Unwrapping The Beautiful Packaging

10 Yards

2012-01-31T12:21:00.000-05:00

Its just about Super Bowl time. The artists at the Stutz have been very busy working on a very special exhibition for the Super Bowl. It is called "10 Yards". This name comes from football. It takes 10 yards to gain a first down in the game. But you do not need to be a football fan to enjoy this exhibition. The ten "yards" in this exhibition refer to 10 different locations around Indianapolis which include:

Bishop Chatard neighborhood
Broad Ripple
Canal
Children's Museum
Eagle Creek Park
Fountain Square
Irvington
JW Marriott
Monon Trail
Stutz Building

The Opening reception is Thursday February 2nd from 5-9PM. The exhibition is open until February 24th. Gallery hours are 11-2 Monday- Friday.Find out more at www.stutzartists.com

Recently listed on Etsy

2012-01-24T18:49:00.000-05:00

Below are a few of my latest Etsy listings. Right now, this is the only way to purchase my artwork online with a simple click and filling in your address. All Etsy transactions go through Pay Pal so they are secure.

This week has been mostly smaller pieces on paper. This is a challenge since I am usually working on large canvases. These pieces may be smaller, but they still carry my love for bright vibrant colors. I am still going strong with listing one new item a day. To keep up with my daily listings follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

and

Busy Busy Busy

2012-01-15T21:17:00.000-05:00

Everybody wave to Jannetmarie!

Last week at the studio was a very snowy one which meant I spent a lot of time working. I finished a piece for an upcoming show called 10 Yards. I am going to finish two more on Monday. Here is a in progress picture. To see the final piece you'll have to stop by the opening reception for 10 Yards at the StutzArtSpace on February 5-9PM.

I've been keeping up with listing one item a day on Etsy which means I will be out of small pieces too add to my shop soon. This week I think I will start on some small pieces that will be mated in 6x8. This week on Etsy was all about small paintings on canvas boards and my pinkscale pieces. Below are a few pieces that I listed this week in my Etsy shop.

Artwork makes a wonderful gift for Valentines day. Roses, candy, and dinner reservations get pretty boring, mix it up with giving your loved one an original piece of artwork.

Charyibds

Pink Phalanx

Red Figure Dialpack #5

To keep up with new artwork that I list on Etsy daily, follow me on Twitter @BonnieStzE340 or on Facebook.

Recently listed on Etsy

2012-01-06T20:49:00.000-05:00

Just in case you haven't had a chance to stop by my Etsy shop lately, here are a few items that I have listed in the past few days. These pieces are all original pieces of artwork made by hand, not prints. All of these items come to you already mated using archival mating techniques. This means that nothing toxic is touching the piece of artwork so it will last for many many years to come, They all also some in archival plastic bags. All of my piece some signed and dated.

Red Figure Dialpack #4

Black Figure Amazon Warrior

Black Figure Dialpack #5

Black Figure Dialpack #3

I have many more items listed in my Etsy shop.

First Friday January 6th 2012

2012-01-05T11:08:00.001-05:00

Happy new year!

The Stutz will be having the regular first Friday open studios from 12-5PM. There will be over 20 artists this month who will be opening their studio for the public to visit and watch them work. The Stutz Artists will start cleaning up for the big Open House in April soon so now is your chance to stop by if you love too see artwork and studios at their messiest. The Stutzartspace will not be open as we prepare for an exciting exhibition in February called 10 yards. Artists are creating works of art inspired by 10 different "yards" or locations around Indianapolis.

If you did not get the chance to see it last first Friday, January 6th will be your last chance to see Stacey M. Holloway: Neither Here Nor There. I got the chance to see this amazing exhibition last month and you will not be disappointed.

Etsy

2012-01-01T19:12:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!

This year I have decided to try something new. I have opened up my own Etsy shop. What is Etsy? Etsy is an online marketplace where people from all over the world seel their own handmade items. You can look for certain colors, a certain artist, by medium, or even by vendors in your local area. I have already found several other Indianapolis artists on Etsy, including other artists in the Stutz Building, it a small world.

Right now my goal is to post one item a day. So far so good. I have several items up for sale already. I plan on listing my smaller works on paper and maybe a few smaller paintings, these items have to be shipped out after all. Stop by and check it out.

Pinkscale

2011-12-05T11:18:00.000-05:00

You've heard of grey scale right? Well these are similar but instead of grey, they are pink. I've made smaller watercolor pieces of my Amazonomachy series. They are not prints; they are small watercolor studies. Since each piece is handmade they vary some from the original oil painting. Each piece also has pieces of pink ribbon incorporated into it. I only made one pink study for each painting in my Amazonomachy series, so get yours before it's gone.

Amazon Warrior

Pink Amazon Warrior

First Friday December 2nd 2011

2011-12-02T10:16:00.000-05:00

The Stutz building will be having open studios from noon until 5pm as usual. 19 artists will be open today! This is the perfect chance to come by and see your favorite artists that you saw at the Holiday show at work. Downstairs in the gallery the annual Small Treasures exhibition will be opening at 5pm. This exhibition focuses on smaller pieces of artwork proving that size does not matter. This is the perfect time to buy loved ones a piece of artwork for the holidays.

Have a happy last first Friday of 2011!

2011 Stutz Artists Holiday Show

2011-11-09T10:45:00.000-05:00

Its that time of year again. The holidays are almost here which means it is time for the annual Stutz Artists Holiday Show. This year it will be held on Friday November 18th from 5-10pm. This is a one night only event and it's free. Artists who have their studios in the historic Stutz Business Center will be displaying their work in one room together. Come and see a variety of artwork for sale including painting, jewelry, photography, and more. Artists will be creating special $100 paintings, half the proceeds from which will be going to VSA Indiana. Artwork always make a wonderful holiday gift for friends, family, or yourself. For more information please visit www.stutzartists.com

First Friday November 4th 2011

2011-11-02T14:19:00.000-04:00

First Friday is almost here again! The Stutz building will be having open studios from noon to five. At five the StutzArtSpace there will be a preview of the UNCLOTHED: Exposing the Art Nude in the gallery from 5-9pm. This exhibition is part of the Spirit and Place Festival in Indianapolis and will be having the big opening and a pannel discussion on November 11th from 6:30-9pm. This year's Spirit and Place Festival theme is the body.

Mark you calendars! The Annual Stutz Holiday Show is coming up fast! If you do not have a calendar to mark, there are still a few Women of a Certain Age calendars available. Find out more here.

Cafe Zuppa

2011-10-17T22:33:00.001-04:00

I spent Saturday installing some artwork at Cafe Zuppa dowtown. I have a few of my larger pieces and a bunch of smaller pieces on display. I even got very busy in the studio and created four more just in time for the exhibition. My work will be on display under mid December.

Cafe Zuppa is at 320 N Meridian street, a little south of the American Legion mall downtown. You can't miss it they have green awnings and bright orange walls! They serve breakfast and lunch through the week and Sunday brunch. You can check out the menu at http://www.cafezuppaindy.com .

First Friday October 7th 2011

2011-10-06T22:39:00.001-04:00

There's a whole lot going on at the Stutz building this first Friday! As always there will be many artists will be opening their studios from noon until five. The Gallery will be opening at at five for a wonderful show, Women of a Certain Age: The Skin We're In. Many women in the Stutz participated in this show, a few more even put together a special calendar to help raise money for the Pink Ribbon Connection. The artists on the second floor D hallway will also be having a mini open until nine.

Women of a Certain Age : The Skin We're In

2011-09-27T00:00:00.001-04:00

I wanted to take a minute to help spread the word about something wonderful happening in the Stutz building. I will talk more about the exhibition on my first Friday post but these women have put together a stunning calendar to benefit the Pink Ribbon Connection which helps women with breast cancer. Only 500 of these have been made and there have been many pre-ordered, even in batches of 10 at a time! There was also an article posted about this calendar in the Indianapolis Star.

"The artist Revealed is a body of work, in calendar form, that came into being as a result of 12 women artists talking together about how we feel about ourselves as we age, how we feel about our bodies as they are affected by age, child-bearing and/or illness. We talked about how, and if those feelings impact our work. Each of us was photographed in the nude or semi-nude and digitally incorporated of our rated into a piece of our own work , creating a new work in which the artist and the work become one. The images are as beautiful and varied as ourselves. We came together, "in our skin", yet clothes in our art, and in the process learned that however we feel about "the skin we're in" our bodies are just that... vessels that hold all that we are, but not who we are.

Go to http://www.stutzartists.com/revealedCalendar.html follow the links to purchase this limited edition calendar today! Purchase now for $20 and come to our Calendar Signing Reception, October 6th 6-8pm

with our companion exhibition: In the Skin We're In

40% of net proceeds benefits the Pink Ribbon Connection."

