We at LaPorteCountyLife decided that we needed to find out what else out there in Michigan City. Let’s see...there’s the outlet mall, the Uptown Arts District, Washington Park, the many beaches, PNC, Blue Chip Casino...Hmmm.
How about the Lubeznik Center for the Arts? That’s a neat place! It’s a non profit arts center that shows exhibitions, performing arts, community events, and educational programs to the citizens of Northwest Indiana.
Friday, December 7 was a part of a series of events called “First Fridays”. Every first Friday of the month in Michigan City people come together for an evening filled of art, live music, food and more. There were many exhibits being displayed that evening at the Lubeznik Center, and there was one that evening called Iconoclastic! that LaPorteCountyLife was sponsoring. It was in the Hyndman Gallery at the Lubeznik Center. Eight artists were showcased at the exhibit: Janet Bloch, Patty Carroll, Pate Conaway, Benjamin Funke, Nicole Gordon, Patrick Luber, Brian Sullivan and Michael Wernik. Each artist had created pieces that utilized American pop culture, advertising icons, religion, and different art genres.
CarolAnn Brown, Curator of Exhibitions for the Lubezik Center, explained how this exhibition came to be. She is responsible for choosing the theme and artwork for all of the shows.
“We have artists that apply to us and we accept people into our artist cue, and I noticed that there were quite a few artists that worked with iconic images,” Brown said. “So I brought them all together and created the show Iconoclastic! One thing leads to another and you can see the relationship between all of them. It’s serendipitous. I’m very pleased with the work. We have some people that are emerging artists, we have some artists that are well-established, there are two professors here. It’s a wide range from four different states.”
There were other exhibits being shown at the Lubeznik Center that night: The Common Good, Ice Abstracts, Hues and Views, AAA Winter Solstice and much more! There was also a holiday artist market, music was provided by Keenan Baxter and edibles were provided.
Carolyn Saxton, the Executive Director for the Lubeznik Center was beaming when I spoke to her about the events happening that night.
“We’re all pretty excited,” Saxton said. “We love being able to bring the variety of art that we’re offering this holiday season. It’s a wonderful opportunity to get region artists, local artists, and nationally recognized artists here. I think that what the Lubeznik Center brings to the community something that they can’t find anywhere else in the region. We’re kind of known for our edginess. But in addition to that we’re really working with the kids. They come from the schools to see these exhibits and that gives them the opportunity to see something they would not see otherwise. We’re accessible, available, something exciting that the community can take advantage of. It’s busy at Lubeznik!”
Many people showed up to see Iconoclistic! and the other exhibits that evening. And being that is was a First Friday, there was an eclectic mix of bodies from young to old, first timers to those who frequent the Lubeznik Center weekly. Becky Jascoviak, Marketing Director for the Lubeznik Center, warmly greeted each person as they walked into the door. She gave me a rundown of how much time and work is put into each exhibition.
“We start planning exhibitions about two years in advance. And since we just finished a Smithsonian Exhibition, we only had a year to plan Iconoclastic! and it’s different because there are eight artists featured and we don’t normally have that many artists involved in one exhibition,” Jascoviak said. “I enjoy this exhibit because of the marketing component of it. I love the play on an iconic well recognized image that then becomes something else, and you look at it and say, ‘Hmm...what is that?’ I love the juxtaposition of a newby and a seasoned member who can explain a little bit about art and about the other things that we do like outreach and education.”
To find out more about the Lubeznik Center for the Arts, visit their website, visit their Facebook page, and on Facebook the Lubeznik Center has a Lakefront Arts page.
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