Meet the Artists

Erin Goodman is an art teacher at Hamilton Heights Middle School. She has been a professional educator since 1997, after earning her Bachelor’s degree in Art Education from Indiana University/Bloomington. She also holds a Master’s degree in Art Education, from IUPUI/Herron School of Art. In addition to teaching during the school day, Erin leads a very active after school art club with students in grades 5-8 (it was this group that helped her paint the art canoe). In 2015, Erin was a Lilly Teacher Creativity Grant recipient and spent the summer traveling to various art museums and art classes with her mobile art studio in tow. Following that adventure, she helped to create a local art business called, Caravan Classes, which is run by local artist, Deanna Leonard. Together, Erin and Deanna painted a public art piece (the bison) located in Federal Hill Commons for the Indiana Bicentennial in 2016. Erin is a long time resident of Noblesville and enjoys crafting (under the name @color_is_my_middle_name on Instagram), photography, non-fiction reading, gardening, caring for her cat and dog and hanging out with her husband, Dustin, in her free time.

Design Narrative
The art canoe for Strawtown Koteewi Park was carefully designed by HHMS Art students to reflect the area’s rich past and present. On one side of the canoe you will find a map of the White River, which radiates with parallel lines, mimicking the river’s path. This abstract “ripple effect” symbolizes the positive and powerful impact the White River has had on the surrounding communities for many years. You will also find colors (Indigo Blue, Turquoise, Cream, Chartreuse, Red, Forest Green, Rose Pink, Copper, and Straw) and beadwork patterns inspired by the artwork of the Lenape tribe (Delaware Indians), which settled along the North Reach of the White River prior to Indiana statehood. There are seven sections with various designs, each one representing one letter of the word “K-O-T-E-E-W-I”, which means “prairie or fire” in their Native American language. The opposite side of the canoe includes imagery of the many attractions you will find today at the Strawtown Koteewi Park, which include horseback riding, archery, kayaking, fishing, biking, snow tubing, camping, archaeology, wildflowers and wildlife, aerial adventures, the Tecumseh Trail, and the legend of the White River monster “Willie”.

2019 Nickel Plate Arts Emerging Artist Award. Her favorite subjects are animals but it can be anything that catches her eyes and touches her heart. She had her first charity event in 2016 for Agape Therapeutic Riding Center and Special Olympics. Krista is showing her artwork regularly at Fishers City Hall, Nickel Plate Arts, and various community events and businesses. In 2020, she had a solo exhibition at Ignite Studio. In 2021 her painting, Refraction (a great white egret) received the Honorable Mention Award at Nature’s Inspiration Exhibit.

Design Narrative
“The inspiration for my artwork came from the prairie behind Potter’s Bridge. I chose flowers, dragonflies, and the White River as my artwork subjects. Flowers bloom beautifully. Dragonflies fly freely. White River flows carefree. Nature has no limits or boundaries in time and place. Nature flows infinitely (if we don’t disturb it). Nature at the Potter’s Bridge park is COOL and makes me happy. I want people to feel the same way when they see my art canoe.”

Darlene Patterson’s outdoor experiences are extensive and varied. By canoe, they include thru-paddling the 740-miles of the Northern Forest Canoe trail (in 28.5 days), paddling a dugout canoe on the Amazon River in Peru, and working summers as a guide/instructor at the Voyageur Outward Bound school near Ely, MN. There have been 3 trips by canoe exploring above the arctic circle (in Canada and Norway), as well as backpacking on trails that include the Appalachian Trail, Red River Gorge, and the Knobstone Trail.

Back home, her days are spent teaching art at Promise Road Elementary School and making work in her Patterson Pottery studio. She was a longstanding interpreter at Conner Prairie Museum and has recently started guiding women’s trips and adventures through a local Indiana based organization called: DNK Presents. Her life goal is to establish a pottery school here in Noblesville.

Design Narrative
“The design and execution of this project, White River Seasons, took many turns and twists. Much like the path a river takes, as it makes its way to the ocean, it gurgled and bubbled and splashed around obstacles, and seemed to ebb and flow as new ideas presented themselves and others faded away.