All Together

2011-09-26T11:34:00.000-04:00

Heres a picture of most of the little red and black figure pieces I've been doing. With the help of Janett-marie and a mat cutter these ae looking great! Janett-marie taught me some archival framing techniques so these will last a long long time once they find homes and get put under glass in frames of thier very own. You can see all of these during our first Friday open studio tours at the Sutz building in downtown Indianpolis. I also plan to have them on display at our annual holiday show in November, if there arre any left.

* New Work *

2011-09-26T11:23:00.000-04:00

I almost forgot to post these! I did these two pieces last week. I thought I would mix it up a bit from the red figure and black figure I have been doing. They are 6x9 watercolor on paper.

First Friday Sepember 2nd 2011

2011-09-01T16:30:00.000-04:00

First Friday is almost here again! a BUNCH of artists in the Stutz Building will be opening thier studios to the public from 12-5. At 5PM in the StutzArtSpace Gallery the outgoing residents Malloery Marty and Brian Myers will be having thier opeing reception.

The 2011 Indianapolis Artists and Dealers Association (IDADA) Members Exhibtion will be open at Wug's Studio and Garage.

* New Work *

2011-09-01T16:22:00.000-04:00

I've been super busy in the studio this week. Would you believe that I have finished 10 pieces in the last week? I am still working on a title for the piece above, any ideas? To get a better look at these stop by my studio on Friday 12-5 during the Stutz building open studios.

Red Figure Dialpack #3

Red Figure Dialpack #4

Black Figure Dialpack #3

Black Figure Dialpack #4

Black Figure Dialpack #5

* New Work*

2011-08-29T11:07:00.000-04:00

I've been very busy in the studio doing some expermenting with some smaller pieces. These water media on paper pieces are about 6x9 inches.

* New Work *

2011-08-17T09:57:00.000-04:00

I finished up this little piece that I am planning on incorporating into a larger piece. This piece is very unique because i have sewn fabric onto the canvas. This piece features Artmesia who was not only the leader of her country after her husband's death, but also a naval commander in the battle of Salamis in 480 BC. She avoided getting her ship destroyed by ramming another ship in the Persian fleet confusing the Greeks into thinking her ship was one of her own. This led Xerxes to exclaim that his men had become women and his women had become men.

Gamblin Artist Videos

2011-08-09T12:22:00.000-04:00

A few months ago when I was looking to varnish some of my paintings I found a series of very helpful and informative videos from Gamblin. They have several videos up on ground application, oiling out, varnishing, reusing gamsol, and more. For example this video below covers ground application.It explains a few different ground and how best to apply them, how long it takes for them to dry. It covers both pannel and canvas as well. I found all this information very helpful when considering changing from acrylic gesso.

To view all of the videos click here.

First Friday August 5th 2011

2011-08-04T10:31:00.001-04:00

As always I will be in the studio participating in the Stutz Building's open studios from 12-5. Open studios at the stutz happens each and every first Friday of the month. This is the perfect chance to visit your favorate downtown artists working in thier studio. And even better, it is all free!

Downstairs in the Stutz Art Space gallery Travis Little will be having a solo exhibtion with his work involving the human figure.

The Harrison Center has teamed up with the Herron School of Art Libary and will be having Bound a exhibtion featuring book art. Also, Did you know that the Harrison Center has opened a new Gallery? The City Gallery is connected to Gallery number 2.

Reading List

2011-07-14T16:11:00.000-04:00

I just finished reading a book I heard much about while doing research for my senoir thesis. This book details the lives of Greek and Roman women. This is a great book for any woman wanting to know more about our history that is left out of normal history books. It came out in the 70's during the one of the biggest eras of feminism and at only 230 pages there is no reason why you wouldn't have time to read it!

Idianapolis Arts Podcast

2011-07-12T14:56:00.000-04:00

While working at home today I stumbled upon a great podcast about the arts in Indianapolis. Shannon Linker of the Arts council, Christopher West a Gallery owner, and Amanda Mauer Taflinger from the INDIEana Handicraft Exchange talk about various topics about art in central Indiana.

http://www.wfyi.org/podcast/NOLI/NOLI_11-07-07.mp3

Contemporary Figurative Work

2011-07-05T20:51:00.000-04:00

This past first Friday I Participated in a fantastic group exhibition at the 924 Gallery called Contemporary Figurative Work. 30+more artists are also in this exhibition which runs until July 29th so if you missed it on first Friday there is still time to stop in!

"July 2011: Contemporary Figurative Work

Whether created for ritual, prestige, historical documentation or self-expression, artists have been rendering the human form for thousands of years and its significance to the art historical canon cannot be overstated. In July, Gallery 924 explores the human figure with a select group of central Indiana contemporary artists. Although portraits, nudes and other traditional renderings of the human form have come in and out of favor and evolved over time, the innate desire of artists to study and visually express the core of our physical existence is as strong as ever."

For more information please check out:

http://www.artscouncilofindianapolis.org/gallery924/

* New Work! *

2011-06-08T15:36:00.000-04:00

Battle of Salmis

I created this charcoal drawing on first Friday last week. I also started on a small (18 x 24) painting of this one as well. I did a under painting of cobalt teal which I am really excited about. I am hoping for a similar effect to some paintings I have seen with bright red underneath. I have even been thinking of incorporating it into a lager 40x60 painting!

Did you know?

2011-06-06T22:53:00.000-04:00

Did you know that you can also follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and you can even have new blog posts sent directly to your e-mail? I recently added some buttons which allow you to share this blog on Facbook and Twitter. They can be found on the right hand side of this page along with the button that allows you to follow via e-mail! Happy social networking!

Bonnie Fillenwarth | Promote Your Page Too

First Friday June 3rd 2011

2011-06-03T10:37:00.000-04:00

Amber and I will be at the studio today taking part of the Stutz Building Open Studios from Noon to Five. A few dozen artists in the Stutz open their doors every month. This is a great opportunity to see the artists at work. And just maybe that piece that you wish you had bought at the Open House will still be there! There will be the StutzArtSpace Gallery opening at 5pm on the first floor. Hope to see you there!

Open House Photos

2011-06-03T10:23:00.000-04:00

Here are some pictures from the 2011 Stutz Open House in April.

First Friday May 6th 2011

2011-05-02T23:10:00.000-04:00

Amber and I will be in the studio this first Friday. A week after the big open house many artists took Sunday off to rest but were back in the studio working hard on Monday! We have to start getting ready for next year! I will post some pictures from the event later this week.

Friday night in the StutzArtSpace Gallery a new exhibition will be opening "Gray Matters: Between Black and White" at 5PM.

Artbox will have "Notes", works on paper from artbox artists.

IMOCA will be having an exhibition featuring Malcolm Mobutu Smith which combines graffiti artwork with ceramic vessels and sculptures.

Urban Elements on Pennsylvania Street will be having an exhibition of three Herron School of Art printmaking students this first Friday.

And as always the Harrison Center, Murphy Building, and Wheeler Arts Community will be open.

Stutz Open House Videos

2011-04-29T09:40:00.003-04:00

Just in case you haven't made up your mind to come to the 2011 Stutz Open House this evening or tomorrow, here are some of the news coverage that has aired on the local news stations this past week. There has been quite the buzz around town about the 2011 Stutz Open house. This segment aired on Wishtv:

Stutz Artists Open House: wishtv.com

And here is the link to the WTHR focus on the community with Angela Cain on the Stutz Open house:
http://www.wthr.com/story/817967/focus

2011 18th Annual Stutz Open House!!!

2011-04-13T15:05:00.000-04:00

I would like to formally invite you to the 18th Annual 2011 Stutz Open House. Below are some questions and answers about this event. For more information please visit http://www.stutzartists.com/.

What is the Stutz Open house?

The Stutz Open House is an annual event held every April. This event is a fundraiser for the Stutz Artist Association Residency Program in order to give free studios to a few emerging artists for a year. It started out a few years ago with just a few artists inviting their friends and patrons over for a small party and has now grown into a two day event with around seven thousand people attending every year. This year there will be over eighty artists participating as well as many businesses.

What are the dates and times for the open house?

This year the open house will be Friday April the 29th and Saturday the 30th. The doors open at 5:30PM on Friday and close at 10:30PM. On Saturday doors open at 2PM and close at 7PM.

Where and what is the Stutz Building?

The historic Stutz Building is located in downtown Indianapolis at 1060 N. Capital Ave. The building is so huge it takes up a whole city block! It is between 10th and 11th Streets and Capital Avenue and Senate Avenue. It is the huge yellow and green building you can’t miss it.

The Stutz building is a historic car factory in downtown Indianapolis. The Stutz Motor company produced many different types of cars including racing cars at could be seen during the Indianapolis 500. Today many businesses and artists call the building home. However, there is quite the car collection that fills up a special car room on the second floor as well as scattered throughout the building.

What all is there to see and do at the Open house?

There are over 80 artists who will have their studios all neat and tidy with artwork on display for purchase. There will also be musical entertainment throughout the building including Jazz musician Cynthia Lane. There will also be some activities for the kids including face painting.

