Herron School of Art and Design presents Sanford Wurmfeld exhibition and renowned designer Paula Scher as Jane Fortune lecturer

Wednesday, September 04, 2019

Sanford Wurmfeld, "II-35 #1+B (-BG)" (detail), 2003. Acrylic on canvas, 90 x 134 inches. Courtesy of the artist

INDIANAPOLIS -- IUPUI Herron School of Art and Design will launch its fall season Sept. 18 with an exhibition and talk by New York artist Sanford Wurmfeld. Later this fall, Herron will present a talk by celebrated graphic designer Paula Scher, the 2019 Jane Fortune Outstanding Women Visiting Artist. Both public programs exemplify the school's commitment in bringing the most dynamic aspects of contemporary art and design to Herron and IUPUI students and the wider communities of Indianapolis.

"Encountering Color: Sanford Wurmfeld's E-Cyclorama II (and Other Paintings)" features an immersive, 360-degree installation investigating color and visual perception, along with a selection of Wurmfeld's recent work. "E-Cyclorama II," a continuation of the artist's lifelong exploration of color, offers an interactive, chromatic experience on a monumental scale. Visitors will enter "E-Cyclorama II" through a doorway that leads them up a staircase into an elliptical space that surrounds the viewer in a continuous, vast panoramic painting, 30 x 26 feet in size and 90 feet in circumference. The exhibition will remain on view through Dec. 18 in the Berkshire, Reese and Paul Galleries.

On Wednesday, Oct. 9, Paula Scher will present the Jane Fortune Outstanding Women Visiting Artist Lecture from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Basile Auditorium, with a reception to follow. One of the most influential graphic designers working today with a career spanning more than four decades, Scher has been described as the "master conjurer of the instantly familiar," one who deftly straddles the line between pop culture and fine art. In this talk, Scher will share insights she has made as a graphic designer, an environmental designer, and a painter, and how one discipline informs another, with painting serving as an antidote to both.

Also on view this fall in the Herron galleries:

"Endia Beal: Am I What You're Looking For?" (Sept. 18 to Dec. 18, Basile Gallery) – Through an arresting use of photography and video, Endia Beal explores the challenges young women of color face as they enter the corporate workforce.

"Valerie Eickmeier: Mapping Expedition" (Sept. 18 to Nov. 9, Marsh Gallery) – This exhibition features a selection of new paintings and woodcuts created by Professor Valerie Eickmeier during her recent sabbatical year.

"Stefan Petranek: The Future is Broken" (Nov. 18 to Dec. 18, Marsh Gallery) – Turning to new digital technologies, Associate Professor Stefan Petranek presents a new series of augmented multimedia landscapes that address his anxiety for the future of our planet.

An artist's talk given by Sanford Wurmfeld and an opening reception will be held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18. All exhibitions and events at Herron are free and open to the public and will take place in Eskenazi Hall, located on the IUPUI campus at 735 W. New York St. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Visit HerronGalleries.org for more information.

In-kind support for the opening reception and lecture is provided by Sun King Brewing. Parking is free in the Sports Complex Garage adjacent to Eskenazi Hall or on levels 5 and 6 of the Riverwalk Garage, courtesy of The Great Frame Up Indianapolis, with validation from the Herron galleries.

About the Jane Fortune Outstanding Women Visiting Artist Lecture

The Jane Fortune Outstanding Women Visiting Artist Lecture brings internationally acclaimed female artists to Indianapolis. The lecture series is made possible by a gift from Indiana philanthropist Jane Fortune—author, art historian, and founder of Advancing Women Artists Foundation. Past guest speakers include María Magdalena Compos-Pons, Deborah Butterfield, Eleanor Antin, Faith Ringgold, Carrie Mae Weems, and most recently Ann Hamilton.

About the Herron Galleries

Since 2005, the Galleries at IUPUI Herron School of Art and Design have served as a vibrant site of exploration, participation and learning. Herron's galleries continue to be an innovative educational forum for diverse audiences by providing direct and meaningful encounters with contemporary art and artists through a wide range of curatorial projects and public programming.