The creative process involved using stencils designed and cut from paper (with the help of a Cricut machine) to make the seasonal shapes and symbols. It also required “thinking in reverse ”. Because of the use of stencils, the desired color for the image had to be the first color applied instead of the last. The rich textures and patterns were achieved by applying natural objects like grasses, leaves, pine needles, and rocks, as well as items like pasta and rice, before spraying more colors. Each additional item and layer made the conglomeration quite a built up mess. But, once it was dry and ready for unveiling, the anticipation felt like opening a birthday present. Much of what you see when working in this process happens serendipitously.

Using 4-Seasons as the theme comes from my love of each and every stage the river transforms itself into as it moves through the calendar year. Each has a character unique to the season. The green and freshness of spring is alive with rebirth, summer shows growth and joy, fall is a nod to a quieter time ahead, and in winter it tells us to slow down and rest. The symbols I chose to paint on the hull of the canoe are a sampling of the MANY ways you can enjoy the river to make your life happier and healthier.”

Tasha is an Indianapolis-based visual artist and a graduate of Herron School of Art and Design, where she studied painting and drawing. Her work dips between traditional and digital. She would describe her current works as Afrofuturism which explores African/African American culture with elements of science fiction, fantasy, and Afrocentrism. Her ultimate goal with my work is to take viewers on a journey through a kaleidoscope of patterns mixed with portraits, merging imagination with technology to create my own world.

Design Narrative
“With my canoe design, I envisioned the woman figure to be the spirit of the Riverside neighborhood almost like a Mother Nature-type spirit. In her red flowing hair, we see a few leaves to represent Riverside Park. Next, I have a stylized representation of the White River with the blue-like waves. Since I grew up in the Riverside area and frequented Riverside Park and the White River with my family and friends, I included two animals one being the midland painted turtle and the great blue heron both of which I have seen for myself by the river. I also included some fun geometric patterns to bring some vibrancy to the canoe.”

Geoff Davis, a life-long Hamilton County resident, is a multi-disciplinary artist best known for his hand-carved and colorful birds, whales, and pull toys. In addition to his carvings, Geoff is a leathersmith and letterpress printer. Always striving to learn new techniques, Geoff’s work is known for its unique crackle texture and authentic patina. Geoff is active in the Noblesville arts community and operates a teaching studio in OldTown Noblesville where students engage in bookarts, letterpress, carving, and leather. Geoff was named an Indiana Artisan in 2011 and has been listed in the Early American Life Directory of Traditional American Craft since 2017. His work may be found in private collections and the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, NY.

Design Narrative
“In the film White River: Perspectives, an Indiana Humanities film directed by Hannah Lindgren, I was asked to respond to public perceptions of the river. Folks believe that the river smells. It is dirty and polluted. Folks don’t seem to see the river as an under-utilized asset but as a liability. We’ve, collectively, turned our backs on the river.

It’s time to turn around and see the river for what it is – a lush and active wildlife corridor. It’s a place for adventure and contemplation and exploration. I grew up a mile from Hazel Landing Park. I spent my childhood exploring a river tributary behind my house. I’d spend hours observing crustacea and fish and mollusks. I’d build dams and canals. The creek was a place of mystery, learning, and adventure. As an adult, I moved to Noblesville and ready access to the river. My adventure transitioned from that creek to White River. When designing this project I looked to what turned me to face the river and engage. For me, the birds pulled the river to the forefront. There is something special and engaging in the flitting of orioles across the channel or the life-and-death interaction of a kingfisher and a Cooper’s Hawk. For me, the river provides access to wildlife – especially birds. I want to share this gateway. In this project, I depict the birds that I most associate with the river. Every bird has a story. Every bird represents an experience. It is my hope that this work will give folks a reason to take to get on the river and observe wildlife.

