Monthly Artists

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.