The Online Reflector

The Wheeler Arts Center has had a partnership with the University of Indianapolis since 2001 to help connect students with the surrounding community. One of the ways in which Wheeler is connecting with the community is by participating in an event called First Friday. This is an art event in which many artists display their work around Indianapolis.

The Wheeler Arts Center, located in Fountain Square, shares a partnership with the UIndy Art Department. Photo by Garrison King

UIndy Outreach Art Coordinator Matt Williams has worked to get the Wheeler Arts Center more involved with students even though it is three miles north of campus.

“Our goal [at the Wheeler Arts Center] is to create art programming for the community to be a part of, because we are trying to build the foundation of our community,” he said. “We are trying to do that using UIndy students, teachers and southeast neighborhood community members.”

Another advocate of the Wheeler Arts Center is Chair of the Art & Design Department James Viewegh, who has watched the partnership decline over several years.

“The Wheeler building is a partnership that was established about 12 years ago with Southeast Neighborhood Development Inc. and the University of Indianapolis,” Viewegh said. “For a few years we had studio space there that students could work with. But over time, students didn’t like the fact that they had to travel so far from campus to utilize those studios. This caused the partnership with the Department of Art & Design and the Wheeler building to dissolve.”

Viewegh sees a lot of positive aspects about the Wheeler Arts Center and encourages students to use the building to its full potential.

“I think we would like to have more to do with Wheeler Arts Center in the future,” Viewegh said. “The Wheeler building has a lot of potential, and it’s a really interesting space.”

Other centers like this are located around Indianapolis, including the Harrison Center for Arts, the G.C. Murphy Building and the Indianapolis Arts Center in Broad Ripple. All of these centers participate in the First Friday event, and artists display their work in exhibits at each location.

“It’s a giant range [of art] at First Friday,” said Administrative Assistant of Art & Design Katherine Fries. “There are self-taught artists and professionally trained artists. Anything from oil painting, ceramics,  sculpture to instillation art and digital media can be seen.”

Fries not only has observed the art on the first Friday of every month, but she also participates on a regular basis by submitting her own artwork. She said the event is a great way to take in a variety of art.

“First Friday is a great event to attend because instead of just seeing one artist or a couple of artists, you can see a whole variety of artists,” Fries said. “That gives a person a chance to really see different things that are going on in the Indianapolis arts community.”

The Indianapolis Downtown Artists and Dealers Association website is in charge of this large event, according to its website. IDADA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing public awareness of artists and art dealers.  The organization also encourages community support for, and involvement in, the visual arts.

The Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center and The Wheeler Arts Center are both IDADA members.

“We are trying hard to get as many creative and fun art possibilities for our students to take part in,” Williams said. “If students are looking for ways to volunteer, ways to be a part of the community or just something to do, definitely look to the Wheeler because we have a lot to offer.”