Be Open Minded--Arthouse

(this also wasn't published, but hey, I'll blog it, too)

Art Teachers Billy and Kandi Jamieson of Arthouse recently wrapped up a Graffiti and Mural painting class, where the end result was a collaboration of ideas and designs painted onto a vintage VW bus.

Often graffiti is painted without permission, but “it’s also a style,” Kandi Jamieson said.  “In the class, we went through the whole history of it.  Graffiti art is a way to make political statements. Kids have something to say. Let’s allow them to speak their mind—they need a voice.”

The Jamiesons juxtaposed the concepts of graffiti and murals together in the class, allowing students to contribute ideas and collaborate on the design for the bus.  “We had to compromise and even agree to disagree sometimes.

One of the phrases that was painted on the bus, Be Open Minded, “really captured it,” Kandi said. “Even for adults who see graffiti art around, for them to be open minded and ask ‘why are kids doing this?’”

“Have we given them the opportunity to speak their mind and a place to create art? That’s what we want to do here.”

The Jamiesons plan to continue offering the Mural and Graffiti classes, and hope to do some inside murals in the colder months.  Stop by Arthouse at 195 S. 10^th Street, visit www.arthousenoblesville.blogspot.com or call 773.0038 for class schedules.

Photo cutline: “Billboards are all over and right in your face, why can’t art be like that?” Kandi Jamieson, who wants to see more public art in Noblesville.

Art students paint the town, and this is just the beginning

Hoping to “jumpstart a new theme of public art downtown,” Arthouse owner Kandi Jamieson and her students are working on a colorful public mural, located on the Girly Steel Studio building.


Jamieson had the opportunity to do a public mural while living in Boise, but said “I was intimidated and never did anything with it. I regret that.”

As luck would have it, after a previous Arthouse story was published, artist and welder Joanie Drizin of Girly Steel Studio mentioned to Jamieson that Billie Caldwell, owner of the Girly Steel Studio building, was interested in having a mural painted on it.

Caldwell even offered to supply all of the materials for the project.

Jamieson put together a mural painting class and enrolled ten students. The students collaborated on a design and made it come to life a few weeks ago when a string of nice days was conducive to starting the project.

“I have never done an outside public mural until this,” Jamieson said. The students hadn’t either, and they’ve enjoyed the process of watching their vision come to life. Jamieson plans to continue the mural painting with subsequent classes, and she has a couple more locations for public art already lined up. She’s been excited to see the enthusiastic response so far.

“There’s a lot of public art in Boise, a lot more art on the historic buildings, sculptures, fountains. We want a bigger arts district here in Noblesville.”

The mural, located at 336 S. 8th St, between Hannibal and Division, is about half done and will end up wrapping around the entire building.

Through the month of April, Arthouse has student works on display at the Hamilton County Public Library, and another session of classes begins this week. Visit www.arthousenoblesville.blogspot.com or call 773-0038 for details about classes or the mural painting.