Artist uses repurposed objects to make her art speak

<p>Debra Gindheart's exhibit, "ART Speaks," will be displayed at Madjax until Jan. 31. Gindheart uses repurposed objects such as dolls and household items to express topics that may be hard to discuss. <strong>Tier Morrow, DN</strong></p>

Debra Gindheart's exhibit, "ART Speaks," will be displayed at Madjax until Jan. 31. Gindheart uses repurposed objects such as dolls and household items to express topics that may be hard to discuss. Tier Morrow, DN

After hosting many exhibits of her work throughout the Indianapolis and Bloomington areas, Debra Gindhart has found a permanent home in the Madjax building in downtown Muncie. 

This month her collection “ART Speaks,” which is featured until Jan. 31, includes pieces like “An Armed Society is a Polite Society,” “Mixed Messages,” and “STOP Human Trafficking.”

Gindhart has been painting and creating art since she was a little girl. She said her brain is always working to explore new ideas and topics. 

“I don’t ever recall a time not doing art,” Gindhart said. “My mother was always very creative when I was growing up, and my great uncle, Richard Love, co-founded the Indiana School of Art in Indianapolis, so I feel like it just runs through my veins.”

Most of the art within her gallery consists of repurposed objects, such as old paintings, dolls and household items. Gindhart described these works as her “redirected art” or “sculpture paintings” that she assembles and adds her personal flare to. 

“I get a lot of my ideas for sculpture paintings from suggestions, others, like my daughter, give me,” Gindhart said. “I get an idea and then I just think on it for awhile until I get a clear vision of exactly how the piece should look. After that, the motions come easy.”

Gindhart’s work expresses difficult topics she feels people need to address, in the hopes that community members who view her gallery will take a second to stop and take in the colors and meanings behind each piece. 

“Here at the Madjax building, we strive to expose the public to science, technology, art and math opportunities that they wouldn’t find otherwise,” said Jennifer Greene, director of Madjax operations. “Debra falls under the art category, and she has a unique way of sharing uncomfortable topics with her audiences. She makes it easier to talk about, and that leads to a lot of great conversations within the Muncie community.”

Though Gindhart is the first full-time artist stationed in Madjax, her work has been displayed at Muncie’s First Thursday events for over 10 years. 

“When I am painting, I feel like my words and life experiences just spill out onto whatever canvas I am using,” Gindhart said. “I love making art, and I’m glad it chose me.”

Gindhart is conducting a “Second Thursday” event for the public to visit, view her art and speak with her personally this Thursday from 5-8 p.m.

Contact Tier Morrow with comments at tkmorrow@bsu.edu

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