Pictured is a sculpture outside of the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis.

By Darla McCammon

We have covered quite a nice number of art related museums and galleries for you to visit this summer. I hope you have enjoyed the trips. Here are the last two we will discuss for now, but we will want to be back and visit two of the ones we mentioned that are currently under construction and renovation. Two of the most outstanding in not only Indiana, but also in the United States, are on our radar this week.

Eiteljorg Museum of American Indiana and Western Art

I have to admit, this is one of my favorite museums. It is pronounced EYE-tell-JORG with the accent on the “I.”

You can find this fantastic place west of the Colts hangout at 500 W. Washington St. in Indianapolis. This museum entices you inside with a beautiful large bronze sculpture as you near the entrance. This museum proudly lets you know it is the only museum of its kind in the Midwest that explores both Native American art and the American West. It is a stunning building and well-thought out in its arrangement of the collections. You can spend a lot of time in the Native American collection, the Western collection of works from 1820 to the present, and a contemporary collection.

You can learn about every native population of both the United States and Canada, where I fell in love with the Ojibwe culture and history if you’ve read my book “Diamond Bait.” If you like work by Russell and Remington, or even Georgia O’Keefe’s more contemporary views of Western art, you will love this museum. It is spacious and comfortable and I encourage you to plan a day. A nice café will give you a tasty break so you can go back to enjoy more art. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Newfields

Previously known as the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Newfields has teamed up with “Cracking Art,” an Italian art collection to bring a unique sculpture exhibit in which brightly colored animals, made from recycled plastic, are distributed throughout the entire campus of Newfields.

This enormous campus is part of the Indianapolis Museum of Art and includes separate things to see and do such as the Lilly House, the Garden, the 100-acre Fairbanks Art and Nature Park, Miller House and Gardens, the Beer Garden, The Museum and Garden Shop and The Café. This museum has an incredibly large collection of art from every genre and age, including some extremely valuable pieces you will enjoy viewing.

The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. It is located at 4000 N. Michigan Road, Indianapolis. Admission can run up to $18, but from 4 to 8 p.m. on the first Thursdays of the month, admission is absolutely free. Those upcoming dates are Aug. 2, Sept. 6, and Oct. 4. Take your family and enjoy this bargain.

Upcoming and Current Events

• The Don Sheline exhibit is open now at Warsaw City Hall Art Gallery from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, until Aug. 3. Please go visit this free exhibit and appreciate his work. He is giving away a free original painting every Friday. You need to go sign up and see this wonderful work. He will also be there in person from 2 to 4 p.m. each Friday to meet and greet you.
• The July LAA exhibit on Timothy Tyree is currently open at Lakeland Art Gallery, located at 302 E. Winona Ave.