Indianapolis, Indiana, Artistic Exhibit Embraces Indiana's Past
& Present
A picture paints a thousand words. The beauty of art is that an
artist can provoke emotion with several brush strokes. For each
person who views the painting the feelings and memories will be
unique. Indiana is home to many extraordinary artists like T.C.
Steele. At the Indiana Historical Society we explored one of the
many wonderful exhibits called The Art of Healing.
The Art of Healing took us back to explore the work of sixteen
prominent Indiana artists including T.C. Steele, Carl Graf, Otto
Starke. These artists contributed to a mammoth project 1914
resulting in an estimated quarter mile of artwork. Hidden within
the confines of one of the nation's oldest county hospitals in
Indiana were a series of historic and unprecedented of mural
paintings.
A painting can take you back to happier days. The Wishard art
collection of murals originally celebrated the opening of the
new wings for patients within the hospital. Artists who worked
on this extensive creative project also slept and ate at the
hospital. What they created were priceless pieces of art that
helped lift the spirits of patients. Project supervisor and
famous Hoosier artist William Forsyth regarded this work as "the
most ambitious and monumental work yet undertaken by
Indianapolis artists." Artists represented in the collection
include William Forsyth, Wayman Adams, William Edouard Scott, J.
Ottis Adams and T.C. Steele.
The exhibit raised awareness of the restoration needs to
preserve these timeless pieces of art. Patrons who visit the
History Market gift shop in the Indiana History Center continue
to support the project. Each tax-deductible donation or purchase
of calendar