In the StutzArtSpace Gallery on the first floor of the building there will be the “One Peek Show” which is an art exhibition that features on piece of artwork from every artist participating in the open house. The “One Peek Show” Opens on April 1st from 5 to 9PM and runs through the end of the month and will be open during the open house. This is a great way to preview which artists you would like to visit first.

What kind of artwork will there be?

The Stutz building houses the most artists in one location in all of Indiana. This means there will be lots of art and lots of different kinds of art. There are painters, sculptors, photographers, jewelry makers, textile and fabric artists, artists who work with steel and other heavy duty metal, furniture makers, and many more. Prices of artwork can range from $10 to $10,000.

What about food and drinks?

There will be many food and drink vendors throughout the building including Bearcats, Roll With it Bakery, A la Carte, Judges BBQ and more. Plus, many artists and businesses will have some small snacks and wine available in their studios.

Where is your studio?

My studio is E-340 on the third floor right in the middle of the E building. Upon entry to the open house you will receive a map of the entire building with the location of all the artists’ studios and businesses. It is a very big building and lots to see and there will be many volunteers placed throughout the building to help you find what you are looking for.

What will you have new this year?

I will have most of the pieces from my recent exhibition at the Indianapolis Artsgarden on display. I have also been busy creating some smaller works on paper with fabric. To get a preview of my work please visit my website www.bonniefillenwarth.com. You can also see my works in progress and my preparation for this huge event on my blog bonniefillenwarth.blogspot.com . And if that is not enough, you can friend me on Facebook and follow me on twitter @BonnieStzE340.
How much does it Cost?

Tickets cost $12 the day of the event. They are $10 in advance form Old National Banking Centers or the Stutz Business Center Office (317)488-7373. On Saturday kids 12 and under will receive free admission with a paying adult. Also, Saturday re-entry is $8 with the previous day’s ticket stub.

Will there be parking?

There will be plenty of parking available. There is street parking all the way around the building and specially marked lots for this huge event, and best of all it’s FREE!

Can’t wait to see you there!

On the Radio!

2011-04-09T10:59:00.000-04:00

Fellow Stutz artists Carol Myers and her son Brian Myers had an interview on the radio the other night. They covered the 2011 Open house, becoming artists, the Stutz residency program and much more!
Here is a link to the interview in case you missed it.

http://www.wfyi.org/podcast/AOTM/AOTM_11-04-01.mp3

Great job guys!

Cupons!

2011-03-30T19:17:00.000-04:00

Who doesn't love coupons? I have some coupons available for the 2011 Stutz Open House and will be sending out my postcards and a little letter explaining what all there is to do at the open house soon so please e-mail me at bonnie@bonniefillenwarth.com to get yours before I run out!

Top Secret Mission

2011-03-24T10:17:00.000-04:00

Shhhhhh....

The other day I started on a secret commission for a friend of mine, it is in acrylic instead of my usual oil or watercolor and I will post as many pictures as I can without giving it away. This is my beautiful canvas before I started. I got the drawing done and a few layers of gesso down. Today I start the fun part, the painting! Hopefully I will get a whole bunch done. I'll post what I can.

Can you see my studio neighbor Jannetmarie working hard over there across the window?

New Feature!

2011-03-17T20:36:00.000-04:00

The other day I added a new feature to this blog which allows you to follow via e-mail. Every time I make a new blog post, like this one, you will receive a copy in your mailbox. Pretty handy if you do not have time to constantly check my blog for new updates!

It is very easy, To the right side of this page there is a little box to put in your e-mail address. It will send you an e-mail automatically which will ask you to follow a link to confirm and that's it! Pretty niffy.

I have been very busy at the studio trying to clean up and get a bunch of new work done for the Stutz Open House at the end of April so expect lots more posts!

Busy Busy!

2011-03-08T22:11:00.000-05:00

Monday was framing and matting day at the studio. Slowly getting ready for the big Stutz Open House at the end of April.

* New Work! *

2011-03-04T09:37:00.001-05:00

Just in time for first Friday!

Daphne II

This one is watercolor and fabric on paper. Enjoy!

First Friday March 4th 2011

2011-03-03T15:11:00.000-05:00

Amber and I will be in my studio in the Stutz building this first Friday for the monthly open studios from noon until 5PM. We have many new artists that have moved in or moved around so come check them out! This is also a good time to check out artists studios while they are at their messiest! We will soon be cleaning house for the Stutz 18th annual Open house April 29th and 30th. My studio is E340 on the third floor. In the StutzArtSpace Downstairs a new exhibition "Social Currency" will be opening. For more information click here.

IDADA will be having a fundraising event at the Indy Indie Artist Colony. Artists have dropped of work to be sold for $100 and half or all the proceeds will go to IDADA. Also, when a work is sold a picture is taken with the patron, and they get to leave with the piece that night. For more information visit IDADA's website.

Check out the IDADA First Friday Map for even more first Friday events!

Video?

2011-02-24T10:43:00.000-05:00

The last two days I attended some free social media and video workshops arranged by the Indianapolis Arts Council and Hosted by the Indy Fringe theater. I am slowly adding to my social media and thinking about doing some video. Any suggestions? Time lapse of a piece from beginging to end is always fun and maybe a studio tour, but thats about where my ideas end.

To find out about more worshops from the Indianapolis arts council visit thier website http://www.indyarts.org/. The workshops are under the Artist Resources tab. Another very usfull tool is the Artist Opportunites E-Newsletter which you can sign up for on thier website too.

Twitter Here I come!

2011-02-22T23:51:00.000-05:00

I just created a Twitter account to help keep in touch with all my artsy friends, patrons, send out blog post updates, and to give you all more daily updates to what I am up to in my studio!

@BonnieStzE340

Charge! - Sold

2011-02-17T09:30:00.000-05:00

One of the piece form my latest show at the Indianapolis Artsgarden Found its forever home this week. A woman bought this for a dear friend who is a breast cancer survivor and is very involved in fundraising. What a perfect gift since a percentage of the proceeds will go to the Susan G Komen foundation!

New Work Finished!

2011-02-17T09:23:00.000-05:00

The Foundation of a City

This is a new piece that I finished this week. It is watercolor, ink, and fabric on paper. The photos of this piece do not quite capture it. One form is in black and pink fabric. The pink shines as you walk past it. The pink figures are watercolor with a transparent fabric over them which gives them a very interesting texture.

StutzArtSpace Gallery Seeking Entries for March Photography Exhibition

2011-01-20T16:46:00.000-05:00

The StutzArtSpace Gallery on the first floor of the Stutz Building downtown is currently having a call for entry for their show in March. This is open to all artists, not just Stutz artist Association members.

StutzArtSpace Gallery Seeking Entries for March Photography Exhibition

The StutzArtSpace Gallery is seeking entries for its March photography exhibition, Social Currency. Submissions should explore how photographs are used and shared within communities and social networks, both online and offline. StutzArtSpace Gallery is looking for images that have been used as social currency and work that considers the impact of the shared image. Social currency is about increasing one's sense of community, granting access to information and knowledge, helping to form one's identity, and providing status and recognition.

Entry Deadline: Friday, February 11, 2011 by 5pm EST

Entry Requirements

Please submit the following by email or on CD. All submissions must be received by Friday, February 11, 2011 5pm EST.

1-5 JPEG images of your work

Title and size of each image

Short Biography

Artist's Statement

Email address and phone number

Email submissions to: andy@whatandysaw.com.

Mail:

Social Currency Show

212 W 10th St, Studio B-240

Indianapolis, IN 46202

View the application guidelines at http://www.stutzartspace.com/.

Daily Journal Article

2011-01-19T19:48:00.000-05:00

Daily Journal
Thursday January 6th, 2011
Q&A: Meet the Artist
Bonnie Fillenwarth
To artist Bonnie Fillenwarth, the spirit of fabled female fighters known as the Amazons is still alive. She explores the topic in "Amaonomachy," an exhibition this month at the Indianapolis Artsgarden. The works filter the Amazon myth through the lives of breast cancer patients, with the hope of raising awareness and money to fight the disease.

A portion of the sales during the exhibition will go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Fillenwarth,24 is a member of the Stutz Artists Association and has a studio in downtown Indianapolis. A graduate of Herron School of Art and Design at IUPUI, she has taken part in 15 solo or group shows.
Her idea for the show was influenced by a trip she took in 2008 as part of her college studies. During a summer in Athens, Greece, she saw statues, buildings, and other artwork displaying the country's rich mythology.

Over and over the theme of Amazons emerged.

Fillenwarth was drawn to the power of these women, how they were feared for their intensity and warlike nature.

After returning to Indiana, a class project that paired her with Wishard Memorial Hospital helped make the connection between breast cancer survivors and the Amazons.