I’m a folk artist. My primary media is polychrome woodcarvings — carvings painted in many colors — of birds and animals. In order to carve and paint animals in this style I first must draw them and simplify them. I reduce the colors and form into a system of symbols and generalizations that I can work with. To simplify color I work with a defined palette of twelve traditional pigments. With these, I am able to mix the colors that I believe best represent my subject. My paints — milk paints — are impractical for this project. On a large scale, they are prohibitively expensive and difficult to render weather-proof. For this project, I’m recreating my palette in house paints. With these colors, I can closely reproduce the “feel” of my work with a durable paint. When complete, my work will be clear-coated with a compatible clear coat to protect my work from UV rays and protect it from wear and weather, The background is a pale blue-green that represents the green filtered light along the river corridor. The figures – birds in flight – will be painted with brushes incorporating wet and dry brush techniques.”

Walt is an oil painter who paints ordinary landscapes in an upbeat and surreal sense with a taste for antiques! Walt has always been a good artist but being self-employed, getting married, and starting a family; the art endeavors went way beyond the back burner. Life was full, life was good! At thirty-six something happened: H started mellowing out and got out my paints and brushes and went to it. This gave him the sanctuary he needed, with the everyday stress of work and family life. As mentioned, life was full so his painting time was time he was taking or even stealing from family and work but he stuck to it and thirty years later he’s at his best! At sixty-six he’s trying to get out in public and find his niche. The love and excitement is in the painting: creating the scene and subject matter, mixing the colors, and applying it to the canvas always puts him in a better place.

Design Narrative
“The River Road Park in Carmel is my location for inspiration in my canoe painting project. River Road Park is all about Native American culture so my idea for the canoe is two murals. One for the Woodland Indian culture on one side and an Ice Age motif on the other. My designs are two oil paintings on stretched canvases which are my basic idea. Of course, there will be more activity on a canoe that is 14 ft. long. The Woodland Indian scene features a woodland village with inhabitants going about their day. Several canoes in the river, Three canoes with rowers, one on the shore, and two canoes with Indians spearfishing. The other side will be in the Ice Age. Laurentide Ice cliffs in the distance with lots of meltwater forming waterfalls, streams and creeks, leading to the “Paleo White River”. A herd of Woolly Mammoths are migrating from the icy north to the grasses of the green tundra and warmer climate. The Clovis people are a threat but will be run off by the bull mammoth.”

Matthew Cooper is an emerging self-taught artist specializing in mixed media paintings. He received his ALA from Vincennes University in 2012 and attended IUPUI Herron Art & Design where he studied drawing and minored in Africana studies. From exhibiting in galleries during his early career, to being commissioned to paint murals around Indianapolis and becoming a featured artist at the Arts Council and Circle City Industrial Complex in 2021, Matthew is leaving his mark on his hometown of Indianapolis, IN.

Design Narrative
“My canoe is dedicated to the rich history of the Lenape Native American tribe who settled along the white river stretching from Anderson to Broad Ripple. I wanted to display some of their iconic symbols and likeness of the Native Americans through a colorful lens that allows kids and adults to enjoy.”

A 90’s baby, Mechi Shakur is an Indianapolis-raised and based artist. His influences include Jean-Michel Basquiat, Caravaggio, Bosch, and Kehinde Wiley. Painting for five years now and self-taught, Mechi Shakur believes your art is a reflection of you and loves to blur the lines of reality and the imagination through an assortment of colors all while diving into social and political issues, touching many subjects all at once.

Design Narrative
“A Tale of Two Cities illustrates one town with two different environments. One flourishing with access to a number of advantages and the other run down and overlooked, with little to no access to advantages.”

Samuel Penaloza ”Gemini” was born in Los Angeles, California. He spent most of his childhood in the Nickerson Garden projects. Surrounded by graffiti art, Samuel always had a strong connection to art but did not have anyone or anything to guide him. Samuel’s single mother moved to Indianapolis looking for a better future for herself and her children. His art teacher, Kim Dax, inspired his interest in art. His previous teachers where never invested in him this way. Samuel started to take comfort in art. From the first time he picked up a brush Samuel knew he was destined to paint. He has been featured by BigCar and IndyConvergence.

Design Narrative
“The design I have created is a woman facing the prow of the canoe. She is looking towards a hopeful future that in the past may been impossible for the residents of the Near Westside, who would have swum at Belmont Beach during the Era of Segregation. She wears flowers in her hair and is surrounded by abstract representations of bubbles, circles, and organic shapes that emphasize the life-giving resilience of the people here. The artist has spent the last seven years living on Indianapolis’ Near West and draws heavily on his experiences as a first-generation Mexican-American. The vibrant colors, bold lines, and repeating patterns of Mexican folk art are found in his work. The design will be rendered in weather-resistant exterior paint, covered in several coats of exterior Polyurethane.”

