April Events at Nickel Plate Arts in Noblesville

Nickel Plate Arts

By Paige F. Hunkin
Nickel Plate Arts
http://nickelplatearts.org/

April is showering Hoosier Hot Shots, foolishness, budding T.C. Steeles and more upon Nickel Plate Arts, 107 South 8th Street, in Noblesville, Indiana.

On April Fool’s Day, April 1, 12 p.m.-5 p.m., strange things are afoot in the Nickel Plate Arts Gallery! Come see what fools these artists can be.

Artists ages 15 and older are welcome to Open Drawing Classes every Monday night through June, 7-9 p.m. Come draw with Nickel Plate studio artists Bruce Neckar and John Reynolds. Graphite sticks, newsprint and drawing boards included in student’s $3 class fee. Prizm The Artist’s Supply Store and Indiana Arts Commission sponsor this series.

Music and film will fill our campus during First Friday, April 5, 5-8 p.m. The Hoosier Hot Shots has roots in Arcadia and became a popular quartet in the 1930s. The band’s style has been called “rural Midwestern jazz” and their performances included plenty of comic relief. In the Stephenson House, visitors will see screenings of movie clips featuring the Hoosier Hot Shots. They will also enjoy talented musicians playing all around our campus.

On April 13, 20 and 27, 1:30-3:30 p.m., licensed instructor Janet Gilray presents interactive, small-group learning sessions all about the wildly popular American Girl dolls. Gilray’s Me ‘n’ My American Girl series will explore the songs, crafts and fashions associated with eras the various dolls represent. Participants are encouraged to bring a doll with accessories; $12 per child per class.

Master Naturalist Kathy Laugheed continues her Art of Gardening series with two classes in April. The life-long gardener shares her extensive knowledge of the best ways to get your garden growing during Planting Your Garden April 13 and teaches how to prepare your soil and get plants started during Sowing the Seeds April 27. Each class is 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and costs $20 per person, which includes seeds and catalogs. Register at info@nickelplatearts.org.

The Young Artists Exhibition gives the young at heart a place to celebrate the young at art in Hamilton County. Nickel Plate Arts is proud to present Noblesville Schools’ student work during the Young Artists Exhibition. A free opening reception with snacks happens April 17, 5:30-7 p.m. The exhibit runs April 12-May 4.

From April 22 to 27, the great outdoors take an artistic, whimsical turn with an event or class for anyone who heeds the siren call of Mother Nature during Earth Week at Nickel Plate Arts! To name a few, we’re offering a nature exhibition, children’s crafts, an enchanted trail featuring homes for fairies, an outdoor sculpture project, artist-led nature tours and nature-inspired drawing classes. Visit nickelplatearts.org for details.

All events take place in either the Stephenson House or the Judge Stone House, located just next door. The City of Noblesville is sponsoring all of Nickel Plate Arts on-campus events. Nickel Plate Arts’ regular hours are Thursdays and Fridays, 12-5 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 317-452-3690 for information. Visit us online at http://nickelplatearts.org/ to find additional information and many more events and classes offered by our wonderful Nickel Plate Arts partners throughout Hamilton County.

About Nickel Plate Arts

Nickel Plate Arts is an umbrella organization that creates and coordinates arts and cultural experiences across communities to improve the quality of life for residents, strengthen local economies and enrich experiences for visitors. Nickel Plate Arts is a project of the Hamilton County Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Nickel Plate Arts Trail extends 30 miles through the communities of Fishers, Noblesville, Cicero, Arcadia, Atlanta and Tipton. The campus is available for rent for parties and meetings.