Diversity and subscription art

Diversity was the word. Diversity is still the word. The year 2003 brought a diversity of styles, ethnicities and expressions in visual art to viewers of art in Indianapolis. As I look ahead to 2004, it would seem that more of the same — that is, a departure from sameness — is headed our way.

Brian Priest in his artmaking bubble at J. Martin Gallery

Three cases in point: The Indiana State Museum opens its exhibition season with Chicano, a pair of traveling exhibitions in the midst of a five-year, 15-city national tour. The visual art component, Chicano Visions: American Painters on the Verge, showcases the work of more than 26 Chicano artists.

The Indianapolis Art Center bridges 2003-2004 with the continuation of its In Search of Spirit trio of exhibitions reflecting a diversity of religious and spiritual artistic expressions. (Some are on view through Jan. 18. Check the Art Center’s calendar for other diverse happenings beyond that.)

And finally, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art takes on diversity of another kind — within an already diverse mission — with Jewish Life in the American West: Generation to Generation, opening in February, and Native Americans: The Red-Black Connection opening in July.

But those are the big guys.

The smaller galleries have standard and not-so-standard fare to look forward to as well (see NUVO’s Arts Guide online for details) … more theme-inspired exhibitions at the Harrison Art Center, more omnibuses of art at Dean Johnson, more quirkiness at J. Martin and its offshoot, Primary Gallery (to name just a few), not to mention the usual “happenings” in renovated or to-be-renovated buildings.

Since your editors asked me to look backwards as well as forwards, I find that I’ve been struck this past year by what was said as much as by what was created.

Three more cases in point: Hot international artist Vik Muniz — whose perception-bending work was exhibited in the IMA’s Forefront Gallery last year — made the confession that he didn’t like the Dalai Lama. Why does he not like the D.L.? Because, he said, the best thing the Dalai Lama could come up with when asked the meaning of life was “love.” (What did he think the Dalai Lama would say?)

I was also amused when author Sherman Alexie, speaking at the Eiteljorg Fellowship for Native American Art gala, cleverly remarked, “Any day white guys write big checks to Indians is a good day.” Indeed it is.

And finally … Brian Priest, whose red foam artmaking bubble was exhibited at J. Martin Gallery last summer, eschewed the “$5,000 painting,” believing that art should be much more accessible ... as in, $20 a piece (which is what he was offering for one-of-a-kind pieces crafted from inside the bubble). But Brian took it a step further. He said he was thinking of starting an art subscription service: For a fee, he’ll send you a piece of art once a month. This is the best idea I heard all year. Someone hold Brian to it.