My name is Jamahl Crouch. I am an artist with a focus in 2-dimensional art. My main subjects are comics and cartoons currently, I have both a self-taught and academic background. I enjoy telling stories through my work. I try to challenge myself when it comes to detail and composition. My future goals are to fill my resume with as many different challenges as possible. In the end, I want to learn and grow on my craft indefinitely, eventually, I want to complete a series of comics and retire as a well-renowned visionary.

Design Narrative
“This project was a pictorial summary of the War of 1812 also known as the Battle of Tippecanoe. Each side is a brief representation of the different points of view held by the colonists and the Native Americans. My goal was to make some historical satire that would be both educational and entertaining to look at. I hope people see this piece and see the sacrifice that was made to build the country we now know. I want my audience to think of the ways this war and many like it affect us today.”

Sharon Jiskra Brooks is an artist originally from Chicago, IL now living in Indianapolis.
Sharon works primarily in Oils and Acrylics. Growing up with a father who was a professional photographer, she was immersed in the arts at an early age. Her paintings embrace the city life as well as many aspects of the rural life that surround her home now. Sharon’s style of painting leans toward an impressionistic style with a contemporary approach and subject matter. Many of her pieces are created alla prima. When time permits she also enjoys painting outdoors (plein air). Her degree in Fine Arts from Ball State University and her studies abroad in Europe allowed her to appreciate the arts on a deeper level.

Theme: Water Conservation | Lawn irrigation has a significant impact on our water supply and utility bills. Excessive summer lawn watering can lead to wasteful main breaks on the local water system and low-flow conditions in area waterways. Runoff from fertilized lawns can also lead to excessive weed growth and algae in waterways. Limit lawn irrigation to no more than twice per week and avoid watering during the heat of the day to prevent evaporation. It’s important to conserve water indoors, as well. Take shorter showers, repair leaky toilets and faucets, and turn off water while brushing teeth and shaving. Visit www.citizensenergygroup.com/WaterWise for more ways to conserve water.

Matthew Cooper is an emerging self-taught artist specializing in mixed media paintings. He received his ALA from Vincennes University in 2012 and attended IUPUI Herron Art & Design where he studied drawing and minored in Africana studies. From exhibiting in galleries during his early career, to being commissioned to paint murals around Indianapolis and becoming a featured artist at the Arts Council and Circle City Industrial Complex in 2021, Matthew is leaving his mark on his hometown of Indianapolis, IN.

Theme: Food Industry and Water | Water is closely tied to food production in a number of ways. Food manufacturing operations use large amounts of water in the production of common household goods like soft drinks, baking powder, and more. Consider how these manufacturers and their consumers would be impacted if water resources were in short supply or not clean enough to use for food production. This change would impact our diets or even our social activities like grabbing dinner with friends.

Melanie Reinhart, a lifelong Boone County resident, recently graduated from Indiana University. An outdoor enthusiast, she enjoys kayaking, camping, rock climbing, and hiking. She started designing adventure-themed vinyl stickers during the pandemic as her creative outlet, sharing her artwork on Etsy and in local boutiques. She loves incorporating bright colors and calligraphy into her work. Melanie jumped on the opportunity to try a new medium through the canoe project as she hadn’t previously explored painting. She plans to continue to challenge herself creatively and use her artistic style to share joy with others.

Theme: Beverage Industry and Water | Water is closely tied to large-scale beverage production in many ways – from a primary product component to cleaning equipment to the energy required for manufacturing. Large volumes of clean water are needed to produce the products that are commonplace in our households. Threats to water quality and quantity impact manufacturers and consumers, beverage choices and prices, and your dining experience or social activity.

Kate Oberreich is an Indianapolis-based painter employing multiple mediums including water media, cyanotype, embroidery, and collage. She received a BFA in painting from Ball State University in 2005, with additional studies in classical cultures and mythology.

