The Indianapolis Art Center is a visual oasis for patrons and visitors alike. Located at 820 East 67th Street in the Broad Ripple Village Cultural District, their mission "is to engage, enlighten and enhance our communities through art education, participation and observation."

They are seeking volunteers in their Frank M. Basile studio shop and other areas. Studio shop manager Melanie Reckas said, "We need volunteers to greet customers, make sales, price and stock items, set up displays and unpack orders. They will be seeing new artwork and jewelry as it arrives", she added.

"Having an eye for displaying items is a gift. We would be grateful to have them here. It's a low pressure atmosphere. The gift shop is open Monday though Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., though volunteers can work shorter hours, like once a week or if possible, four hours every other week. The month of May and the Christmas season are busy times for us", she said.

"The gift shop's mission is to support living local and regional artists. It connects the community with artists and is one of the few places where you can support art by purchasing it here. The artists own the art appearing in the IAC and studio shop. Many of the students are either advanced or intermediate level artists. Customers like meeting the artists from whom they purchase works and learning about them", Reckas noted.

A lifelong Indianapolis resident, Reckas has worked at the IAC for 17 years and has been their studio shop manager for 11 years. She started her career there in registration, assisting students enrolling in classes to pursue their artistic endeavors.

"We encourage creativity in general. The nature of being alive is being creative and is a God-given thing. Everyone has the ability to be creative in different ways. They could be a great cook, a great gardener or talented in managing a family. Part of creativity is essential to being human", Reckas surmised.

specializes in miniature blown glass works, but also makes bracelets, earrings, necklaces and other jewelry that can be purchased in the shop.

IAC is also seeking about 450 volunteers for the 38th annual Broad Ripple Art Fair, scheduled for May 17 and 18. Over 200 American and Canadian artists displayed their work in the ARTSPARK on IAC grounds at last year's event. There are booths from local cultural organizations, a creative area for children, and gourmet food courts. Live entertainment will appear on four stages. Proceeds from the event benefit IAC programs. Interested volunteers are encouraged to call 255-6434 for more information.

Originally known as the Indianapolis Art League Foundation, their first location was built in 1961 at 3102 North Pennsylvania Street on land donated by John and Marguerite Fehsenfeld. In 1976, their move to Broad Ripple resulted in the construction of a 10,200 square foot facility along White River and later underwent a name change to the Indianapolis Art Center in 1995. During this time, the IAC board and staff implemented a major expansion plan that increased their programs and building space. "The name was changed to make it more inclusive. Admission is free and the IAC is always open the public", Reckas said.

Renowned architect and Hoosier native Michael Graves designed the ARTSPARK in 2005 in an area adjacent to the IAC. It is an outdoor studio integrating art with nature and spans 12 acres. Visitors can discover an interactive landscape of fragrant vegetation, various textures, vivid colors and wildlife sounds. ARTSPARK and the IAC are fully accessible and available for corporate functions and private events.

Known as one of the New York Five (a group of five New York City architects), Graves' work appeared in a Museum of Modern Art exhibition organized by Arthur Drexler in 1967 and the subsequent book Five Architects in 1972. He graduated from Broad Ripple High School in 1950, earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Cincinnati and a master's degree from Harvard University. He was elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 1979, according to his www.wikipedia.com biography. Graves was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1999 and the Gold Medal from the American Institute of Architects in 2001.

The IAC has proved to be an inspiration not only to local artists, but also to employees. Communications manager Chelsea Church said, "I came to the (Indianapolis) Art Center last April because I was drawn to its mission and really wanted to get involved in arts and culture in the city. I love Indy and I wanted to be a part of what makes it such a great city. My prior job was with a bank, also in communications, but I was really looking to expand my public relations and media relations career", she mentioned.

The IAC summer event calendar includes Two Worlds, One Language Through Art program with a Grand Gala Celebration & Dinner on June 28 and a public exhibition open from June 29 until August 23. This exhibition will display more than 60 paintings from the Shandong College of Arts faculty in Jinan, China. Their objective is to link two worlds together through the language of art. Director of Exhibitions David Kwasigroh traveled with an IAC cadre to China last September as part of a cultural art exchange. A website link, www.indplsartcenter.org/China details their experiences from this journey.

"During the Two Worlds, One Language through Art program, there will be free workshops taught by visiting Chinese art instructors from the Shandong College of Arts. Those dates have not been finalized yet, but will be available online in the next few weeks," Church noted.

IAC also offers a cornucopia of art courses and workshops throughout the year. Youth summer classes include computer camp, fine art camp and pottery camp. Students can learn about art history, cultures and different forms of art. Half-day and full-day sessions are available for post kindergarten children through the age of 12. Classes are led by a professional artist/instructor and an assistant in small groups.

Adult summer classes include ceramic techniques, clay works, community steel band, film history & appreciation, glass blowing, guitar building, knitting, metalsmithing, textile design, steel & wood sculpture, watercolor painting and woodworking. Course description and tuition information can be found at www.indplsartcenter.org or by calling the IAC at (317) 255-2464.

Visiting artists' workshops will include: Botanical Art (Derek Norman), Ceramics (Larry Spears), Chinese Painting (Lian Zhen), Composition (Katherine Hilden), Events a la Fabulousity (Iris Dillon), John Singer Sargent's Oil Painting Techniques (Larry Charles), Textiles (Dorothy Caldwell), Pots (Annie Chrietzberg) and Watercolor (Frank Francese & Tricia Spencer).

According to the IAC 2006-2007 annual report, their community outreach efforts have provided education and scholarships through their Arts & Disabilities/Creative Connections and Access Art program to 142 children. Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired has been one such beneficiary for several years. "I really like the programs they offer handicapped and visually impaired students", ISB student Tyler Sherck said. Many ISB students have also taken classes on the IAC campus.

The Indianapolis Art Center is open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. It is hidden treasure waiting to be discovered by all in the Broad Ripple Village Cultural District.