Twenty five tables, 25 black tablecloths, 25 toppers and the artistic works of more than 150 students and faculty will transform the Reilly Room into a feast for the eyes starting at 5 p.m. tonight.

ART NOW, in its sixth semester, is a showcase for students to display work they have created over the course of the semester in various art classes and independent studies.

Elizabeth Mix, associate professor of art history, said that the art program puts on ART NOW because it wants the whole campus to see what students are doing creatively.

ART NOW arose because there was never very much art on campus before and nobody knew about the each other’s artistic talents, she said “If you build it,” Mix said,  “They will come.”

For 24 hours, from 5 p.m. tonight until 5 p.m. tomorrow, people will have the chance to stroll up and down aisles of work created by students and faculty members.

Laura Kramer, a senior strategic communication and art + design double major, said that with every semester, the size of the event only gets bigger.

“You never see the same art twice,” Kramer said.  “It’s always different.”

Mix said that setting up the Reilly Room is always a bit stressful, but at the end of the day, she wants the people to experience and see the art.

“We want it to look amazing,” Mix said, “Because we’re so proud of what everyone’s made.”

The exhibit will feature all kinds of student-produced art including paintings, sculptures, poetry, performance art and multi-media.

Mix said that the great thing about this 24-hour exhibit is that people can see art produced by people they would never consider to be artists, whether they be students or business professors.

“There have always been artists on this campus,” Mix said.  “They just happen to be teaching in other departments.”

Daniel McCullough, a senior art + design major, said the exhibit features all kinds of mediums including burned canvas, broken glass and oil paintings.

“A lot of people, when they think of art, think of high-class paintings in museums,” McCullough said.  “This is much more personal.”

ART NOW is free and open to the public.  Mix said that the Reilly Room can be a bit imposing, but at the end of setup, it is completely filled with the talent of Butler students.

“That room isn’t just full,” Mix said. “It’s bursting.”

It’s one of the biggest arts events in the city, and it takes place right in our backyard at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. More than 20,000 people come annually to the Penrod Arts Fair to enjoy live music, local cuisine and plentiful art. With—hopefully—not too much homework piling up quite yet, walk the 10 minutes to the IMA this Saturday to experience the best of Indy’s art scene. Penrod Society chairman Jake Sturman told us what to expect.

History: Penrod. Surprise, surprise—the name isn’t an acronym. It’s actually the name of a fictional character created in 1914 by Booth Tarkington, one of only three individuals to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction twice. Tarkington, like the 12-year-old boy of his creation, was from Indianapolis.

The Penrod Society: In 1967, 12 men latched onto the name of Tarkington’s fictional character and founded the Penrod Society with a mission that focused on “the cultivation, encouragement and development of public interest in and support of [the] arts.” Their main event, the Penrod Arts Fair, now is in its 45th year and is the largest event of its kind in the
Midwest.

Music: Local bands will perform both here at the Rock Stage and at the Jazz Stage and WFYI/Katz & Korin Blues Tent. Expect Cynthia Layne, Uptown Quartet and Gordan Bonham. Want something more classical? The symphony stage in the blue section will host the Indianapolis Men’s and Women’s Choruses and the Indianapolis Children’s Choir.

Art: The private art vendors at Penrod come from nearly all 50 states. This year, there were 600 vendor applications for 350 spots. “Local art critics formed a jury that awarded the available spots, but it’s always tough making those decisions,” Sturman said.

Transportation: As in years past, Penrod will provide free transportation for those who wish to park at Clowes Memorial Hall. That makes for an easy ride for Butler students. A free bike corral will be located off the Central Canal Towpath at the Pony Truss Bridge entrance to the IMA.

Performing arts: Plenty of Indianapolis talents perform throughout the day at Penrod. At the Performing Arts Stage, expect dance companies such as Dance Kaleidoscope, the Indianapolis School of Ballet and the Extreme Rhythm Project.

Tickets: Tickets are $12 if purchased in advance at Marsh, MainStreet, Hubbard & Cravens or the IMA and $17 at the gate. Sturman said 100 percent of proceeds go to various arts organizations such as the IMA, Sugar Creek Arts Center and different ballets.

Starting this year, Butler University students interested in the field of art have a new major choice to consider.

The new art and design major explores art in a technological setting.

The program consists of 33 hours and requires a thesis and an internship for completion.

Associate professor of art Gautam Rao said “it was definitely student interest” that led to the creation of the new major.

Rao added that the most interest in the new major has been shown by students in the Jordan College of Fine Arts and the College of Communication.

Junior music major Rachel Anderson said part of what makes this major interesting is that “it is a unique and different approach to art.”

Anderson said she is excited that  this program integrates classic visual arts with a technological approach, something that is becoming more of a necessary skill in this field.

Even though she is already in her junior year, Anderson anticipates being able to complete the program on time.

“It’s nice that it will fit into my schedule,” she said.

Rao said the new major will be very helpful in providing students with an enviable skill set that will benefit them in the future.

“We wanted a major that would combine marketable skills with creative thinking,” he said.

He is not the only one who believes that such an integrated art major will significantly affect students’ career options and skills in the field.

“I’d like to work in some type of studio,” Rafael Porto, sophomore vocal performance major, said.

He believes that going through this program will be very helpful to his future career plans.

Porto plans to combine this program and his current major into a double major.

“I do a lot of photography on the side,” he said.

Porto said he sees himself benefiting from the digital media aspect of the art and design major.

“I think the design skills are going to make them instantly marketable,” Rao said. “They translate well on a resume.”

Rao explained that not only is the program unique in its approach to the study of art, but it is also not offered everywhere.

“We haven’t found any other program across the country that integrates in this way,” he said.

Not only will students have a more attractive set of skills to list on their resume, but Rao said he believes that the art and design major will truly help students grow as artists.

“Creative thinking will sustain the students for a lifetime,” he said.

Following the interest of many current Butler students in the program, Rao believes that interest will only grow as the program develops.