"I kept thinking about the warriors and breast cancer, and I just kept sketching them over the months," Fillenwarth said. " I had a few pieces done and more sketches and ideas for more. There was enough potential where I could do an entire whole show."

"Amazonomachy" consists of 10 oil paintings ranging in size from a few square inches to 8 feet tall.
The images are powerful, showing women preparing or engaging in battle. A Painting titled "Push" shows a warrior struggling behind her shield. The outline creates the shape of a breast.

In another, "Biopsy," a helmeted fighter thrusts a spear into an amorphous form.

Fillenwarth's style is colorful and abstract, relying on sharp lines and distinct forms to bring the images to life.
The show is on display through Jan 24 at the Artsgarden, 50 W. Washington St, Indianapolis. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.

Where did the idea for "Amazonomachy" originate?

Back in college, we partnered with Wishard Hospital on their "Works of Hope and Healing." What we did was do out artwork, focused on how it relates to the hospital. I did a piece with my amazon warrior, to link it with breast cancer. I studied classical art in college, and I've just been reading Greek mythology since I was in middle school, so I was very familiar with the stories. When I got out of school, I decided I wanted to revisit that and do a whole series of it. That's where it all started.

What does "Amazonomachy" mean?

It's a Greek term that means "Amazon battle." That's become a theme that Greeks have done all over, the battles with the Amazons. Its on the Parthenon, and it's everywhere.

With your interest in this theme, why is this something that you wanted to explore further?

I got out of school, and I wasn't quite sure if I wanted to go do graduate work yet. I knew I needed to get a studio right away. Too many art students, they graduate from art school, and then you never hear from them again. I knew I had to get busy and do something. I thought about what I was doing, and that was the thing I wanted to do first.

What do you hope people take away after looking at these paintings?

I really wanted to do artwork with a cause. I hope they get some awareness, and if I can get some pieces that sell, I'm putting a percentage of that towards Susan G. Komen research. There's always a big push for awareness in October, because it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but it really is a year-round thing.

-- Ryan Trares

New Year, New Work!

2011-01-19T19:39:00.000-05:00

New year, new work!

I have been very busy in my studio and quickly filling up a new sketchbook. I have been trying to work on some ideas for my next big exhibition for 2012. I have also been busy working on some smaller pieces on 8x10 canvas boards and hope to have a whole box full by the 2011 Stutz Open House at the end of April. Have your favorite myth, story, character, theme? I am always accepting commissions. My studio has been very empty now that about half of it is hanging at the Indianapolis Artsgarden. Haven't seen it yet? It runs until the 30th!

Amazonomachy Opens!

2011-01-05T22:21:00.000-05:00

AMAZONOMACHY

New work by Bonnie Fillenwarth

At the Artsgarden inside the Circle Center Mall

January 4th- January 30th

I know there are some of you who do not live in Indianapolis and/or cannot make it to my show. Therefore I have posted a bunch of pictures and information about the show.

Amazonomachy is a term that refers to Ancient Greeks battling the Amazon women, a theme frequently used in Greek art. Greeks viewed the defeat of the Amazon warriors as a metaphor for civilized man overcoming barbarianism. For this show, I am reversing the theme and applying it to the modern day fight against breast cancer. In these depictions, I show the Amazons, who I use to represent those afflicted with the disease, literally fighting against breast cancer. To prepare themselves for battle, the Amazons would amputate their right breast to more accurately shoot their arrows, just as many women today must endure the loss of breasts or hair to improve their chances of recovery. To honor the strength and determination of women facing this disease, I depict those struggling against breast cancer just as Greek myth does the Amazon fighters: strong.

The goal of this project is to celebrate the strength and sisterhood that have come out of the movement for breast cancer awareness. Over the years I have seen breast cancer research evolve from humble beginnings to year-round fundraising for research. It has moved beyond focusing simply on the disease to treating also the women themselves, their family, and friends, including them in a worldwide sisterhood of fighters and survivors. Like the legendary Amazons of ancient Greek culture, these women going through the journey to defeat breast cancer have shown the world what real strength is. A portion of the sales from this event will go to local breast cancer research.

Another huge thank you for the Puffin Foundation Ltd. for funding this event.

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T18:46:00.000-05:00

I have been very busy packing up paintings for my big show that I install on Monday down at the Artsgarden in the Circle Center Mall. My studio has been getting very full, one wall is almost nothing but paintings! By the time the Stutz Open house rolls around in April I am sure all THREE walls will be like this!

Less than five months until the big Stutz Open house.

First Friday December 3rd 2010

2010-12-03T09:58:00.000-05:00

I will be in my studio this first Friday 12-5 in the Stutz Building (10th and Capital) along with many other artists. At 5PM in the gallery downstairs a group show “Uncovered: Food for Thought” will be open. For more information on this show please visit the Stutz Artists Association website. There is also a restaurant downstairs called Bearcats, named after the Stutz racing car, so no need to worry about where to eat lunch or dinner while touring the studios and galleries tonight! Enjoy the last first Friday of 2010!

Stuck Between a Scylla and a Charybdis

2010-11-15T09:38:00.000-05:00

20x20 inches Oil and Sand on Canvas

This one is from the Odyssey. Odysseus had to choose between sailing closer to a giant whirlpool monster named Charybdis or a monster lady named Scylla who would grab sailors and eat them.

Eumachia: A Roman Woman's Legacy

2010-11-15T09:37:00.000-05:00

Eumachia was a woman who lived in Pompeii 80-100 years before the famous eruption. With her own money she funded the building of one of the largest buildings in Pompeii. It was located right off of the town's forum and is now know as the Eumachia Building. She also paid for her family's tomb which is the largest in Pompeii. After her death the fuller's guild dedicated a statue to her which closely resembled the empress of Rome at that time.

Medusa's Gaze and Charybdis

2010-11-12T09:19:00.000-05:00

For the Holiday show we are creating small 5x7 or 6x8 pieces to be sold for Riley Children's Hospital. It was a challenge to go from four feet by six to eight feet to just a few inches! I decided that I wanted to work with my sand again since I love it and I haven't done that in a while.

Medusa's Gaze 5x7 Oil and Sand on Canvas Board

Charybdis 5x7 Oil and Sand on Canvas Board

I have been getting two paintings done a day around the studio now. I am also working on about seven at a time now which means no room on my pallet.

2010 Stutz Artists Holiday Show

2010-11-11T10:47:00.000-05:00

Start off this holiday season with the Stutz Artists Association Holiday show. With more than 40 artists, there is a bunch to see! There will be lots of food and music on November 19^th from 5-9PM. Admission is free, and there will be special small paintings created just for this show. The proceeds from the sale of these pieces will be going to charity. The Stutzartspace will also be open for this event with their show “Uncovered: Food for Thought” which is part of the Indianapolis Sprit and Place Festival. Artwork makes a wonderful gift for the holidays!

Sisterhood

2010-11-05T19:26:00.000-04:00

This large 4 foot by 6 foot painting also took a while to finally finish. I especially love the red background which glows in the sunshine. It will look amazing hanging in the Artsgarden sunshine in a few months. Be sure to check back often I am close to finishing up some SMALLER paintings.

Surprise

2010-11-02T12:23:00.000-04:00

Someone notified me of this surprise on http://www.idada.org/ last night...

First Friday November 5th 2010

2010-11-01T10:45:00.001-04:00

There are all kinds of new happenings this first Friday!

Big News:

I was selected to be a part of the IDADA Members Exhibition which opens this Friday 5PM to 9PM at the 924 Gallery at 924 N Pennsylvania Street. i am not going to tell you which piece was selected but it is one of my new series that will be on display at the ArtsGarden in January so be sure to stop by.

As always The Stutz building is having their monthly open studios from Noon to 5PM. This is always free and tours are available. The Stutz ArtSpace will not be open though. This is because they are busy setting up a show for the Spirit and Place Festival "Uncovered Food for Thought" which will be opening next Friday November 12th. However, there will be a flooding of artists on the first floor with easels set up so be sure to come check that out. Also, on November 19th The Stutz Artists will be having their annual Holiday Show. There will be many artists on display and special small pieces which will sell for $100 and go to charity.

Charge!

2010-10-29T23:02:00.000-04:00

I started working on this today while waiting for a few of my other pieces to dry. It started out just being a test for a larger piece but I think it turned out well.

Website Refreshed

2010-10-19T21:33:00.002-04:00

I have made some changes to my website. Check it out at http://www.bonniefillenwarth.com/ . I have also been very busy in the studio the past few weeks so be on the lookout for new work to be posted soon! Only six more months until the Stutz Open House...

