Arts Culture in Irvington

Arts
in
Irvington

"Jazz Masters" mural

"Jazz Masters" mural on the south wall of Lazy Daze Coffee House
by Dar Parsons

The "Kile Oak" mural

The "Kile Oak" mural
at the Legend, Classic Irvington Cafe
by Dar Parson

Caption for the "Kile Oake" mural

Caption for the "Kile Oak" mural
at the Legend, Classic Irvington Cafe
by Dar Parson

Mural at Snips

Mural at Snips
by Kristan and Jan

ARTS CULTURE IN IRVINGON

Arts In Irvington

The arts have been an integral part of Irvington since its founding in 1870 as a planned, well-to-do suburb of the City of Indianapolis. Irvington was named after the writer, Washington Irving; several of its streets were also named after writers. Irvington, the original home of Butler University (1874 – 1928), was absorbed into Indianapolis in 1902, but it still maintains its neighborhood and arts identities.

"In April 1901, an art exhibition, sponsored by the Irvington Women's club, the Tuesday Club, the Fortnightly Club displayed work by T. C. Steele, Otto Stark, and William Forsyth." (1)

The "Irvington Group"

In the early part of the twentieth century, Irvington was home to a noted artists’ colony, the “Irvington Group”. There were regular exhibits by the artists in this colony from 1928 through 1937.

The “Irvington Group” included Paul Baus, Simon P. Baus, Carolyn G. Bradley, Alice Dimmick Cook, Robert Craig, Constance Forsyth, William Forsyth (the “Dean” of the Irvington Group), Martha Lee Frost, Helene Hibben, Thomas Hibben, William F. Kaeser, Dorothy Morlan, Frederick Polley, Robert Selby, Clifton Wheeler, Hilah Drake Wheeler, Charles Yeager, et al.

This group included drawing, painting, sculpting (including reliefs), litho drawing, etching, print making, in their repertoire (William Forsyth was also a poet).

The output of this group whether on canvas or board (oil, water color, pastel), in stone, or in metal was impressive.

Forms included impressionism, surrealism, landscape, mural, portrait, still life, etc..

Some of the artwork by members of the Irvington Group is on display at the Bona Thompson Memorial Center (1) (the home of the Irvington Historical Society), at The Irvington Branch of the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library, at Indianapolis Public School # 57, and the Benton House.

A relevant William Forsyth quote from 1930:

The viewer . . . "should attempt to get out
of each piece of art a meaning, or message to himself, even if it differs from which the artists meant to give." (1)

The more familiar way of stating this might be:

"Art is in the eye of the beholder."

Frank Mckinney "Kin" Hubbard

The Irvington area was also home to journalist, humorist, and cartoonist, Frank McKinney “Kin” Hubbard, the creator of the long-running, nationally-syndicated “Abe Martin From Brown County” cartoon series.

Some famous quotes attributed to Hubbard are:

“Flattery won’t hurt you, if you don’t swallow it.”

“There’s no secret about success. Did you ever know a successful man who didn’t tell you about it?”

“When a fellow says, "It ain't the money but the principle of the thing," it's the money.”

(2)

True Neighborhood

With its many gently winding streets under a canopy of old trees (if anything, Irvington is a neighborhood of trees), Irvington remains one of only a few true neighborhoods in Indianapolis. Irvington is substantially a collection of historic, well-built homes covering many different architectural styles; it is also includes more modern homes. Its residents cover the entire social strata, although it is certainly more affluent on average than surrounding neighborhoods.

Renaissance

In recent years, Irvington has experienced a renaissance, both as a true neighborhood and as a cultural center. Perhaps the traditional definition of artists’ colony would not apply to modern-day Irvington (such as those well known colonies in areas of Arizona and New Mexico); however, the sheer number of artists working in Irvington and the Irvington area, and the sheer number of mediums being worked in --- eclectic to say the least --- might suggest otherwise. The art produced by this diverse group also includes the more-modern digital art mediums; in fact, Irvington is now the home of several thriving graphic design firms.

With the opening of Lazy Daze Coffee House in 2003 (arguably now the social center of the neighborhood) and the equally-important reopening of the Irving Theatre in 2006, Irvington could see concrete, palpable examples of its rebirth (albeit somewhat bohemian, as paradoxically only an affluent community can support) as an artistic center.

The state of the current economy aside, Irvington is a wonderful place to live in and it has a thriving arts community that should be celebrated.

(2)   Wikipedia "Kin Hubbard"
        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kin_Hubbard
        Copyright © Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.

A special "Thank you" to Steve Barnett,
Executive Director, Irvington Historical Society,
and
Curator, Bona Thompson Memorial Center,
for
his invaluable help and kindness in the researching
of the arts culture in Irvington.

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