August First Friday Gallery Opening

On August 1st, from 6-9pm, join us for First Friday! Enjoy these openings:

In the Harrison Gallery, Summer’s Imprint: A Celebration of Nature by Lisa VanMeter Walls. Using basswood and linoleum blocks, VanMeter Walls expresses her belief in the importance of observing and appreciating the natural world. Each piece celebrates the intricacies of our shared environment, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in a world where beauty and vitality are front and center.

In the Gallery Annex, Creature Feature, a group show. This colorful group exhibition, by the 67th Street Printmakers, highlights a diverse range of earthly creatures through printmaking. Each artist offers a unique perspective—playful, wild, or mysterious—showcasing the richness of life on our planet through technique, texture, and imagination.

In the Speck Gallery, PetCon, a group show. This exhibition celebrates the human race's love of their animal companions. The show honors the unconditional love, trust, and joy that animals bring into our lives.

In the City Gallery, Unconditional by Emily Persic. In a world that feels increasingly fraught, Persic discovers joy in creating portraits of people and their pets. The true gift of our animal companions is their unceasing love and trust.

In the Hank & Dolly’s Gallery, Rescatados by Henry A. Garcia. Garcia is a self taught artist specializing in dry erase marker. Using home made tools, stippling, and scratching techniques he focuses on bringing animal subjects to life while evoking the thought of animal preservation. The portraits in Rescatados represent beloved pets that he and his family have rescued. This is reflective of the love and care that each pet received when being welcomed into their home. 

Guests can also enjoy:In the Historic Gymnasium, enjoy baked goods handmade by local bakers curated by Emily Brungard of @tasteindianapolis for BakeCon! An old-fashioned cake walk and live music with singer-songwriter Pascal Glock will accompany this sweet festivity. 

In the Courtyard, interact with our friends from the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site with a mini version of their annual Wicket World of Croquet.

On the Sky Deck, celebrate the 130th year of the Indianapolis Recorder, complete with live DJ music and more. 

All shows will open at 6:00 pm on Friday, August 1, 2025.

Visitors can take in-person gallery tours Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. Online galleries will open on April 5th. You can make an appointment or view the online galleries at harrisoncenter.org/buy-art. 

Special Senior Hours are every Friday from 2:00pm - 4:00pm. No appointment is needed.

With support from Indy Arts Council, Indy Arts Council Art & Soul, City of Indianapolis, Indiana Arts Commission, Lilly Endowment, and Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation.

About the Harrison Center 

The Harrison Center is a community-based, nonprofit arts organization that seeks to be a catalyst for renewal in the city of Indianapolis. Founded in 2001, the organization's work is two-fold. The Harrison Center is for the Arts by hosting 40 artists' studios and 8 galleries. It provides programming to foster the creation of new art, build community among artists and emerging patrons, and provide a forum for public conversation. The Harrison Center is for the City by connecting people to culture, community, and place to strengthen Indianapolis's core neighborhoods. For more information on the Harrison Center, call 317.396.3886 or visit www.harrisoncenter.org. Connect with the Harrison Center on social media at Facebook/@HarrisonCenterArts, Instagram/@harrisoncenterarts, Youtube/@hca4thearts, or Twitter/@HarrisonCtrArts.

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