AVON — Unknown artists are being given an opportunity to shine with “Reflected Light,” an art show running from 6 to 9 p.m. July 27 at Bread of Life Ministries in Avon.
Brian Russelburg, a senior at the Herron School of Art and a retired postal worker after 34 years, came up with the idea because he wanted to give artists the opportunity to be seen. He said he’s run into so many talented people who had no way to showcase their art.
“We’re hoping to get as many people as we can to come see this work, so there will be recognition and possibly people buying the work,” Russelburg said. “I ran into a friend that my son used to play with his son and he said his wife has been painting for years, but we don’t know what to do with it. It’s just hanging in the house. It’s encouraging the amateur artists to go back to producing work who might have shut it down.”
There will be no fee to attend the event, and no fee for the artists to take part. The church where it is being held is not taking any profit from having the event. It is purely designed to give a forum to amateur artists, though no one’s work will be excluded.
“We’re not excluding the professional, however our focus is on the amateur artist that’s not getting as much publicity and more or less just producing their work at home and not selling it,” Russelburg said. “It’s held at a church, but we’re asking for art forms of all kinds and genres, positive works. We’re looking for photos, ceramics, paintings, mixed media, collages, and sculptures. It’s a wide open thing. We’re just trying to get recognition and art has a different way of moving people. Several people say that it touches the people that look at it. It has a powerful effect. Something I may do effects different people in different ways. One guy takes home what he takes away from it that works for him, the other takes home what works for them. This is for the artist and the viewer.”
Russelburg is a self-taught photographer who knows what it’s like to climb through the ranks to get the opportunity to show his work.
“I think what makes this one unique is that there’s a level as an artist where you say ‘I’ve arrived,’ or somebody says ‘I’m not that good,’ but what I’m doing here is trying to give people — we all know people who are really good but nobody has hard of them — so I’m giving people that have never been heard from publicly a chance to show their work,” Russelburg said.
Artists will range in age from high school to senior citizens, and Russelburg says that he’s had artist inquiries from Muncie to Nashville. He says his focus is mostly artists on the west side of Indianapolis and Hendricks County.
Art for the exhibit will be collected from noon to 8 p.m. July 23. Art must be submitted by that date, framed or ready to hang.
For more information, e-mail Russelburg at silvervisage@gmail.com or reflected.light.bol@gmail.com or visit the websites at reflectedlightbol.wordpress.com or at bolindy.com.
Bread of Life Ministries is at 7510 E. C.R. 100 N., Avon.
Just the facts
WHAT: Reflected Light art show
WHEN: 6 to 9 p.m. July 27
WHERE: Bread of Life Ministries, 7510 E. C.R. 100 N., Avon
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