odds and ends
Over the past year, Indianapolis artist Amy Applegate has found solace and inspiration out her window and on her shelves. “Odds & Ends,” an exhibition on display in the Harrison Center’s Gallery Annex, is a collection of paintings and sketches that Applegate describes as “observational” in nature.
Jars, vases, and lamps all take center focus, imbuing a sense of nostalgia with muted colors and glints of light. The objects seem deeply ordinary, like something you might find in your home or your mother’s. The soft portrayals in oil paint and pencil, nonetheless, bestow a hidden honor— for the artist to have chosen this cup, this bouquet of wilting flowers, they must represent a story or a fond memory whenever they are seen.
Kitchen Window. gouache and colored pencil on paper. 6.5" x 4.5"
“odds and ends” features charming views of nature, all through the frames of a window, a vase, or the house’s yard. The art, which was created between March 2020 and March 2021, conveys the sense of familiarity many of us have come to know, having spent the majority of the last year inside our homes. The art does not, however, convey any sense of boredom. It views each item and each vantage point with a poetic lens, examining its essence and how it might change over the course of a season.
Flower Jar. Oil on Panel. 9” x 12”
Rather than concerning herself with an accurate reproduction, Applegate aims to observe and document her time, while exploring the possibilities within painting and her surroundings. The collection thus reads like a journal, where whatever catches the artist’s eye is recorded. A practice in the art of noticing, “odds and ends” leaves the viewer with a sublime thought: even when the world shrinks to the size of one’s home, there are different and intriguing things to see, if you manage to pay attention.
Window with Winter Trumpets. oil on panel. 9" x 12"
odds and ends by Amy Applegate will be on display in the Harrison Center’s Gallery Annex for the month of March. The exhibit can be viewed by appointment as well as in our online gallery, where all pieces are available for purchase.
Find more of Applegate’s work on her website.