To be human is to tell stories.

Since time immemorial, it is through spoken and written word that we have learned one another, taught one another, and made manifest our existence. Opening at Long-Sharp Gallery (“LSG”, 1 N Illinois Street, Suite A, Indianapolis 46204) on August 4, 2023, I Was Here: Stories [Un]Told honors mark-making: the physical, creative desire to take proverbial pen-to-paper and the visceral, human yearning to record, to memorialize, to matter. Artists whose works will comprise the exhibit include Nicola Anthony (UK), Lavett Ballard (US), Julia Ibbini (United Arab Emirates), Miriam Londoño (Colombia), Lakwena Maciver (UK), Ashley Nora (US), and Kimiko Yoshida (Japan/France).

Works included in this exhibit are as universal, complex, and as fundamentally beautiful as the artists who create them. Sculptures by Nicola Anthony focus on “unexpected happiness”, exploring through interviews the depth and resilience of the human spirit; Kimiko Yoshida’s transformative self-portraits explore perception (and erasure) of self and identity; Lakwena Maciver projects the power of unity in her 12-foot wide textile, “Nothing Can Separate Us”. Whether transforming unspoken testimonies from verbal to visual or celebrating radical human connection, works by these artists are a testament to the call of storytelling and the power of storytellers.

The opening reception of I Was Here will take place on Friday, August 4 as a part of the Indy Arts Council’s First Friday celebrations. This reception, from 6-9pm, is sponsored by Conrad Indianapolis and is free and open to the public.