Luv A Bully March 2010

2010-10-13T11:17:00.000-04:00

Come bring your dog and people friendly canines to the 2010 Luv A Bully march on October 23rd (National Pit Bull awareness Day) to Monument Circle. Come help protest Breed Specific Legislation in Indiana. There will also be a doggy Halloween costume contest. Don't have a doggy? You can still come and enjoy! For more information and to register please visit http://www.indypitcrew.org/

Also, I am very proud to announce that my studio mate (my doggy Amber) was chosen to be on one of the new Indy Pit Crew magnets! Become a volunteer, give support by donations or buying merchandise, or just educate yourself or someone you know on the myth about American Pit Bull Terriers. For more information on the Indy Pit Crew visit http://www.indypitcrew.org/ To make a donation or purchase merchandise visit http://www.indypitcrew.org/merchandise.htm

Push Finished

2010-10-04T17:48:00.000-04:00

As promised I finished this piece right before the Autumn walk and first Friday. If you had told me before that I would have worked on this piece for 6+ months I wouldn't have believed you. This one is four feet tall by eight feet long. It is a unique piece because it is on a piece of hardboad. It is also the largest piece I have ever done.

The Guild - Better Than TV

2010-09-29T18:36:00.000-04:00

A while back I discovered a web series called The Guild.

"The Guild is a independent sitcom web series about a group of online gamers. The show started in the late summer of 2007, and for the first season was financed solely by Paypal donations from LOYAL FANS. Since season 2, The Guild has been distributed by Xbox Live and Microsoft and sponsored by Sprint.

Episodes vary from 3-8 minutes in length, and follow the Guild members’ lives online and offline.

“The Guild” has won numerous awards, including the SXSW, YouTube and Yahoo Web Series Awards in 2008, and 3 Streamy Awards in 2009: Best Comedy Web Series, Best Ensemble, and Best Actress for Felicia Day." http://www.watchtheguild.com/

All the episodes are avilable on MSN video or Xbox

To get ya started here's the first episode:

And one of their music videos:

Push

2010-09-28T18:28:00.000-04:00

Remember this giant monster from the 2010 Stutz Open House? Its taken all summer but this painting will be DONE by first Friday so come be one of the first to check it out! This piece is on hardboard and is four feet tall by eight feet wide. For a blog about art, this one seems to be lacking some picture so I thought I would show a few pictures of the progress of this painting. Enjoy!

First Friday October 1st 2010

2010-09-28T18:04:00.000-04:00

I will be in my studio this first Friday 12-5 in the Stutz Building (10th and Capital) along with many other artists. This will be a big first Friday because the Stutz building is also hosting the Autumn Art Walk, so come down and see what all the fuss is about! At 5PM in the gallery downstairs a group show “Voices: Women of a Certain Age” is opening. A portion of the sales will be going to St. Margaret's Hospital Guild. For more information on this show please visit the Stutz Artists Association website. There is also a restaurant downstairs called Bearcats, named after the Stutz racing car, so no need to worry about where to eat lunch or dinner while touring the studios and galleries tonight!

After a rough few years of gallery's closing in Indianapolis, a new one will be opening this first Friday! Gallery 924 (924 N PennsylvaniaSt) will be having their first, first Friday event on October 1st. "Gallery 924's Inaugural Exhibition featuring the artwork of Ben Johnson. Opening reception is from 6-9 pm. Glass artist Ben Johnson's work is informed by texture, color theory, natural occurrences and the way living organisms affect one another. Johnson's first major exhibition in Indiana will highlight his current Host series. Applying his extensive studies of glass working to contemporary sculpture, Johnson's work features raised patterns, underlying colors, and interior visual surfaces." - http://www.indyarts.org/
Find out more Here

Internet Scams

2010-09-09T10:22:00.001-04:00

I recently received a fake request to purchase a piece of artwork and I thought I would share to help educate others on how to tell when you are being scammed.

"Hello Friend,
I saw your contact while surfing via the internet. I will like to know if you have any Naturescape/Landscape/Animal painting in stock of price range not exceeding $700. Get back to me if there is any available for sale.
Regards,
David Taylor"

There is nothing that odd about this first e-mail I received besides the "surfing via the internet" and is there such thing as a Naturescape? Figuring it was just a patron who did not know terms very well I sent him to my website and assuming he lived in the area invited him out to our monthly open studios. I received this in reply:

"Hi Bonnie,
Thanks for your response to my request. I am interested in the one called: Aftermath:Leda and the Swan 2008 30 x 42 Inches Oil on Canvas price:$500 . As regards the payment I will give instruction to my clients there in the united states to send you a cheque in that amount. And I will be needing the address, the name to which the cheque will be issued to include your telephone number. So please get back to me soonest with all this information. Once i am in receipt of the nessesary infomation we can set up the transactions.
To let you know that I will be arranging for a pick up at your location as soon as the check cleared by your bank.
I await your response soonest.
David Taylor"

The big give away here is the "give instruction to my clients there in the united states to send you a cheque in that amount" These overseas scams either never send a check or it is faulty, or they send you a check in a larger amount and ask that you return the excess money. They also like to use Western Union for scams. Another giveaway here is also the language used. the oddest one here is the use of the word "soonest", also the two different spellings of cheque and check.

There is very little that our government can do to stop these over seas scams and you will not ever get your money or artwork back. My advice is to not deal in overseas transaction unless you actually know the person.

First Friday September 3rd 2010

2010-09-03T10:08:00.000-04:00

I will be in my studio this first Friday 12-5 in the Stutz Building (10th and Capital) along with many other artists. At 5PM in the gallery downstairs a group show “Exploration: 2009-10 Stutz Residents Lydia Burris and Patrick Flaherty” is opening. There is also a restaurant downstairs called Bearcats, named after the stutz racing car, so no need to worry about where to eat lunch or dinner while touring the studios and galleries tonight!

The Harrison Center for the Arts is having open studios and:

"In Gallery No. 2 - Sparkles, Sprinklers and Bad Seeds - new work by Erin K. Drew and NERS. This show 'uncovers the secrets and treasures lurking in a dreamlike version of the suburban landscape in which we were reared . . . inspired by suburban wildlife, trash can plundering, air-conditioned wishes, goth garage sales, dogs in yards, huge lonely hardwood trees, throwing rocks at wasps nests, gravel driveways with acorns and seedlings, playgrounds, basements, and long adolescent nights where you can sit in the middle of the street and not see a single soul in any direction around you.'"

Cumberland Art Goes to Market

2010-08-19T15:55:00.000-04:00

Summer is not over yet! Cumberland's First Baptist Church is having there 2nd annual Cumberland Arts Goes to Market.

40 Art and Craft Booths

20 Farmer Market Booths

Arts Experience Pavilion

Food Tents

Raffle

Labyrinth walk

Free Children's Activities - Bounce House

Nuvo Stage Schedule
Located on the grass south of Saturn Street

9:00 Circle City Sound Quartet
10:15 Maennerchor
10:45 Blank Pages
11:30 Symphonic Youth Orchestra of Greater Indianapolis
1:00 Liederkranz Damenchor
2:00 Irish Airs

Arts Experience Pavilion Schedule
Located on the grass south of Speedway

9:00 Instrument Petting Zoo Open
10:00 Hearts Ablaze Cloggers
11:00 Young Hoosier Voices, directed by Steve Hill
11:30 Allison Thomas
12:00 Karaoke with Pat
12:30 Instrument Petting Zoo Open
1:30 Karaoke with Pat
1:45 Old Bethel Puppeteers

For more information visit http://www.cumberlandfbc.org/

First Friday August 6th 2010

2010-08-06T09:57:00.000-04:00

I will be in my studio this first Friday 12-5 in the Stutz Building (10th and Capital) along with many other artists. At 5PM in the gallery downstairs a group show “Daring to Be Different” is opening. There is also a restaurant downstairs called Bearcats, named after the stutz racing car, so no need to worry about where to eat lunch or dinner while touring the studios and galleries tonight!

Art Bank is having a "Robbing the Bank" Festival on Massachusetts Ave. "The theme for this outdoor festival is “Dancing as Art”. Patrons will be able to dip their feet in paint and dance on a large canvas to the music." - IDADA.org

One of the Herron Galleries will be featuring their annual faculty Art show. This is a great way to see what kind of artwork your teachers make.

And as always lots of different art and artist's studios at the Harrison center and Murphy building too!

Hope to see you there!

Indianapolis Island

2010-06-29T14:50:00.000-04:00

I was so thrilled today to finally have a day off to be able to go visit the new 100 Acres Art and Nature Pack down at the IMA. I even took Amber with us since dogs are allowed. We headed straight for Indianapolis Island. We Looked for the Flag, Rang the bell, and hopped aboard for a tour. Micheal said that Amber was the 3rd doggy to visit their Island. Many of the kids have written messages to them and thrown them out on the lake in special containers that look like Indianapolis Island.

