Special district aims to revitalize economy and quality of life.
by John Cain
The Miller Beach Arts and Creative District was founded just a year ago for the purpose of revitalizing the economy and quality of life in Miller Beach and Gary by focusing on the arts. The goal of the district is to attract artists and businesses through efforts that promote the advantages and environment of Miller Beach with its location on Lake Michigan, the neighboring national park and its diverse population. Miller is blessed with a unique natural environment and has a long tradition of attracting and promoting artists and people who appreciate what they create.
The Arts and Creative District has been defined as an area surrounding Lake Street running from U.S. 12 to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore on the north end of Lake Street. The District has a goal of completing two major capital projects: the old Miller Drugs building – now the Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts – and Market Hall with 30 exhibit spaces and an aquaponic garden, to be situated between the South Shore Rail Line and the old Miller School, currently the home of South Shore Dance Alliance.
In the meantime, the Miller Beach Arts & Creative District has already developed an Arts Series designed to bring visitors to Miller Beach. The primary components of the Arts Series include Pop-Up art exhibits and a weekly farmer's market as weather permits, April through November.
There are two remaining Pop Up Art events to be held this year on Oct. 13 and Dec. 8. Artists working in all types of media including, but not limited to, painting, photography, sculpture, fashion design, and video are accepted into each show through an on-line application. The Aug. 11 show is called “Emerging Perspectives” and is being produced by the Calumet Artist Residency, whose goals are to provide quality living and studio space for artists, incorporating community outreach, in Miller.
The Oct. 13 show is being coordinated by the Master of Arts in Administration and Policy Program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The Dec. 8 Pop-Up will feature Jon Langford and Damon Locks, both musicians, as well as visual artists, who will be exhibiting and performing at the same time.
Dance and music are represented at each event through the participation of students from the South Shore Dance Alliance and various musical guests in performances at Miller Pizza and other venues. Artist exhibitions are spread throughout venues on Lake Street provided by local businesses, professional offices and organizations. The centerpiece of Pop-Up Art events is the Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts, recently donated to the Miller Beach Arts and Creative District for the purpose of creating exhibition and artist studio space, as well as an official home for the District.
South Shore Arts reminds you to visit the online Regional Art Calendar at www.SouthShoreArtsOnline.org. The Regional Arts Calendar lists all local arts happenings in Northwest Indiana, and is a great place to plan cultural activities for the week or month ahead. The calendar lists exhibits, concerts, plays, lectures, film series, dance performances and more, all taking place in or near your neighborhood. You can access the calendar by visiting the South Shore Arts home page and then clicking on Regional Art Calendar on the menu on the left side of the page.
Don't forget the South Shore Arts Facebook page where you can also keep up to date on exhibit schedules and opening receptions, class sign-ups, outreach programs and special events. Local artists also post their events and share local art experiences. The arts truly are alive in the Northwest Indiana.
Find out more about area arts activities and events by watching John Cain on Lakeshore Public Television's “Eye on the Arts,” every Thursday evening at 9 p.m. on Lakeshore News Tonight.