Kate’s work often explores themes and narratives associated with the concept of finding home and community, both literally and figuratively.

Notable clients include Citizens Energy Group (Indianapolis, IN), 20th Century Fox (for the feature film, The Fault in Our Stars), Indianapolis Monthly, HGTV, Shamrock Cycles (Indianapolis, IN) and Spotts Gardens (Indianapolis, IN).

Theme: Healthy Soils | A key to managing water supplies and protecting water quality in rural areas is the implementation of “soil health” agricultural practices. For example, cover crops create deep and dense root networks and higher levels of organic matter that help water soak back into the ground and restore underground aquifers. Water quality is also improved because less polluted runoff can leave the field and enter nearby waterways.

Sarah lives and has her art practice in Anderson where her husband and six cats keep her company. In addition to making art, she has been teaching part time at Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis for the past 15 years. In 2021 she received the Associate Faculty award for teaching and continues to find tremendous satisfaction and inspiration from sharing her knowledge of painting and drawing with her students. Sarah’s current body of work consists of complex layered images using materials such as graphite, charcoal, ink, collage, and water-based painting media. The images contain elements of both abstraction and observation and are based on the shift of thought patterns between the reflexive and conscious processes of engaging in daily routines such as her commute back and forth from Anderson to Indianapolis. Her work can be seen on her website and in regional juried shows around the state.

Theme: Agriculture and Livestock | Water is necessary for nurturing crops, but farmers are presented with more risks and challenges each year. Climate change is imposing new rainfall patterns and increasing flood and drought events. Farmers are under more pressure to reduce nutrient, pesticide, and bacteria runoff from fields and/or drain tiles. Additionally, livestock operations can present unique threats to waterways. Water use and management are a large part of the agricultural conversation, and agriculture is a large part of Indiana’s economy.

Dar Parsons is a freelance self-taught artist, publisher and designer from Indianapolis, Indiana. He lives In the Irvington Community with his wife and two daughters. Wamingo Art is what Dar does in his spare time to feed his love for art, books and other strange illustrations. Dar has illustrated five published books and has painted several murals including on the backside of the Irving Theater. Currently, Dar is working on his personal collection called the “The Long Bar” and is also working on illustrating another book. If you would like to look at some of Dar’s art, see the links below.

Theme: Drinking Local | Water is essential for producing all types of alcohol: beer, wine, ciders, and spirits. Alcohol producers rely on a consistent source of clean water to produce quality products and keep their facilities hygienic. A lack of clean water not only impacts producers and their suppliers but also the social activities and local culture that support the industry. Samplings, for example, are commonplace at local breweries, wineries, and distilleries and create a fun and unique beverage experience.

Walt is an oil painter who paints ordinary landscapes in an upbeat and surreal sense with a taste for antiques! Walt has always been a good artist but being self-employed, getting married and starting a family; the art endeavors went way beyond the back burner. Life was full, life was good! At thirty-six something happened: H started mellowing out and got out my paints and brushes and went to it. This gave him the sanctuary he needed, with the everyday stress of work and family life. As mentioned, life was full so his painting time was time he was taking or even stealing from family and work but he stuck to it and thirty years later he’s at his best! At sixty-six he’s trying to get out in public and find his niche. The love and excitement is in the painting: creating the scene and subject matter, mixing the colors and applying it to the canvas always puts him in a better place.

Theme: Water Use in Jobs and Manufacturing | Water is a vital part of countless manufacturing processes, including the production of heavy industrial machinery, the building of roads, and the development of pharmaceutical products. All of these industries play a major role in Indiana’s economy and have a big impact on our water supply. Scan the QR code to the right to learn more about the White River Art Canoes and our new podcast that discusses the many values of water, The Collective Tap.

Christina Hollering lives in Zionsville, IN but has been a part of the Indianapolis art community for over 15 years. She has had studios in the Murphy Arts Center and the Harrison Center. Christina recently graduated from Herron School of Art and Design, where she also teaches, with her Master of Fine Arts in painting and drawing. In the fall of 2022, she will be having a solo show at the Harrison Center and her art at the Indianapolis International Airport. Christina enjoys exploring Indiana’s waterways in her kayak in her spare time.