Don't forget to bring something to trade Micheal or Jessica! I gave Micheal most of my lunch, I did not have mush else to trade except for a poop baggy. They are writing about their experiences on the island, posting their messages sent to them, and pictures of their trades on their blog at http://www.imamuseum.org/island/

Nature Park to Open at IMA

2010-06-15T10:50:00.001-04:00

The Viginia B. Fairbanks Art and Nature Park on the IMA grounds will open June 20, 2010. There will also be a Artist forum on the 19th. I am so very very excited to see Andrea Zitel's floating island. I am also so very very jealous of the Herron Students who will gwet to live on it through the summer. For more information vist the IMA's Website.

Art Babble has a video of the making of Andrea Zitel's I-Land.
Above Picture from the IMA's Website.

First Friday June 4th 2010

2010-06-03T10:51:00.001-04:00

I will be in my studio this first Friday 12-5 in the Stutz Building (10th and Capital) along with many other artists. At 5PM in the gallery downstairs a Plein Air Show is opening. There is also a restaurant downstairs called Bearcats so need to worry about where to eat lunch or dinner while touring the studios and gallery!

Stutz Artist Association Residency Grant

2010-05-25T12:20:00.000-04:00

The Stutz Artist Association is now accepting Applications for the residency program. The artists will receive a free studio for a year from October 2010 to August 2011. For more details and the application click here, Good luck :)

Jason Hackenwerth

2010-05-22T19:20:00.001-04:00

One of the best lectures that ever came to Herron was from a artist that works in balloons. His name is Jason Hackenwerth and he is most famous for his balloon creatures. Many hang from the ceiling in galleries around the world any many more are created as suits. When a person is inside the suit, the artwork comes to life, following you around and shooting little balloon torpedoes at small children. His work really belongs up there with the Art 21 series and the Art Now Books. Bellow are a few YouTube Videos of his work and many more can be found on his blog http://jasonhackenwerth.blogspot.com/ and on his website http://www.jasonhackenwerth.com/

Some Helpfull Tips

2010-05-21T17:42:00.001-04:00

Use Dawn or another dish washing liquid to clean your brushes. I have used it on my brushes since I was in high school thanks to my old painting teacher Ms. Belmont. Dawn is a degreaser so it works great at cleaning out oils especially and acrylics. This works great for those big paint brushes and rollers used around the house to paint ceilings, walls, etc. This is a much cheaper and more environmentally safe way to clean up!
Got paint on you? Kiss it off! I have not gotten a stain that I have not been able to get out with this remover. It is called Kiss Off and it comes in a stick similar to chap stick but larger. It is great fro getting out paint. I have even gotten several day old dry oil paint off before using it.
You do not need that little jar of turpentine or other solvents for your brushes. While items like Turpanoid and Gamasol have made it much safer for artists to use, a plain old jar of watter will do the same thing. Water will keep your brushes from drying out and will dissolve the paint some. Water is great at breaking down matter because of the same of the molecule. Think about it: water carved out the Grand Canyon. I picked this up in Collage from one of my painting teachers the first day of painting class and never looked back! Thanks Andrew!
One of twice a year I will soak my paint brushes in some Brush Cleaner & Restorer It almost instantly breaks down any dried up oil or acrylic paint. The instrustons say a couple hours but I usually leave them in over night or for a day or so and occasionally move them around. This really helps to restore the flexibility of your brushes. It will not get off every spec of paint but it helps a bunch. Watch that you do not over fill the jar though because it will eat away at the paint on the brush handle.
You can save time, get more even coats, and waste less gesso if you do not use a brush but a drywall scraper instead. You will also get wider stokes, unless you are already using a six inch brush. excess gesso can be scraped back into the container and clean up is much easier than cleaning out a big brush. I have a little cheep six inch plastic one that cost be about three dollars at the hardware store but there are also metal ones too. The plastic ones will probably slowly widdle down. Another tip from Andrew.

First Friday May 7th 2010

2010-05-05T16:20:00.000-04:00

If you enjoyed the Stutz Open House but not the large crowd, come visit the open studios from noon to 5PM in the Stutz building. Not all the artists will be there but many will and best of all it's free! Opening at 5 in the Stutz building is a show called “Romancing the Page: Drawings on Paper" which focuses on drawing as a final piece. A friend of mine is having her Herron School of Art Senior Painting Thesis Show "a Well Without" at 940 Indiana Avenue which is across the street from the Taco Bell/Pizza Hut. The Harrison Center is having open studios and I have heard that Know No Stranger will be performing in the Wheeler Arts Community. Happy First Friday everyone!

So what normally goes on in the studio?

2010-05-01T16:38:00.001-04:00

Well for starters I almost never go to the studio alone. My studio mate Amber comes with me. She enjoys watching people pass by in the hallway, laying in the sunshine, and chewing up her bone while I work.

And here are a few shots of my studio slowly getting back to normal after the open house.

Torrit Grey

2010-04-27T00:09:00.000-04:00

Ive been using Gamblin Artist Oil Colors for a few years now and I have gotten my share of free tubes. Back in School i loved Torrit Grey because it was the same color at the floors at Herron. While doing some research on there priming products I came across this on their website which I never knew:

"Torrit Grey Competition

If you took all the pigments in the color spectrum and mixed them together, what color would you make?

Every spring, Gamblin Artists Colors collects a wealth of pigments from our Torit® Air Filtration system. We filter the air around the areas where we handle dry pigments so that our workers are not exposed to pigment dust. Rather than sending any of our high quality, expensive pigments into the landfill, Gamblin paint makers recycle them into "Gamblin Torrit Grey".

"Pigment dust should not go into the earth, water or landfill, but into paint," says Robert Gamblin.

The mix of pigments is different every year, so Torrit Grey is always unique and will never be repeated. Torrit Grey tends to have a greenish tinge because of the great strength of the Phthalo Green pigment, which is a dark bluish green. Torrit Grey varies from a medium dove grey to a dark earthy grey.

We are now dating the tubes, so artists can collect them from year to year and enjoy the unique qualities of each edition. Whatever you create with these popular limited edition colors is solely up to you and your imagination.

Our Torrit Grey store promotion, which runs each year through the end of April in celebration of Earth Day, not only recycles pigment dust into paint but focuses artists on the importance of recycling, studio and environmental safety. Complimentary 37ml tubes of Torrit Grey are only available while supplies last through your local fine art materials retailer. Last year, we distributed more than 11,000 tubes of Torrit Grey! Limitations are often your greatest creative assets and it is remarkable what talented artists can achieve with a color palette limited to white, or black and Torrit Grey.

The Torrit Grey Painting Competition, conducted annually in the Fall, attracts more entries every year. In 2008, we received over 160 submissions from painters willing to take the challenge of making a value based painting using only Torrit Grey and any black or white oil paint. The competition is judged by Robert Gamblin and the winners receive a supply of Gamblin Artists' materials."

Debriefing

2010-04-26T23:55:00.000-04:00

A big thank you to all of those who came and toured the studios at the Stutz Artist Open House this last weekend. It was so good to hear people say that they cant wait for this event and come every year. For those of you who could not make it here are a few pictures:

So now that you know what the artist's studios look like when they are all cleaned up, come see them work every first Friday 12-5PM. You can also view work from many of the artists in the Stutz on the Stutz Artist Association Website. You can also find contact information for all the artists.

More New Work Just in Time for the Open House!

2010-04-20T20:42:00.000-04:00

I just finished this piece today and it will be on display (and hopefully dry) during the Stutz Artists Open House this Friday and Saturday!

Tara Donovan

2010-04-17T10:48:00.001-04:00

If you have not made it to the IMA to go see the new show Untitled by Tara Donovan you must. The first room is filled with drawings and prints made on handmade paper and foam core and around the corner are series of rooms that have been overtaken by objects that have been turned into growths on the floor and huge bulky landscapes. The show lasts until August but do not put it off, you will surely want to see it again!

For more information visit the IMA's website
http://www.imamuseum.org/art/exhibitions/tara-donovan
the pictures above are from the IMA Website

Stutz Artist Open House 2010

2010-04-09T20:49:00.001-04:00

Come visit my studio and the studios of seventy other artists during the 17th annual Stutz Artist Open House taking place April 23rd and 24th. The hours for this event are Friday 5:30 PM to 10:30 PM and Saturday 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The Historic Stutz Business Center is located at 1060 North Capital Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46204. My studio is E-340 located on the third floor.

Before entering you will receive a packet of information which includes a map that gives the location of all the artists and businesses that are participating in the open house. There will be food and drinks available from vendors set up throughout the building. There will also be several musical performers throughout the building. The Stutz Art Space will also be featuring a “One-Peek Show” show in the gallery on the first floor. This show features one piece of artwork from the many of the artists in the Stutz Building.This show will also be open during the open house so visitors can get a preview of the studios they would like to visit first.

You can buy tickets in advance from participating Old National Banking Centers or The Stutz Business Center office for $10. You will also be able to purchase tickets the day of the event for $12. The majority of the proceeds raised from the open house fund the Stutz Residency Program. Parking is free in marked lots for the event. You can go to http://www.stutzartists.com/ for more information or by call (317) 503-6420.

