist pioneers who brought First Friday art openings to the Circle City Industrial Complex. Nancy Lee Designs Studio is on the first floor of the North Studios.
S. Camille Peters, Photographer & Artist
S. Camille Peters displays “photography plus” a mix of art, photos and other “things” that inspire and inform her creative productions. With a BFA in Fine Art – Photography and interests in Commercial and Industrial Photography, Peters call this blend and her work “FineTech”. S. Camille Peters’s art is built upon basic principles in photography and design, light, time, and aperture as well as line, rhythm, repetition, scale, and contrast. For August, Peters will debut an autobiographical documentary video “Letter to Mom” and close the exhibit of “Portraits: Family, Friends & You!” Also, there will be custom-made “Adult Fidget Spinners” for sale. S. Camille Peters, Photographer & Artist is located on the second floor of the North Studios.
REDEFINITION Clothing
Tendai Phillips brings REDEFINITION Clothing, where global influences converge to create a unique fashion experience and designs transcend time. “We believe fashion should be a universal language, and that’s why we design clothing that transcends borders,” Phillips said. “Every stitch tells a story, weaving together the threads of inspiration from around the world. Our pieces are more than garments: they’re a fusion of art and personal epression.” Born at the intersection of K-Pop’s vibrant energy the rhythmic beats of Hip-Hop, the colorful vibes of Afro-pop, the avant-gard aesthetics of Japanese street style, and the pulse of current trends, REDEFINTION is a celebration of diverse cultures. REDEFINITION Clothing is located on the second floor of the North Studios.
Susan Semenick, Sue’s Fine Art
Susan Semenick is an award-winning watercolor artist. She has achieved success as a portrait and figure artist, but also a landscape painter. Susan has see success as a finalist in the cover competition of Watercolor Magazine. Susan Semenick, Sue’s Fine Art is located on the second floor of the North Studios.
The CCIC is open during regular business hours, and the Schwitzer Gallery is accessible throughout the week. A number of the city’s most varied and exciting artists and galleries will remain open for their regular hours, with many of them available on weekends, posted on their own websites and social media. Some studios will be open by appointment.
About the Circle City Industrial Complex Artists
The Circle City Industrial Complex (CCIC) is a nearly half-million square foot industrial building, located at 1125 Brookside Ave., just northeast of the Mass Ave Art and Theatre Cultural District, and was formerly home to the Schwitzer automotive company. Its industrial appeal remains and artists and artisans have made the space their home, carving cozy studio, work, and show spaces from the concrete and steel structure, and the CCIC Artists have grown in number to over 100 galleries, individual artists and artisans. The CCIC Artists First Friday programming is a must-see stop, one of the most authentic Indianapolis experiences, while events and viewable hours continue throughout the month.
The main entrance of the building (identified by its black marble façade) provides easy access to both the South Studios and North Studios (with a wheelchair accessible ramp and elevator). Maps of the building are also available in several locations to help visitors find all that the building has to offer. The CCIC provides free parking in a large lot, and is accessible by the Pogue’s Run Trail, connecting to the Monon Trail and the downtown Cultural Trail system. The complex also offers other art-supporting destinations such as the Centerpoint Brewery, Eighth Day Distillery and The Fowling Warehouse.
For more listings and event updates, please visit https://ccicindyartists.wordpress.com, or the CCIC Artists Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/ccicartists