Theme: Energy and Water | Water is used in many ways that often go unnoticed. Every time you flip on a light switch at home, you are using water. Water is being used to heat and cool our homes and businesses, run appliances, televisions, computers, and even charge our phones. The ways we use energy and energy sources themselves are constantly evolving, and these changes impact our water resources. Water is always present and necessary in our daily lives, often in ways we’d never imagine and which allow us so many conveniences and comforts!

Kathy Garnes grew up in Indiana. She studied Fine Arts at Bradley University in Peoria Illinois and spent a semester studying art at Parsons in Paris, France. After graduating, she became a flight attendant. Kathy enjoyed seeing many cultures and visiting art museums around the world. Kathy left the airlines to stay home with her twins. While they were young, Kathy taught summer art camps through the Hamilton County Artists Association, led arts and crafts for Seton Summer Series, and created backdrops for school plays and musicals. Now that her children are older, she has become more active in creating public art. Kathy enjoys sharing her love of art with her family and the community.

Theme: Our Waters, Past and Present | Thousands of years ago, water was clean and pristine, and animals and humans traveled far and wide to reach it. No one gave a second thought to fishing or swimming in our lakes and rivers. Now, fish consumption advisories are in place for many rivers, and people can get sick from exposure to our untreated, polluted water. Today water is often taken for granted, overused, heavily polluted, and increasingly expensive to treat for our drinking water. Poor water quality negatively impacts our safety and health as well as other species over time.

Lynne is a randomly creative artist who is driven by curiosity and imagination. Creating colorful, whimsical & detailed artwork of all kinds is her passion. Much of her art is inspired by nature but she also has a love of text, texture and patterns that comes into play when creating. She has been pursuing this passion for over 20 years and has creations in private and corporate collections in the US and abroad. She has two coloring books published by Dover Publications, the first, “Zendalas” which includes highly detailed drawings inspired by mandalas, and the second, titled “In The Woods” featuring a variety of abstract/funky trees and hidden animals.

Her childhood summers were spent on a southern Indiana lake which fueled her passion for nature, water, and fun! Currently, she lives on property in rural Morgan County with her rescue pets and enjoys exploring the woods, fields, and small creek in addition to working in her home studio.

Theme: Recreation and Shoreline Communities | Indiana offers opportunities to go swimming, fishing, canoeing, skiing, boating, floating, and other types of recreational activities on the water. These activities play a huge part in bringing communities together, making Indiana a place where people want to live, and providing a way to escape the daily stresses of life. Lakes, streams, rivers, and shorelines are also places for communities to build restaurants, host events, and spend time with family and friends.

Katarina Antal graduated in May of 2022 from Ball State University with a degree in landscape architecture. Growing up in northern Indiana, she quickly formed a love for the outdoors spending her free time biking, running, and exploring trails which led her to combine her love for art and the outdoors in her degree. Nature is a significant inspiration for her art, as she is often taken in awe by the beauty and intricacies of life that are found outdoors. In her art, she primarily focuses on water scenes and native Midwest flowers. She has also participated in the 2019 and 2022 Goshen Storm Drain Art Projects, as well as painted an electric control box in Muncie Indiana in 2020 as part of the Muncie Box! Box! Art Program.

Theme: Nature and Wildlife | Indiana’s wildlife and natural habitats heavily rely on our water resources for their very existence. Whether water is required for growth, diet, reproductive phases, or even their entire habitat, the presence and quality of water sources have a large impact. What kind of interesting and unique animals swim, hunt, and hide in our waters? Madison County has thirty endangered, threatened, and rare species. How can we help protect our water resources to support these critters and their special habitats?

Katrina Mitten is a citizen of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and an award-winning artist, beading for over 45 years. She is also an educator at a variety of levels – corporate lecturer, secondary school and university educational programs, and documentary films. Katrina has practiced traditional Great Lakes embroidery style native beadwork through the study of family heirlooms, museum collections, and practice. The imagery she creates is inspired by the world around her. Her works have been acquired by the Miami Tribe, national museums, and private collectors. Illustrating the value she places on education, Katrina has been a corporate lecturer, contributed to elementary, secondary, and university-level educational programs, and featured in documentary films.
“My teachers are the beadworkers of the past.”

