The Indiana Arts Commission recently awarded Michigan City-based Lubeznik Center for the Arts a $10,000 Creative Convergence Grant.
The grant gave a team of professionals, one each from the nonprofit, civic and artist sectors, the opportunity to attend a two-day workshop. Workshop attendees planned a project that would benefit their community and an artist.
The team was composed of Janet Bloch, LCA executive director; Skyler York, Michigan City director of redevelopment, and artist Bernard Williams. The team proposed to bring Williams to Michigan City’s Uptown Arts District as artist-in-residence.
The residency will begin mid-June. It allows the public to have access to Williams and his temporary studio space at 720 Franklin Street. Visitors can ask questions, observe his creative process, view his sculptures and paintings and purchase artwork. The visiting hours will occur during specific posted times mid-June to Aug. 31.
McKinley Wells, an artist, owns the building where the residency will be located. Wells and Williams are planning the content for the mural Williams will paint on the north side of the building this summer during the residency. They are also discussing possible collaborations on a sculpture at the site.
“The arts add a welcoming element to the Michigan City landscape; they unite and transform the community,” Bloch said in a press release. “We are so excited about this partnership and are grateful to the Indiana Arts Commission for recognizing and supporting the positive impact the arts make with the Creative Convergence Grant. We hope this inspires more artistic activity.”
