12/7/2006
Media Contact:
Justin Ohlemiller, [317] 327-3690 |
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Peterson unveils local artwork in office
Indianapolis – Mayor Bart Peterson continued his tradition of using the Mayor’s Office to showcase the work of local artists. Recently, he unveiled artwork by local artists Taylor Anne Smith and Andy Chen.
- Taylor Anne Smith has been creating art in oil, acrylics, pencil, wine, coffee and watercolor since 1986. Inspired by the sentiment of 20th century expressionists Pollock, Dubuffet, Leger, Mondrian and Rothko but carrying a distinct through-line of her own individual progress, Taylor continues to express universal truths through her unique canvases.
Taylor enhances the surface of her paintings by adding texture to the base of her canvas with such diverse materials as sand, crushed glass and silicone. This creates a wonderful raised impasto surface on the finished pieces. She has also successfully mixed wine and coffee into her paint for a continuing series of works revolving around the simple pleasures of coffee and wine.
Taylor Smith has been chosen from the world art community to represent the United States at the 2007 Florence Biennale in Florence, Italy. Taylor was selected by an international jury comprised of numerous professionals from the art world, including members from the National Academy of Art (India), The Museum of Contemporary Art (Brazil), and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, USA).
- Andy Chen’s exposure to photography began in high school, where he spent “countless clueless” hours in the darkroom as part of the yearbook staff. A few years later, he finally figured out that the knobs on the camera had a purpose and quickly found a new passion for photography.
Andy’s work strives to express the wonder of the world around us. The images have a bold and sometimes surreal look that brings out the character of his subjects. Andy works on location on subjects including adventure landscape and urban scenes. Andy has been known to risk frozen boots, quicksand, and the occasional lack of sleep to crate an image.
Since 2001, the Mayor has used his office to display original artwork form local artists, courtesy of the Arts Council of Indianapolis. Enhancing the arts and culture in Indianapolis is one of Mayor Peterson’s key priorities.
Local artists previously showcased by Mayor Peterson include photographers Debra & Darlene Delbecq, Susan Peters, William A. Rasdell and Greg Whitaker; visual artist Walter Knabe; painters William C.J., Becky Hall Fehsenfeld, Lois Main Templeton, Carl Graf, Wayman Adams, T.C. Steele, Jean Salzmann, Magdalena Segovia, Robert Eberle, Susan Hodgin and Rosanna Hardin Hall; illustrator Rob Harrell; and student artists Marissa Torres Reid, Phillip Bonner, Cedric Peterson and John White.
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