* New Work *

2010-04-09T11:38:00.000-04:00

Triage

40 x 33 Inches

Oil on Canvas

Stutz Artist Website

2010-04-05T18:45:00.000-04:00

You can now find me on the Stutz Artists Association website. If you cannot make it to the Stutz Art Space to view the "One-Peek Show" this is another way to view samples of different artist's work before the open house in about two weeks. On the website is also more information about the open house, the Stutz Art space, Art classes and workshops being offered, and much more. Also, there still may be some volunteer opportunities left. Volunteers usually work a couple hours and receive a free t-shirt and free admission to the open house. This seems like the perfect job for high school or college students who have an interest in the arts.

http://www.stutzartists.com/artistFillenwarth.html

First Friday April 2nd 2010

2010-03-27T19:35:00.001-04:00

This is your last chance to see my studio all messy before it gets all cleaned up for the 2010 Stutz Building Open House! I have a few pieces that are very close to being finished. I am currently sending out invitations, postcards with new work, and coupons to for the open house. If you would like to receive these too join the mailing list at http://www.bonniefillenwarth.com/ or send me an e-mail at bonnie@bonniefillenwarth.com. Also, at 5PM the Stutz Art Space will be opening a "One-Peek Show" which features one piece of artwork from different artists in the Stutz building. This is a great way to get a preview for the open house.

First Friday Open Studios in the Stutz building are Noon to 5PM

For more information on the 17th Annual Stutz Artists Open House go to www.stutzartists.com

IDADA Website

2010-03-10T21:02:00.000-05:00

You can now find me on IDADA's Website. Click Here to check it out! You can also check out other artists in the Indianapolis area and get informed on events like First Fridays.

New Drawings!

2010-03-09T19:09:00.000-05:00

It’s been a few years since I’ve actually sat down and done drawings in charcoal or graphite but I figured I would have a go at it again. These are a few that I have done this past week and the first pieces of artwork to be completed in my new studio. These will most lily turn into my next two larger paintings which will hopefully be completed by the open house next month.

Push (working title) 14x22 Inches Charcoal on Paper

Phalanx 14x12 Inches Charcoal on Paper

New Studio!

2010-03-02T23:08:00.000-05:00

I officially moved into my new studio on Monday and am in the process of moving in and getting ready for the Stutz Building Open house in April. Come by and see my new work this Friday during the First Friday Open Studio Tour from 12-5pm. It is free and my studio is E340! Also, at 5pm there will be a show opening in the Stutz Art Space Downstairs. And after 6pm go see NERS's Show in the Big Car Gallery in the Murphy building.

P.S. Here is a better shot of the Amazon Warrior

* Amazon Warrior*

2010-02-23T20:17:00.000-05:00

***New Work!***

Amazon Warrior

20x30

Oil on Canvas

2010

Better picture to come soon! This one has a little glare but I was just too excited that it is done!

First Friday March 5th 2010

2010-02-23T19:04:00.000-05:00

This First Friday you can find me in the Stutz building 12-5, not because I am wondering through the open studios, but because I will be in MY OWN STUDIO E-340 on the third floor. I will have just moved in a few days earlier so it will not be too messy and not have too much there but I will defiantly have the pieces that I am working on for Amazonomachy. But beside my normal rounds of the Harrison Center, the Murphy Building, LCi Gallery, and more; A show that I plan to spend some time at this First Friday is one of my friend and former class mate NERS. His show "Magical Wonderfulness" will feature work inspired by his recent tour through the country and his blog . More information on his show is on Facebook and hopefully eventually on the Big Car Gallery's Website

An Update and a Project

2010-02-07T13:35:00.002-05:00

I, many other regular First Friday attendees, and many school children wish the snow would have come Monday morning or Sunday night. I was not able to attend this First Friday because of the weather. However, being snowed in has giving me some time to work and I will be posting some new pictures in a few days.

I also may have found a studio space downtown! Be on the lookout for Open studio invitations in the mail when I find out for sure.

As many artists know many supplies labeled "art" products seem to be more expensive. An art box used for painting and drawing students looks and functions very much like a toolbox or tackle box, but costs more even though many of the "Art" boxes are made from plastic and not metal. There are many more examples.

Like the other "art" products simple carts can be in the hundreds of dollars:

http://www.dickblick.com/products/extra-heavy-duty-service-cart/
http://www.dickblick.com/products/open-studio-art-cart/

So build your own with household tools for half the price and in only about two hours! Below are instructions to build your own cart out of 2x4's, two precut boards, wheels, and tools found in your garage (or a friends’ garage).

Click Here for Instructions

IDADA First Friday February 5th 2010

2010-01-30T13:18:00.000-05:00

For many Artists and Galleries this is the first First Friday of the year. For those who do not know, in the Indianapolis Area most Galleries, Studios, etc., have opening receptions on the first Friday of the month. Most of them open around 5-6p.m. and close at 9,10, or midnight. Most of the events are listed on IDADA's (Indianapolis Downtown Artists and Dealers Association) website. On the homepage you can find a very handy map of where the galleries and studios are as well as a listing of hours and who will be featured in what galleries. If you cannot attend First Friday or simply cannot visit as many as you would like in the few short hours, most are open during business hours throughout the month. The hours of operation are also listed on the map. I plan on attending:

• Open studios in the Stutz Building from 12-5

• The Murphy Building including the Big Car Gallery, the new home of IMOCA, AND the Mt. Comfort Gallery (A space for Champions)

• The Harrison Center for the Arts

• LCi Gallery

• Herron School of Art Galleries

Seak Peak - New Year, New Work

2010-01-26T20:00:00.001-05:00

I am now out of school, the holidays are over, and all studio buildings are full. I have started my next project which will hopefully end in a show in October called Amazonomachy. The theme of this show is related to a previous work I had made for a show for Wishard Hospital in Indianapolis. The piece entailed linking the ancient stories of the Greek Amazon women who were rumored to remove a breast in order to better shoot their arrows to modern day breast cancer.

Since the studio buildings are full I have started out with sketches, drawings, and a few small watercolors. I am now onto some oil paintings which should be posted on the website by the beginning of February! Now that some of the work has been started I am currently looking for venue. While the traditional gallery is fine I am also looking into hospitals and centers for women. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

In the meantime here are a few clippings from my sketchbook:

Double Shot

2010-01-19T12:46:00.009-05:00

Two similar but very different books on making it as an artist.

The first book is "How to Make Living as a Painter " by Kenneth Harris. I found this book in the Herron library my freshman or sophomore year by chance. It was one of those really really old books that have thick hard covers painted in those very odd colors (usually mustard yellow or baby poop green). It is a shorter book under 150 pages. The book tells about a man painting and selling his pieces out of a log cabin on the side of the road during tourist season (before the Internet). The book starts off with:

"A painter, like everyone else who does useful work, should expect to make a living from that work. Potato farmers, piccolo players and pathologists follow their vocations because they like the soil, or music, or studying tissues - but all of them anticipate also that their efforts will bring them enough money to live on. painters are just about the only people who have given up on the idea. And yet they need not have." (Harris , 11)

He also believes that not everybody can afford $1000 paintings but many more can afford to buy %50 or $250 paintings that they really love. He also states that you do not need to live in New York, Paris, Chicago, Etc. to become a good artist or make money from it. He covers just about everything in the book; pricing, selling, managers/agents, publicity, shows, how the public views the artist,commissions, and more. Overall it is a great book filled with great tips (including how to build a wooden crate for shipping!) which is old but not yet outdated. Since it was fist published in the 60's, this book is now out of print. I had to find my copy at a used book store in Texas.

The second book, "Living the Artist's Life" by Paul Dorrell is just under 175 pages and a very quick read. It is written by a man who was once an artist and then ran a gallery. I picked it up at Half Price Books for about five dollars. Written in 2004 it is more up to date then the Kennith Harris book and is focused more on any artist rather than just painters. (Not to knock on Kennith Harris he was just writing about what he knew and his experiences.) I easily read this in one day and it covers resumes, biographies, artists statements, portfolios, pricing, where to show your work, press releases, getting into galleries, commissions, contracts, copyright, reproductions, grants, and more. This book is avilable on Google books Here. It is also available on Amazon for $12.

I cannot even begin to explain how valuable theses books are to people like me who are starting out or thinking about becoming an artist or gallery owner and making a living off of it.

IndyArts E-Newsletter 1/12/2010

2010-01-15T18:12:00.005-05:00

I was recently featured on the most recent Indy Arts Newsletter that is sent out about every two weeks by the Indianapolis Arts council. Click here To view the most recent newsletter. For those that are not familiar with the Indianapolis Arts council you can sign up to receive this newsletter, and another one that lists artistic opportunities. They also have a list of past issues of the newsletter on their website www.indyarts.org . You can also request a IndyArts Card which can get you discounts on events in the Indianapolis area. I was extremely thrilled to see my work in the newsletter after just signing up for the database a few days before.

