Erica Parker, Rafael Caro and their creative colleagues Josh Brinson, Nathan Holmes, and Hailee Smith, have found an ideal artistic canvas, Chromatic Collective. The name describes a spectrum of colors and styles offered by the artists in the group. The space is located in Broad Ripple at 6216 Carrollton Avenue.

"We've all interacted with each other in the arts world for the past few years. Some of us went to school together, and we've also collaborated on large mural projects. In 2019, I hosted a graffiti festival here in Broad Ripple, called Chromatic, where we started this fellowship," said Erica. This event was preceded by "SubSurface," the awe-inspiring graffiti festival that started in Broad Ripple back in 2002, and ran in various locations around the city until 2015. Cents and Sacred of FAB crew coordinated the event, both of whom were idols to the Chromatic Collective squad.

"We were inspired by these people and this event, so we felt it was our duty to carry on the tradition. The Chromatic event was also our chance to paint alongside some of the original artists who painted at Subsurface back in the day. We want Chromatic to continue as an annual event where we can showcase local artists and make it a week-long festivity," said Erica.

The Chromatic Collective artists have learned a lot from their shared experiences over the years. When working with a client, the artists strive to translate their client's ideas into a cohesive visual. Rafael described how they initiate projects to work on: "It's a mix of seeking work out and folks reaching out to us. We approach some clients, saying, 'We like this wall on your property and could see something like this on it.' Then other projects result from inquiries where the client already has a vision of what they want created in their space. We ask a client what their interests are and design ideas, starting with pencil sketches. Then we work with the client to determine any alterations and color schemes. Lastly, we overlay our concepts onto a photo of the wall using Photoshop and send it over to the client so they're able to truly envision how the mural will interact within the space."

That's partly why they opened the Chromatic Collective space - to make muralists and artists more accessible to the public. They discovered a historic destination that has become their inspirational mecca. "It's important to keep elements of the Broad Ripple Village alive so we can develop something to be proud of. The huge windows here let in so much natural sunlight. We've all been looking for a creative space like this for years so we could have complete freedom to work," said Erica. "We wanted this location to be a studio where people can see artists at work. We plan to host outdoor events in the Spring and Summer and capitalize on the nice weather. You'll be able to see the gallery through the windows from Carrollton Avenue, too! We support the arts 100%, and we want to introduce another creative facet into this area," added Rafael.

This studio co-op space will give local artists and art-lovers access to another world of art. "As a group, we can constructively critique each other, and it's nice to have that support," said Erica. Each member of the collective possesses a unique skill set, and together they offer a cornucopia of artistic knowledge. Whenever one member has a gap in their knowledge on a certain subject, one of the other members can most likely fill it. "We learn from each other," said Rafael. Connecting artists with the right resources is critical.

The Chromatic Collective location will be hosting showcases, workshops, film, and focused meet-ups where artists can collaborate. One major focus of the group is to create more visibility for artists and collectors during First Friday events by adding a north side location with longer hours than current sites.

Hailee, another artist of the group, mentioned some of the other challenges artists face. "We've all had the experience of trying to get featured in an art show. It feels like you have to have a big name to be considered, and part of what we want to do is open the door for emerging artists who may otherwise lack an opportunity for representation in a gallery. We have lots of show ideas. Very soon, we want to do the next Post-It Indy show, which centers around art created on 3" x 3" post-it notes. It was an event that I organized last year. There were even kids who were five years old that created artwork for the event. I hope we can include them again and make ongoing connections with the community. For some people, that was their first art sale. There were also some established artists who created post-its for it. I hope people are looking forward to it coming back."

Many people can't collect art because of the price, but these Post-It Indy events are an ideal and affordable beginning for some artists and collectors. Josh mentioned, "It's great to have some lesser-experienced artists featured next to the more established artists, as it's a high confidence boost for up-and-coming creatives. I remember being enamored by murals around the city as a young kid. I was featured in a small exhibition that my friend put together years ago, and Esay walked in and started hanging his works on a wall next to mine. It was so cool to see my art next to the art of someone I admired. We want to bridge the gap here for new artists in that same way. Other areas of the country foster a collaborative culture that we hope to incubate here."

Nate explained, "Another huge facet for Chromatic Collective is filling the void of niche art supplies for the artist community. There's a demand in the community for specialty art supplies like premium spray paints, specific pens and markers, and quality substrates. Since Prism Art Supply left, it has been difficult to find the tools we need to create locally. We hope to succeed in bringing good quality products at affordable prices for muralists, illustrators and animators alike." One of the brands they are excited to carry is Evolve, a lesser-known, but premium-quality aerosol paint brand based in Miami, FL.

They discussed the gratifying aspects of their work. Rafael emphasized, "When the art is created for somebody else, it's awesome to see their reaction. If we can turn someone's idea into what they envisioned, it's super rewarding." Hopefully, murals will continue to become more prevalent around the city, because it benefits the public in a major way. Chromatic Collective is placing a clarion call for artists to discover and collaborate in Broad Ripple. "We want to build everybody up because their success is ours too," said Erica.

If you're interested in reaching out or showing support, you can follow Chromatic Collective on Instagram and Facebook: @Chromatic6216 or email them at: blendcreativeminds@gmail.com.

The artists and their contact information:

• Erica Parker @vivrant_thaang
• Rafael Caro @rafikigram
• Josh Brinson @bezol_one
• Nate Holmes @notorious_holmes
• Hailee Smith @onesleepybeetle