HOMAGE group show in the Underground, May 3
Perhaps you've gone to hear a Beatles tribute band. Or maybe your favorite musician covered one of your other favorite musician's greatest hits. We expect musicians to do covers and tributes. We understand that a particular song or band has been a great inspiration for others. Visual artists are no different. Quincy Owens and William Denton Ray are curating their second show (Ray's third), HOMAGE, in the Underground at the Harrison Center for the Arts. Their first show together, Underground Chic, brought a sundry of artists. HOMAGE is doing the same.
Kurosawa 8mm, Taylor Smith
According to Owens and Ray HOMAGE allows art patrons a glimpse into the minds of artists. For many of us who are not art-minded, we find ourselves asking artists questions - where, how, why? From where did this inspiration come, how did you know how to do it, why did you do this? Many times, Owens noted, the inspiration for artists comes from other artists. HOMAGE is a show in which artists create works specifically based on another who has had great influence on their work.
It started out as "Be Like Mike" (the 90s television campaign by Gatorade) for Owens. The TV commercial shows multi-generational basketball players mimicking Michael Jordan on basketball courts. Everything from Jordan's moves to his signature tongue sticking out, other players copied. Jordan is considered one of the greatest players of all time. It made sense then to learn his moves and skills to attempt to repeat his success. Owens speculates artists, too, have been looking to other artists to grow and mature their own work since the beginning of art.
In the non-competitive show, HOMAGE, artists have created pieces based on local, international, and renowned artists. Works submitted include paintings and sculptures mimicking Matisse, Alexander Calder, Deborah Kolp and many others. Next to each piece will be a placard describing the significance and impact the honored artist had on the Indianapolis artist. It's meant to be educational for patrons, allowing them to gain insight into how artists operate. It is empowering patrons to make confident purchases if they decide to buy.
Come this May 3rd from 6-10pm in the Underground for IDADA First Friday to experience HOMAGE as well as all the exhibitions occurring at the Harrison Center. Find out more information for HOMAGE here. For all the shows happening this month at the Harrison Center, visit here.