From the natural beauty and hidden depths in his landscapes to the subtle, understanding glances in his portraits, John Wesley Hardrick’s paintings captured the essence of life in Indianapolis.
Visitors can explore 25 unique works by the acclaimed artist in Through the Eyes of an Artist: John Wesley Hardrick, a new exhibit open Feb. 22-June 29 at the Indiana State Museum.
A lifelong Indianapolis resident, Hardrick (1891-1968) was an academically trained artist and trailblazer. He studied under impressionists from the Hoosier Group and became one of the first Black students to attend the John Herron Art Institute, which is now the Herron School of Art + Design. Hardrick earned national recognition for his portraits and was celebrated for his ability to highlight beauty in the extraordinary and the mundane.
“When I think of an Indianapolis artist, I think of John Hardrick because he stayed here, and that is so significant,” said Kisha Tandy, the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites’ curator of social history and co-curator of the exhibit. “His work helps to chronicle Black life in so many ways because he was painting the people of Indianapolis.” In his portraits, Hardrick featured a cross-section of local figures, from well-known community leaders to celebrities to anonymous passersby. Through the Eyes of an Artist will give visitors an up-close look at works like “Portrait of Maxine Sullivan,” showing a famous jazz vocalist, and “Little Brown Girl,” which earned Hardrick the second-place medal for fine arts from the Harmon Foundation in 1927.
Throughout his life, Hardrick had to balance his creative passion with responsibility. He supported his education and family by working various jobs, including driving a taxi and a delivery truck. Still, he found inspiration in ordinary places, and visitors can get a glimpse of Hardrick’s everyday life in works like “Bus in a Snowstorm” and “Indianapolis Street Scenes.” Beyond the paintings, visitors can further explore Hardrick’s life and artistic process as they snoop through the pockets of a smock to find hidden objects representing his family life, jobs, personal connections and love of nature. A digital choose-your-own-adventure story also invites visitors to step into the role of an artist and consider important choices someone might have to make in their career.
“This exhibition really shows people there are multiple pathways to pursuing your creative drive,” said Paula Katz, the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites’ senior curator of art and co-curator of the exhibit. “It doesn’t even have to be artistic. Hopefully people who have hobbies or a passion of any sort will be inspired to dive back into them or find a new place for them in their life.”
Through the Eyes of an Artist also underscores the vital role artists play in recording visual narratives of daily life for future generations to appreciate. The story of the Norwood neighborhood where Hardrick lived will be shared in a photo flipbook illustrating how things have changed in one of Indianapolis’ oldest Black neighborhoods and how residents are working there to preserve Hardrick’s legacy.
During the exhibit’s run, Tandy and Katz will take attendees behind the scenes to learn more about Hardrick’s life, work and impact on the art scene in Indianapolis and beyond. These special curator-led tours will be offered at 1 p.m. on March 9 and 11 a.m. on April 12. Tours are free for Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites members and $5 for nonmembers. Attendees are encouraged to register in advance at IndianaMuseum.org.
Alongside Hardrick’s story, the exhibit highlights three other painters whose paths ran parallel to Hardrick’s but diverged in different ways. Hale Woodruff and William Edouard Scott were peers of Hardrick who lived briefly in Indianapolis — Woodruff even shared a studio with Hardrick at one point — but ultimately left to establish their art careers elsewhere. Mason Archie is a contemporary artist from the Midwest who, like Hardrick, discovered his passion for painting at an early age. Living in a city but inspired by nature, he left a career in advertising to pursue art full time.
Through the Eyes of an Artist: John Wesley Hardrick is free for members and included with museum admission, which is $20 for adults, $14 for youth (ages 3-17) and $18 for seniors. Visitors can go to IndianaMuseum.org to learn more and save by purchasing admission in advance.
Comments