Harrison feast

Alan Patrick, a painter-potter who lives in Albany, Ind., partnered with the Indiana chapter of The Nature Conservancy to capture, in paint, scenes from Indiana’s endangered places that are now under the ownership, and therefore protection, of the not-for-profit organization.

Judith Levy’s series on ‘the artist and the muse’ on view at the Harrison Gallery.

Patrick’s paintings, on view alongside selections of his pottery at the Harrison Gallery through May 9, offer pessimists like me a unique opportunity to appreciate anew the natural beauty of our state. And it’s heartening to know that such efforts are being made to bring attention to the endangered habitats of certain plant and animal species as well as ecosystems; Indiana is no different from any other beautiful place in its vulnerability to the forces of commerce and development.

On first glance, it’s easy to dismiss Patrick’s paintings as mere artistic pleasantry. But on closer inspection, a true sensitivity is revealed, one that afforded me many “a-ha” moments. Gazing into scenes such as “Bluff Above White River,” I had a curious sensation of déjà vu. I have seen these places; I have appreciated them — and yes, I took them for granted, too. The aforementioned painting offers the view of a lovely, cascading bluff and buff colored sky. Beneath it, unseen, the river flows. Higher up, leafless trees suggest anticipated fertility.

Patrick captures the close-up as well as the panoramic views. Paintings of sweeping river bends canopied by lush trees have equal impact to smaller stands of thick trees colored orange, gold and mustard in their autumn blaze.
Most paintings in this collection are part of The Nature Conservancy collaboration; 50 percent of the proceeds from the sale of these go to both the Conservancy and the Harrison Center. For more information about Alan Patrick, The Nature Conservancy or the Harrison Center, visit these Web sites: www.alanpatrick.com, www.nature.org/indiana and www.harrisoncenter.org.

In tandem with Naturally, paintings by Alan Patrick, visit the Harrison Gallery annex to view the work of Judith Levy, a newcomer to Indianapolis from Minneapolis. Levy’s cartoon-like paintings of “the artist and her muse” are both compelling and amusing glimpses into the psyche of an artist, and the artistic process in general. Levy portrays herself in various scenarios with her muse — a small, black dog — and she, too, is in the form of a dog, but with a human head. Levy’s photos of her childhood porcelain dog figurine collection in “natural settings” are also provocative and funny.

In Harrison Gallery #2, the abstract paintings of Cheryl Paswater are also on view.

The Harrison Center is located at 1505 N. Delaware St. For more information or gallery hours, call 396-3886.