Women and Art: Contested Territory

2010-01-07T18:04:00.008-05:00

WOMEN AND ART - CONTESTED TERRITORY

This book written by Judy Chicago and Edward Lucie-Smith. It has been the most influential book so far on my artwork. All women, artists, art historians, and anyone who just enjoys artwork should read this book!

"Thanks in large part to the efforts of female art historians, the problematic subject of rape has been introduced into the art dialogue, though not yet at the level of discourse which seems appropriate for such a significant subject, especially given the way in which images of rape – particularly those reproduced in the mass media- continue to impact upon many ordinary women’s consciousness. I once heard a story about a graduate art history class during the late 1970’s, when feminist awareness was just beginning to develop among female art practitioners. The professor was discussing a Rubens painting which featured abduction and implied rape. His focus, however, was upon the brushwork, which he was rhapsodically praising. Quietly, one female student murmured to another, ’but isn’t that a rape?’, a question which quickly started circulating around the room at an increasingly audible level until one of the students burst out: ’Isn’t that a rape?’, followed by her outraged cry: ’If that’s a rape, how can you sit there, discussing the brushstrokes?” (Chicago, 95-96) “Certainly it seems important to acknowledge that one reason this art is so troublesome is that the subject matter is presented in what might be best described as beautiful packaging, which I suppose helps to explain how the aforementioned professor could be seduced into ignoring the content in favor of the brushwork.” (Chicago, 96)

Many of my pieces have since been about unwrapping the 'beautiful packaging'.

Color and Jewels

2010-01-07T10:17:00.013-05:00

I started with the book Color: A natural History of the Palette Victoria Finlay a few years ago and I cannot explain how amazing this book is. It goes though colors by chapter explaining where the pigments in paints, dyes, glazes and more come from throughout history and throughout the world (Eastern and western). Not only is it an informative well written book but it also goes through this woman's travels in order to find out this information. In many cases she is the first woman to be in some of the quarries and caves that stones are mined from. The book goes from Australia, Afghanistan to the Buddhas of Bamiyan, Chartes Cathedral in France, and the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul just to name a few. It is a great book for artists, Art historians, and anyone interested in travel. A similar book, Jewels: a Secret History, is a search for where the 10 rarest gemstones come from. Did you know that Sapphires, Emeralds, Rubys, and Diamonds are just atomically only different by 1 carbon molecule? Also that in the past years they have found 4x the amount of diamonds but the price continues to rise? Both books are on Google books for free and only $11 on Amazon.

Indianapolis Art Council

2010-01-07T10:11:00.003-05:00

You can now find me on the Indianapolis Art Council's website http://www.indyarts.org . The website contains listing of events in the Indianapolis area as well as a database of local artists. There are also helpful resources for artists like how to do your taxes.

Andrea Zittel at the IMA

2010-01-04T14:22:00.002-05:00

Art Babble Posted an Interview with Andrea Zittel about her IMA project and other subjects. Enjoy :)

http://www.artbabble.org/video/andrea-zittel-factory

Seeing the Unspekable

2009-12-09T23:34:00.018-05:00

I read this book in order to better understand how Kara Walker deals with the negative imagery that was made about African Americans, particularly women, while creating even more negative imagery in her work. I have run into the same sort of dilemma in my own work. Is it acceptable to re-use the same imagery of the women in Neoclassical works, or make them even more absurd, or is that just continuing it? After reading the book, I still have not found the answer, but I did gain a knowable of Kara Walker's work. It is a shorter book around 150 pages.

Many of the examples of "historical negative imagery" such as the silhouette of Flora, I had not heard of which I hope is a sign that my generation is no longer accepting racism as acceptable behavior. I had also not heard of the story of John Brown. The book goes though Kara Walkers journey in Grad School at Rhode island School of Art and Design from her love of history painting to her discovery of the silhouettes which would become iconic in her work. The book describes some of the difficulty Kara Walker has had in displaying her work and the reactions from the African American Community. Some of the quotes I pulled out of my notes:

Kara Walker: “ I began reading these romance novels and got very interested in the way of couching inconsistent desires into one format. It’s about power it’s about submission, it’s about glorified rape fantasies! There’s always a heroine who’s strong and wins in the end and gets what she wants…” (63)

“The art of viewing is the moment in which the viewer, regardless of racial self-identification, is allowed to confront his or her guilt over the traumatic legacy the disremembered and the unspeakable, the real and the imagined, of slavery” (64-65)

“walker has been condemned by her fellow African Americans of feeding the appetite that White Americans consumers have for black flesh” (117)

“’Pregnancy, childbirth, and mothering are totally transforming experiences’…That mother nature and father time might put Kara Walker back in her place by possibly recreate her as an ‘upstanding’ member of the community” …”Gender-specific view of what is and what is not appropriate behavior for a female African American Artist”(120)

“Because of her ability to speak the unspeakable, her work has been the subject of debate nearly everywhere it has been shown. Although she continues to find widespread international acceptance and accolades from the mainstream art world, it was not until her 2004 exhibition at the Studio Museum in Harlem that she was invited to show at a museum of African American art or history.” (123)

This book is available of Google books at :

http://books.google.com/books?id=nt0R0Lmghw4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=kara+walker&cd=2#v=onepage&q=&f=false

To Learn more about Kara Walker visit PBS.org

Mailing List

2009-11-24T17:17:00.007-05:00

A new feature has been added to the website. Sign up now to join my mailing list to receive updates by e-mail of updates to the blog or website along with future show invitations!

Click Here to Sign up!

A - Z

2009-11-22T21:24:00.012-05:00

I just happened to catch on the local news the other day that one of my favorite artists will be creating a piece for out local art museum AND one extremely lucky Herron School of Art student will inhabit it. The artist is Andrea Zittel who can be found on the PBS DVD Series Art 21, and in several volumes of Art Now. The piece seems to be another floating island that will be floating on the lake that is part of the gardens surrounding the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

http://www.imamuseum.org/art-and-nature-park/inaugural-artists/andrea-zittel

http://www.zittel.org/

http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=11547643

Above photo from PBS.org

An Update

2009-11-22T20:23:00.010-05:00

Just because you haven't seen any new work doesn't mean I'm not working hard! For those who do not know, this is my last semester before I earn my BFA in painting and my minor in Classical Studies. I am currently in three Classical Studies classes and one studio class. So what have I been doing? Lots and lots of reading! This is most of the reading for my regular classes:

And this is some of the reading for my final papers....

And this is some of my other research for my work:

And all together this piles is almost two feet tall!

In December I will be done with school and be searching for a studio space downtown, so be on the lookout for open studio invitations once I get settled in!

Unwrapping The Beautiful Packaging

10 Yards

Recently listed on Etsy

Busy Busy Busy

Recently listed on Etsy

First Friday January 6th 2012

Etsy

Pinkscale

First Friday December 2nd 2011

2011 Stutz Artists Holiday Show

First Friday November 4th 2011

Cafe Zuppa

First Friday October 7th 2011

Women of a Certain Age : The Skin We're In

All Together

*** New Work ***

First Friday Sepember 2nd 2011

*** New Work ***

*** New Work***

*** New Work ***

Gamblin Artist Videos

First Friday August 5th 2011

Reading List

Idianapolis Arts Podcast

Contemporary Figurative Work

*** New Work! ***

Did you know?

First Friday June 3rd 2011

Open House Photos

First Friday May 6th 2011

Stutz Open House Videos

2011 18th Annual Stutz Open House!!!

On the Radio!

Cupons!

Top Secret Mission

New Feature!

Busy Busy!

*** New Work! ***

First Friday March 4th 2011

Video?

Twitter Here I come!

Charge! - Sold

New Work Finished!

StutzArtSpace Gallery Seeking Entries for March Photography Exhibition

Daily Journal Article

New Year, New Work!

Amazonomachy Opens!

Happy New Year!

First Friday December 3rd 2010

Stuck Between a Scylla and a Charybdis

Eumachia: A Roman Woman's Legacy

Medusa's Gaze and Charybdis

2010 Stutz Artists Holiday Show

Sisterhood

Surprise

First Friday November 5th 2010

Charge!

Website Refreshed

Luv A Bully March 2010

Push Finished

The Guild - Better Than TV

Push

First Friday October 1st 2010

Internet Scams

First Friday September 3rd 2010

Cumberland Art Goes to Market

First Friday August 6th 2010

Indianapolis Island

Nature Park to Open at IMA

First Friday June 4th 2010

Stutz Artist Association Residency Grant

Jason Hackenwerth

Some Helpfull Tips

First Friday May 7th 2010

So what normally goes on in the studio?

Torrit Grey

Debriefing

More New Work Just in Time for the Open House!

Tara Donovan

Stutz Artist Open House 2010

* New Work *

* New Work *

* New Work*

* New Work *

* New Work! *

* New Work! *

* New Work *

* Amazon Warrior*