Monthly Artists

Elizabeth Kenney is a native Indiana artist. Her pastels and paintings strive to "express the inexpressible," according to her artist statement.

"Incompleteness is a human condition," she says. "Finding meaning in nature, art, and our lives helps to alleviate this inherent human condition."

Kenney's pieces float toward surrealism; this particular series seems to have some Native American themes, where dreams and dreaming play a prominent role. Kenney, unintentionally or not, captures this theme with hazy, smokey strokes and softly defined lines.

Visit your favorite Monon Trail Cafe to see Kenney's installment.

This month your favorite Indiana coffee shop is  featuring international artwork from the Village Experience. These gorgeous, colorful pictures tell the stories of whirlwind international travel, exposing foreign lifestyles tragic and terrific.

The Village Experience is a socially pro-active business dedicated to uplifting impoverished communities in the developing world through efforts in international trade and tourism. Proceeds are used to support the mission of The Village Cooperative. The Village Cooperative is a charitable organization dedicated to the creation and support of income-generating projects in the developing world.

Village Experience co-founder Kelly Campbell provided descriptions of each of the photos you see on the right:

"The photos on display come from our humanitarian trips around the world. Here are a few stories:

"The picture of the hand is from the Palestinian side of the security barrier or "wall" separating the West Bank from Israel. Since Palestinians are forced to look at this enormous concrete structure everyday, artists have begun to create peaceful works of art on the wall. This one example shows five major religions as all being one in the same.

"The picture of the Masai Tribe from Kenya was taken during a "jumping ceremony" - the man who jumps the highest gets the honor of choosing his own bride from the tribe. Marriages for the other men will be arranged by tribal elders.

"The picture of the little girl standing in front of the blue door was taken in Nakuru, Kenya at The Child Discovery Center. Her name is Yasmine and she is 9 years old. She is an orphan and her education is currently being provided by The Village Cooperative. We get to see Yasmine about twice a year and she is doing really well!

"The picture of the Buddha is from a temple in Bangkok, Thailand. The numerous buddhas throughout Thailand show the great dedication of the Thai people to their religion, culture, and heritage. We explore the religious diversity of Thailand when we take groups to explore the country.

"The picture of the line of children enjoying their lunch is from the DaySpring School in Mbita, Kenya. The Village Cooperative renovated this school, built a kitchen, and has provided funding for a large scale chicken coop to provide an income through which to pay their teacher's salaries. A delegation from Indianapolis will be visiting this project in December.

"The picture of the International Committee of the Red Cross vehicle was taken in Tanzania. These SUVs are abundant in the developing world as roads are usually in horrible shape or completely non-existent in the areas of the world where NGOs operate. After reading and learning about humanitarian work overseas, to see it in action for the first time was truly moving."

We think these gorgeous pictures make great gifts for the globetrotters on your list, or anyone interested in making a difference with their purchases.

You all wanna know what's coming out of the sky this Fourth of July? Weather Willy's gonna tell you. And don't forget to stop by and get the Arnold Palmer that's so 3008--Blumonade. It's healthy, antioxidant-rich blueberry rooibos tea mixed with tangy-sweet lemonade. It's good and good for you! And what would the summer be without a signature sweet drink? NOTHING! NOTHING WE TELL YOU! YOU WILL FORGET THE SUMMER IF YOU 
DON'T DRINK OUR TEA!

Duncan Alney’s “In Person” series of black and white photos captures archetypes of the creative class. From Indy’s resident Cajun cool cat, Yats proprietor and nicest-guy-you-met Joe Vuskovich, to punk-rock sweetie Lindsay Manfredi, Alney’s mostly musical shakers jump off their black and white backings with loads of character.

Alney is president of Firebelly Marketing in Broad Ripple, which offers creative online and offline marketing solutions to Indianapolis clients and beyond. He came to the United States with a few dollars in his pocket, and worked hard to carve out his creative niche. He’s succeeded. And this work in particular reflects the American dream in which he and his subjects partake.

Deborah Winchester is a fine art and nature photographer based in Indianapolis. Her work has appeared in everything from Cowboys & Indians magazine to the Indianapolis Star.  Her current works on display in Indianapolis coffee shop Monon Coffee company, however, take an urban turn, depicting graffiti culture in South America. 

Winchester recently visited Valparaiso, Chile. The photographer was taken aback by the locals’ acceptance of their proficient graffiti culture. “People actually pay people to decorate garage doors with this stuff,” she says. “It’s a whole different approach.”

Her explosively colorful pictures capture it: One depicts a building clad with a giant, expertly rendered hand throwing paper planes. In another picture, a grinning blonde lady in a Stetson breathes what looks like a poker to the neck of the Asian lady who sits in front of her, exhaling a swirling motif that beautifies a wall’s caged window.

Come by the coffee shop to see Winchester's nine photographs from the Valparaiso trip. They are all matted and framed (16 by 20), and go for around $250. The artist will negotiate on other sizes or frames requested.

If you see an adorable, towheaded toddler running around the Monon in a tie-dyed shirt and no shoes (or, occasionally, glittery red slippers), mama Michelle Craig is probably nearby.

Son Noah is one of Craig’s greatest muses. The professional artist photographs babies and children extensively. “A tender touch from papa, a nuzzle from mama,” she says, are some of her greatest inspirations for capturing people in their most innocent state with the ones that love them. 

But her “first love” is nature. Her current lineup on display at the coffee shop is a testament: natural scenes take on an abstract, high drama when she amplifies their points of interest.  Rusty colors heighten leaves’ textures, shiny dew drops turn to shiny glass pebbles, and brightly colored petal tips’ super-close-ups give them an unearthly look.

Craig is the Monon Coffee Company’s exhibiting March artist. For more information on her, visit her online portfolio. For pictures of her drool-inducing baby photography, visit her blog.

For information on exhibiting at the coffee shop, stop by the coffee shop and ask for William Powell, leave a comment here or call the café at 317-255-0510.

Upcoming artists include Debbie Winchester, Duncan Alney, Anna Witte, and more. All of our artists’ work is for sale. Our rotating “gallery” is one of Broad Ripple’s treasures.