Check out the new American Craft magazine

Back in April, I was hired by American Craft Magazine to write a review of the European Design exhibit at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. It was a fun but challenging assignment, as I have never pretended to be a visual art critic. Still, after attending the symposium, and having interviewed IMA director Maxwell Anderson and design chief R. Craig Miller numerous times about the European show, I thought I did a decent job of critiquing the show.

Anyway, long story short, the story got held from their May/June issue, and has now been published in the August/September issue, which should be on local newsstands now.

Unfortunately, my story is not available on the magazine's web site. I spoke with the editor via e-mail the other day, and she said they like to hold some content for the print version only. I guess I should feel special. So if you want to read my wonderful pose about the IMA show, you'll have to slap down some money for a copy.

I'm a little disappointed that the article didn't run while the IMA exhibit was going on, but it will be traveling around the country. So hopefully somebody will read the review and be inspired to go catch the show, which is not to be missed.

Summer Nights starts this week at IMA

The Indianapolis Museum of Art's popular Summer Nights film series kicks off this week.

Every Friday through the end of August, the IMA will show a movie in their wonderful outdoor ampitheater. If you've never experienced movies this way, it's a wonderful treat.

Just one word of caution: show up early. The Summer Nights shows almost always sell out, and prime seating goes fast.

They've got an interesting mix of newer and older films lined up. They're kicking things off this Friday with "The Bourne Identity," then follow up next week with the classic "Roman Holiday."

Other notable selections include "Hustle & Flow," "Gilda," "Field of Dreams" and "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Go here for a complete lineup and details.

The IMA's new European Design exhibit: Wow

I just managed to get a short sneak peek at the new European Design show opening this Sunday at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. This is one of the most ambitious exhibits the IMA has ever attempted, the first major retrospective of modern European design.

All I can say is: Wow.

Even for people who are intimidated by art, this is a very fun and accessible exhibit. It challenges people to consider art in a new way by taking objects, some of them mass-produced for very functional purposes, and putting them on display as a piece of art.

I'll be attending the exhibit's symposium the next two days, as I'm writing a review for a national magazine. With a show like this, the challenge will not be in finding things to write about, but picking from a wealth of objects and topics to explore.