Artist Interviews:
Denise Town and Tracy Gritter (Fishers, Ind.)
In
what used to be the Town Hall, Gallery 116 now takes its place. Located on the well known 116th
Street in Fishers, IN, this gallery simply can’t be missed. Denise Town and Tracy Gritter founded
Gallery 116 in 2002 and have worked together ever since. With Tracy typically doing the artwork
and Denise working on floral designs, they are quite the dynamic duo.
Denise and Tracy were introduced to each other by their husbands who happened to have gone to high school together. The ladies then teamed up with local art teachers during a summer and began their new lives as artists. Before working at Gallery 116, they did home shows in one of their basements where they literally handmade everything.
While I was given the tour of Gallery 116, they pointed out to me that their “metallic message boards” were their own creation. I then walked passed jewelry, painted glasses, festive clocks, etc, etc. Mesmerized at what the store had to offer, I quickly made a note to come back and shop around. Before I left the store, I was told that it was “not an untouchable place.” Therefore, shoppers can feel free to walk around and not only see, but touch.
Gallery 116 not only is a store, but a place for classes where students can make things themselves. I highly suggest checking this store out. Need help with home decorating? This is your spot.
Denise and Tracy were introduced to each other by their husbands who happened to have gone to high school together. The ladies then teamed up with local art teachers during a summer and began their new lives as artists. Before working at Gallery 116, they did home shows in one of their basements where they literally handmade everything.
While I was given the tour of Gallery 116, they pointed out to me that their “metallic message boards” were their own creation. I then walked passed jewelry, painted glasses, festive clocks, etc, etc. Mesmerized at what the store had to offer, I quickly made a note to come back and shop around. Before I left the store, I was told that it was “not an untouchable place.” Therefore, shoppers can feel free to walk around and not only see, but touch.
Gallery 116 not only is a store, but a place for classes where students can make things themselves. I highly suggest checking this store out. Need help with home decorating? This is your spot.
Earl Tharp (Cicero, Ind.)
Before
interviewing Earl Tharp, I had heard a little about what he makes. Interestingly enough, he has been
making Native American flutes for the past 15 years. With his great grandmother being of the Cherokee tribe, he
was interested in their history.
He first began with bamboo flute making in his home.
“I now have a full blown workshop,” Earl Tharp said.
When I arrived at his home, I got out of my car and noticed a small shed in the backyard. As I got closer, I realized that it was in fact his workshop. Inside was everything you would possibly need to construct a flute.
The flutes he makes are known as panatomic because the original one had only five notes. Every Indian tribe had a flute, but each had a different meaning depending on the tribe. For example, the Lakota tribe’s flute was used for courting while the Cherokee tribe’s flute was used for healing.
Earl started playing the flute first before he ever considered making them. As his interest for flutes began to grow, he realized how costly it was going to be to keep upgrading his collection. Therefore, the idea of making them for his self evolved.
To make a flute takes plenty of time and patience. He first learned how to make them from other flute makers. The flute is made with no holes at first. It is also crucial that the temperature in the room be compensated for considering the tuning depends on how hot or cold it is in the area. He makes sure each and every one of his flutes is tuned at 72 degrees. After the flute is made, he adds the additional “touch” of decoration and uniqueness. One of his flutes had the addition of 30,000 year old wooly mammoth tusk. Incredible.
“I’m also a member of the Indiana Flute Circle,” he said.
This particular group meets once a month to study and play the American flute. Not only is he involved with the group, but he also has been known to attend “Musical Echoes” in Florida, which is a Native American musical festival. He has been able to meet his inspiration for most of his music, which is Mary Youngblood, who is known as the first woman to have the Native American flute be professionally recorded.
If you’d like to attend a laid-back atmosphere and have the opportunity of hearing Earl play, you should stop by the Cicero Coffee Shop. His talent is unique and should have the chance to be appreciated.
“I now have a full blown workshop,” Earl Tharp said.
When I arrived at his home, I got out of my car and noticed a small shed in the backyard. As I got closer, I realized that it was in fact his workshop. Inside was everything you would possibly need to construct a flute.
The flutes he makes are known as panatomic because the original one had only five notes. Every Indian tribe had a flute, but each had a different meaning depending on the tribe. For example, the Lakota tribe’s flute was used for courting while the Cherokee tribe’s flute was used for healing.
Earl started playing the flute first before he ever considered making them. As his interest for flutes began to grow, he realized how costly it was going to be to keep upgrading his collection. Therefore, the idea of making them for his self evolved.
To make a flute takes plenty of time and patience. He first learned how to make them from other flute makers. The flute is made with no holes at first. It is also crucial that the temperature in the room be compensated for considering the tuning depends on how hot or cold it is in the area. He makes sure each and every one of his flutes is tuned at 72 degrees. After the flute is made, he adds the additional “touch” of decoration and uniqueness. One of his flutes had the addition of 30,000 year old wooly mammoth tusk. Incredible.
“I’m also a member of the Indiana Flute Circle,” he said.
This particular group meets once a month to study and play the American flute. Not only is he involved with the group, but he also has been known to attend “Musical Echoes” in Florida, which is a Native American musical festival. He has been able to meet his inspiration for most of his music, which is Mary Youngblood, who is known as the first woman to have the Native American flute be professionally recorded.
If you’d like to attend a laid-back atmosphere and have the opportunity of hearing Earl play, you should stop by the Cicero Coffee Shop. His talent is unique and should have the chance to be appreciated.