Staff Reports
SEYMOUR — Southern Indiana Center for the Arts’ October exhibit, “Mellencamp: Three Generations of Art,” features works from John, Marilyn and Speck Mellencamp.
The just-opened exhibit will be on display through Nov. 2.
It is sponsored by JCB and will feature many newer works from musician and artist John Mellencamp, including his mixed media mirrors from the Millican and Vickery collections. Also featured will be more paintings from Marilyn Mellencamp, John’s mother who painted at the center as a part of the Wednesday group that still meets at the center to this date.
Rounding out this family show will be the work of Speck Mellencamp, John’s youngest son who graduated from Rhode Island School of Design earlier this year.
“We are thrilled to have this talented family of artists featured here at SICA,” said Sean Hildreth, executive director of the center. “John’s generosity has provided SICA with the opportunity to reach so many people with art in this region.
“To have a show of this caliber at our center is another example of John’s passion for art in the area.”
John Mellencamp, whose interest in art made national news in the late 1980s, showed interest at an early age. His mother would be working at her easel while her young children were playing and chasing through the house, she told the Indianapolis Star in a 1993 interview. They would roar by, except one.
“John would stop — at least 30 seconds — and look up at what I was painting,” she said.
John Mellencamp took up painting in 1988, studying portraiture with Jan Royce of Indianapolis and later with David Leffel at the Art Students League in New York City. Marilyn and Speck Mellencamp also studied with Leffel.
John Mellencamp started with Impressionism, but soon found his own style.
His greatest influence is Max Beckmann, the Bob Dylan of painting, as the musician calls the German expressionist. Another influence is Robert Rauschenberg. John Mellencamp and Rauschenberg will have a show at ACA Galleries, 529 W. 20th St., in New York City from Oct. 24 through Dec. 21. More information can be found at acagalleries.com.
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What: "Mellencamp: Three Generations of Art," features works from John, Marilyn and Speck Mellencamp.
When: Hours are 12 to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday through Nov. 2.
Where: Southern Indiana Center for the Arts, 2001 N. Ewing St. in Seymour.
Admission: Free.
Information: soinart.com
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