On November 3 and 4, 2006, after performances of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra at their home, the Hilbert Circle Theater, my first piece for saxophone quartet, Dervish, was performed as part of both the ISO's Encore with Mario and the Spirit and Place Festival series. The presentation was inspiring, with the audience sitting on stage in the orchestra's chairs. ISO Music Director Mario Venzago led a sprited discussion on spirituality in music revolving around my piece, which is based on music of the Whirling Dervishes, who are Sufi priests, and thus entirely relevant to the topic. The audience posed fascinating questions, and the Indianapolis Saxophone Quartet played brilliantly. Led by Indiana University professors Thomas Walsh and Otis Murphy, they have performed the piece many times over the years, and recorded it in Bloomington for one of Tom's upcoming CDs in between the performances.

 

From 2003 through 2006, I had a studio in the Wheeler Arts Community building in the Fountain Square area of Indianapolis. The Wheeler building is an old factory that has been given the loft treatment, and is a remarkable partnership between Southeast Neighborhood Development, Inc. (S.E.N.D.) and the University of Indianapolis. It houses several university offices, a wonderful theater space (with excellent acoustics-I presented a concert of the Contemporary Music Group there)-as well as providing about 30 studio residences for artists.

The studios feature huge windows and high ceilings, and, as you can see in this picture of my office, have an inherent aura of creativity. The design features an inspired blend of the old and reconstructed (iron rods poke out of the ceiling and the wooden floors are original), new (the windows look original, but they're brand new), and building materials which are usually considered modest but are prominently featured (e.g., plywood). On the top of the building is a computer-controlled light sculpture constructed of parallel blue neon tubes, which is visible from the nearby Interstate 65. The Wheeler was designed by the Indianapolis firm, Axis Architecture + Interiors. (Click on this link to see what the Wheeler looked like before renovation!)

There is a creative spontaneity that comes from being among folks who are living the life. One day I came to the studio and found this massive red sphere outside my door. I find this to be very stimulating.

Behind the globe is the original freight elevator, which elicited endless fascination from visitors, ranging from a group of nine visiting students from Japan, to my two kids.

Every month, the Wheeler participates in IDADA's (Indianapolis Downtown Artist and Dealers Association) "First Friday" gallery tour. In addition, there is an open house twice yearly, that draws an enthusiastic crowd from across the city. At the April, 2005 Open House, I hired a bass player, my old friend from Bloomington John Huber, and we played jazz in the Atrium-one of the most enjoyable gigs I've had for a while-with good acoustics, and a sympathetic audience of fellow artists and patrons willing to hear the music of Wayne Shorter and Thelonius Monk.

The quality of the work done by the resident artists at the Wheeler is top notch. At right is an example of the cartoon work of Josh Johnson.

Lars Jonker works in a wide variety of media, from sculpture to furniture, using metal and stone.

William Lawson paints scenes from the urban environment of Fountain Square-a mile from downtown, yet curiously rural at the same time.

Allison Kurtz uses many varied techniques to manipulate and transform photographic images

Susan Hodgin uses flowers as frequent subjects.

The Fountain Square Theater

I became rather active in the artistic life of Fountain Square, and was a founding member of Art in the Square/Fountain Square Artists Cooperative. Check out the Art in the Square link to see how much was happening there!