TERRE HAUTE —
Indiana State University theater professor Arthur Feinsod thinks that to be a true artist, one must have an appreciation and respect for all of the arts.
With that in mind, Feinsod organized a project in which his playwriting class is creating short plays influenced by pieces of art viewed at Terre Haute’s Sheldon Swope Art Museum.
For many of his students, it was their first visit to the museum at Seventh and Ohio streets. Many of the students admitted that although music and film are often sources of inspiration for their work, few look to the visual arts in this way.
Lisa Petrulis, curator of the Swope, describes the collaboration as a mutually beneficial experience for both the museum and the student playwrights.
“It gives us a fresh perspective — their perspective — a new way to look at the artwork,” she said. “And the same for them, they have a new way to look at the work as writers.”
In preparation for visiting the museum, Feinsod gave his students a crash-course lecture on the foundations of visual art. Students learned how to respond to the form and not just the content of a work of art. Design aspects, including color, shape, line, and texture, were all emphasized as important contributors to the “reading” of an artwork. Feinsod encouraged students to question works of art to find the deeper issue, story or meaning that could provide fuel for their playwriting.
On the day of the visit, each student spent some time perusing the Swope collection, then revisited one or two pieces that stood out to them.
Simon McNair, a theater major with a focus in playwriting, focused on the John Laska painting entitled “Fallout.” McNair was greatly influenced by the yellow and tan colors of the oil painting, which became the starting point for the stark desert setting for his post-apocalyptic play.
Many students found their biggest challenges to be viewing an artwork they had never seen before and forming a personal connection to it in order to create their stories. They had been use to drawing from their own experiences, pulling from worlds they had created in their minds.
“I was looking for a painting to ‘speak to me’ even though I know that sounds cliché; something that has a story I can link with,” McNair said.
One goal of this project is to encourage the students to think less literally about what is before them.
“Instead of simply explaining what is happening in the painting, I wanted students to “respond to the soul” of the work,” Feinsod said. “Students’ responses to the emotional content, atmosphere and design aspects of a work are just as valid as the depicted narrative.”
Junior Jacob Osborn chose one of Andy Warhol’s famous screenprints — the iconic “Marilyn Monroe” — as the focus of his play. Osborn noticed that Warhol’s application of bizarre color seemed to highlight the artificiality of Marilyn’s appearance and persona.
“Although I have a romanticized idea of her, it’s hard to know how accurate that idea is,” Osborn said.
That idea led Osborn to play with the idea of superficiality and how one’s romanticized idea of an individual is many times inaccurate.
Osborn, a journalism major and creative writing minor, was looking for a work that would be fun and “weird.” He thought he would end up with a darker, serious story but described his final product as more of a comedy.
Taking a different approach, Shawn James, a Maltese exchange student in theater studies, wanted to find an intriguing narrative for which he could develop a background story. James is spending one semester at Indiana State, and this class is his first endeavor into playwriting.
James decided to tell the story of two works and let these stories intersect in a single play. Henry Bacon’s painting, “The Earring Peddler,” provided him with the characters needed, determining their personality through posture, dress and actions. The other work he selected was Warhol’s “Marilyn Monroe.” James intends to go beyond what is depicted in the work by deciphering clues within the painting.
“I am trying to find something more thrilling than the obvious narrative,” James said, “I’m looking at everything in the background and always asking, ‘What is hidden?’”
The students will be reading their plays at 7 p.m. today at the Swope during the Miracle on 7th Street celebration.
Arts
ISU students create plays inspired by Swope collection
- Arts
-
-
Art Gallery in Rockville announces summer art classes for kids, adults
The Gallery in Rockville will offer classes throughout the summer. A variety of topics will be covered, most lasting two to four days. All will be conducted in the renovated second floor, which offers plenty of room and great lighting.
-
Lincoln’s library honors Illinois fallen soldiers
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is hosting an exhibit of drawings of fallen Illinois soldiers.
-
Scott Hinton’s photos take focus at Vigo Library
River City Art Association and the Vigo County Public Library are featuring photography by Scott Hinton throughout May in the library at Seventh and Poplar streets.
Hinton is a self-taught photographer and artist whose main focus is nature-inspired pictures and paintings. -
Halcyon Gallery featuring Terre Haute native Maraldo’s artwork
An exhibit titled “Words Flow Into Water” is scheduled to open at 7 p.m. Friday at the Halcyon Gallery, 25 S. Seventh St. The show continues through May 25.
-
Art guild’s annual spring show at mall May 3-5
The Wabash Valley Art Guild plans to host its 36th Annual Spring Show on Friday through Sunday at Honey Creek Mall.
-
Indiana Artisan works on display at Clabber Girl
Combining the strength of their individual artwork into exhibitions of exceptional depth, 29 Indiana Artisans have partnered on Indiana Artisan: Paintings and Drawings.
Ten Indiana Artisans have continued the statewide series as the Clabber Girl Gallery opened the exhibit on Tuesday. It will continue through May 30. -
Covered Bridge Gallery lists winners
The Covered Bridge Art Gallery celebrated its Spring Art Show and the grand opening of its renovated second floor on April 28 at 124 W. Ohio St. in Rockville.
-
Newly inspired artist earns Guild’s approval
Kathy M. Matlock, artist of the month for April by the Wabash Valley Art Guild, was born and raised in Sullivan, has lived various places, but has recently returned from Oregon.