Theme: The Indigenous Perspective | Native communities have a long history and special relationship with the White River and its tributaries – a relationship that is different in many ways from people’s relationship with water today. From the artist herself, “The creation of this canoe is to visualize our respect for the water given to us by the creator.” You will see on the canoe “keekiihtanki” which means water is life flowing. Katrina also adds, “It has images of water beings and protectors because we as Indigenous people have a responsibility to all of life that is dependent on clean water including we human beings.”

Geoff Davis, a life-long Hamilton County resident, is a multi-disciplinary artist best known for his hand-carved and colorful birds, whales, and pull toys. In addition to his carvings, Geoff is a leathersmith and letterpress printer. Always striving to learn new techniques, Geoff’s work is known for its unique crackle texture and authentic patina. Geoff is active in the Noblesville arts community and operates a teaching studio in OldTown Noblesville where students engage in bookarts, letterpress, carving, and leather. Geoff was named an Indiana Artisan in 2011 and has been listed in the Early American Life Directory of Traditional American Craft since 2017. His work may be found in private collections and the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, NY.

Theme: Waterway Corridors | Waterways are a critical resource for wildlife, not only as a source of food and drinking water but also as transportation corridors, creating familiar routes and safe connections between larger natural areas. Forested streams and rivers and their connected wetlands, lakes, and reservoirs create an important landscape network that supports endangered species and migratory birds, making Indiana one of the most active flyways in North America. More than 420 species of migratory birds pass through the state each year, joining the many other beloved Indiana resident species that call these waters home year-round.

Phyllicia Carr is a self-taught multidisciplinary artist from Indianapolis, IN and is known for expressing herself through visual art, graphic design, and photography. She uses her intuition to explore realism and abstract elements while highlighting her subjects with nature. Her mixed media portraits are inspired from vivid dreams, research, and deep introspective revelation to communicate the importance of empowerment, love, beauty, vulnerability, and healing for the Black community. Phyllicia received her B.A. in Communication from North Carolina A&T State University. Her work has been exhibited at the Indianapolis Central Library, WACO Theater Center’s Wearable Art Gala (founded by Richard Lawson & Tina Knowles Lawson), Pardi Gras Ball, PardiWay, the AMP, and was a winner for Martk’d shoe design competition sponsored by Finishline & Puma sponsored.

Theme: Water Safety and Health | Water is crucial for our health and safety, yet it can be detrimental to our health and safety when it isn’t clean. Contaminants like algal toxins, pharmaceuticals, PFAS, heavy metals, and others can threaten our drinking water and are often unregulated or require expensive treatments to remove. And yet, our household water supply is one of the primary tools we use to keep our homes clean and sanitary.

Shaunt’e Lewis is a published Visual Artist and Illustrator. She was born and raised in Springfield Massachusetts and moved to Indiana in 2011. Her work centers around self identity, black culture and femininity. She specializes in colorful, bold illustration as well as murals and original paintings for private collectors and commercial clients. Her passion for art and entrepreneurship and her unmistakable style has led her to work with some amazing companies such as West Elm, Makers Mark, NCAA, Indy 500, Vuse, Nordstom, Meijer, Jiffy Lube, PBS, Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site and more. Her work has also been featured in The New York Times, Complex Magazine, Hello Colorado and several local publications.

“My work explores the relationship between feminism and the arts while incorporating bright colors and clean lines. I am particularly captivated by the endless facets and abstractness of my culture. I love to hear the difference views and personal connections that my art creates. I find it very rewarding to share my passion and artistic talents with others. Through my work, I hope to inspire others to pursue their passions.”

Theme: Water Access, Affordability, & Equity | Many of us take access to water for granted – we turn on the faucet and out it comes. Sadly, this is not true for everyone. Over 2 million Americans live without easy access to water, and there are a variety of factors as to why. Race, social class, and location are all contributing factors to water accessibility. This is a worldwide problem as well as one happening in our own backyard. Any imagining of an equitable future must include affordable access to clean water for everyone.