Artistic Outlet

Bloomington has proven itself as a cultural oasis. Streets lined with international restaurants, music festivals and an IU affiliated cultural center for almost every ethnic background are all only the beginning. The arts continue to be celebrated around the city with its fine selection of galleries featuring the creations of local and regional artists, giving Bloomington a decided artistic flair that rounds out the college town's already impressive cultural resume.\nGalleries not only showcase paintings, sculptures and photography in Bloomington, but some of the best venues have the most unique exhibitions one could find in an art gallery.\nThe Elements gallery features the latest triumphs in home accessories. Located at 2901 E. Covenanter Dr., the shop's cutting edge furniture, wall art, mirrors, ceramics and lighting fixtures make the gallery not only reminiscent of the attractive living rooms of TV and magazines, but can give consumers pointers to make any living space the most comfortable it can be both aesthetically and physically. Plush couches and avant-garde end tables can inspire even the most drab living space. Naturally, anything that piques one's interest can be purchased, so a room can potentially look as swank as those in The Elements.\n"What makes us different is that we specialize in handmade American craft," says Kathy Kemerly, owner of Elements. "We're a lifestyles store. We want people to see great design, quality materials, and functionality for everyday living."\nThere's more in the way of offbeat artistic endeavors. The Not Just Rugs Gallery of Native American Art offers beautiful testaments to Native American Art and culture, at 1117 N. College Ave. Specializing in Southwestern crafts and trinkets, Navajo weavings, tapestries and turquoise and silver jewelry can satiate the tastes of even the most seasoned art lover. Not Just Rugs offers an eclectic blend of art backed up by a culturally rich heritage. Unique continues to be the name of the game with exhibitions such as animal carvings, sand paintings with dazzling displays of taking fine, brilliantly colored sand and trickling onto a base of neutral sand for a visual playground of color, contrast and texture and kachinas that are small, carved and masked dolls that the Pueblo's often gave to children as gifts. Indeed, Not Just Rugs goes above and beyond living up to its namesake.\nLocated at 224 N. College Ave. is the gallery named Bloomington's Best Art Gallery in 2004 by the Bloomington Convention & Visitors Bureau. The Wandering Turtle Art Gallery & Gifts has provided artistic outlets for local and international crafts people alike for years. Located in the heart of downtown, hardwood floors and dramatic studio lighting serve as the housing for some of the most diverse art forms. Wandering Turtle sports multimedia exhibitions including photography, ceramics and crafts, jewelry and paintings are all featured along with a convenient gift shop that offers incense, candles, bath and body products and local and international samples of music. A fusion of modern sophistication and charm make this gallery a definite must-see.\n"We get a lot of work from IU students and grads, or from other artists right here in the Bloomington community," says Jamaliya Cobine, a Wandering Turtle employee. "The main thing our owner wants to emphasize is support for local artists." \nThe extensive gallery selection continues with the Fossil Rain Natural Wonders & Handcrafted Jewelry gallery located at 115 N. College Ave, in the downtown square. Fossil Rain highlights not only craftwork art form of Bloomington artist Lorraine Merriman Farrell, but also the craftwork of Mother Nature. In a truly unmatched display of originality, Fossil Rain not only sells homemade jewelry, but also features fossil and mineral displays. While much of today's jewelry is made in contemporary style, the tone Farrell's creations set is a bit more vintage. Some of the jewelry on display and for sale features shark teeth and ammonites such as extinct, spiral-shelled mollusks. Wilma Flintstone's got nothing on Farrell, as Fossil Rain's celebrated ancient art proves to be one of the most innovative and visit-worthy sights in Bloomington.\nBut perhaps one of the most well-known galleries, at least on campus, is the School of Fine Arts gallery, otherwise known as SoFA. Nationally renowned artists, as well as fine arts students here at IU, all have their work displayed for the public to see. The gallery specializes in modern and contemporary pieces, and features media like paint, metals, ceramics, photography and more. SoFA visitors have many programs to participate in including tours, speeches and exhibition talks. It's located in the Henry Radford Hope School of Fine Arts and best of all, it's free. The gallery is open 12 to 4 p.m., and is closed on Sunday and Monday. \n"It's nice to see what other art students are creating here at IU," says sophomore Jo Minnich, a photography student. "Any chance to get artwork out there is definitely worth the stress of preparation."\nAs one can plainly see, it's no secret this myriad of art galleries and shops make Bloomington an artistic hub in Indiana. From fossils and lawn ornaments to Indian rugs and precious gemstones, whatever you're looking for, Bloomington artists provide it all, and then some.