-
Swope First Friday on May 3 to feature ISU group, student art, Hopper painting
At the Swope Art Museum’s next First Friday, on May 3, it plans to welcome members of the Indiana State University Community School of the Arts and say a brief farewell to a famous painting.
-
Awards handed out in Ehrmann Poetry Competition; Carter wins grand prize
An awards ceremony for the 2013 Max Ehrmann Poetry Competition was held on Friday at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, recognizing new poetry written by Wabash Valley residents.
-
Covered Bridge Art group spring show coincides with open house for renovation
The Covered Bridge Art Association’s 39th annual spring art show and the grand opening of the gallery’s newly renovated second floor are scheduled to be celebrated together at an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
-
Edgar students’ work on display at Bicentennial Art Center
The Bicentennial Art Center at Paris, Ill., is featuring the creative work of Edgar County junior and senior high students in the Annual Edgar County Student Art Show, open through Sunday, when a reception open to the public will begin at 1 p.m.
-
Sustainability Club forming fish from trash; 'Catch of the River' on display April 20-May 5
In partnership with the Saint Mary-of-the Woods College’s Sustainability Club, the Department of Text & Image is bringing awareness of what is thrown into the Wabash River, with an art installation on campus from April 20 until May 5.
-
Exhibit opens April 20 for River City Art Association
River City Art Association members are scheduled to exhibit their work Saturday through May 11 in Gaslight Art Colony’s gallery at 516 Archer Ave., in Marshall, Ill. An artists’ reception is set for 6 to 9 p.m. CDT Saturday.
-
Valley artists taking part in ‘First Brush of Spring’ at New Harmony
Julia London-Meddles of Terre Haute and Wyatt LeGrand of Bloomfield are scheduled to join about 200 artists at the 15th annual “First Brush of Spring,” a popular Plein Air (outdoor) Paint Out event scheduled today through Saturday in New Harmony.
-
The arts kick off Disability Awareness Month
Roxanna Robertson did signing to the song “How Great Thou Art,” while Linda Allis did a dramatic reading, using excerpts from Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
-
Through His Lens: Artist showcases beauty of America’s southwest at Rose-Hulman exhibition
Terre Haute native Darrell Staggs never thought of himself as an artist, but always liked the idea of photography.
-
Clabber Girl to host woodworking demonstration
Artist Debbie Anderson will provide a woodworking demonstration to an adult art education class on Feb. 26 in the Clabber Girl Museum in Terre Haute. Anderson has had her intarsia woodwork on display throughout February at The Gallery in the museum at Ninth Street and Wabash Avenue.
-
Arts Illiana offers free workshop on grant writing
Arts Illiana will offer the following technical assistance workshop to regional arts organizations and arts providers.
The free workshop, Crafting Your Grant Narrative, is scheduled 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14 in Arts Illiana at 23 N. Sixth St. -
Sisters of Providence artist to exhibit work
Sister Jody O'Neil, artist in residence for the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods, will have some of her artistic creations on display and available for purchase during art shows Nov. 11 and 16.
-
River City Art Association honors the late Marty Martinez in November
The River City Art Association and the Vigo County Public Library will feature art by the late Association co-founder Marty Martinez for the month of November in the library at Seventh and Poplar streets.
-
Terre Haute to announce City Arts Project Grants
The City of Terre Haute and Arts Illiana will announce the 2012-2013 City Arts Project Grant Awards during a ceremony at 10 a.m. today. Mayor Duke Bennett will present checks to nine nonprofit organizations at Arts Illiana.
-
New Harmony artist, former TH resident to exhibit work at Clabber Girl
New Harmony artist Mary Ann Michna will present an exhibition of her recent photographs Nov. 2-30 at Clabber Girl Museum Art Gallery.
-
Wabash Valley artists participate in Indiana Wildlife Artist Association show
Each year the Indiana Wildlife Artist Association presents a show of Fine Nature Art in various locations across the state featuring many of the state’s premier artists vying for awards. The showing will be displayed to the public through Friday at the Visitors Center at Angel Mounds State Historic Site in Evansville.
-
River City Art Association announces winners of annual show
The theme of the Fourth Annual Art Show of the River City Art Association Inc. was “Scouting for Art.” The event was Aug. 11 at the Girl Scouts of Central Indiana building at Fairbanks Park.
-
Swope honors noted local artist, educator, first board president
Continuing the yearlong celebration of the museum’s 70th anniversary, the Swope Art Museum presents “The Art of William T. Turman,” an exhibition of the work of the noted local artist, educator and first president of the Swope’s board of managers.
-
River City to showcase photographer’s work in September
The Vigo County Public Library and the River City Art Association will show the photographic art of Rob Robbins for the month of September.
-
‘Binding Wounds, Pushing Boundaries’ national exhibit arrives at Indiana State
Many histories have been written about medical care during the American Civil War, but the participation and contributions of African Americans as nurses, surgeons and hospital workers has often been overlooked.
-
Art Guild features photographer in August
The Wabash Valley Art Guild is featuring the August Artist of the Month, Jean Kristeller, whose works of photography are on display at the Vigo Country Public Library at Seventh and Poplar streets.
-
Arts, live music festivals on tap Labor Day weekend in Bloomington
Labor Day weekend in Bloomington will be filled with special events. Major events include an art festival, a live music festival and an Indiana University football game.
- More Arts Headlines
-
Art Gallery in Rockville announces summer art classes for kids, adults




