For Immediate Release October 28, 2005

For More Information Contact: Anita J. Day, 317-278-9475

Herron School of Art and Design Exhibits the Never-before-seen Paintings of John Mellencamp

Top to bottom: Cain and Able, Dignity in America and Skeletons.

INDIANAPOLIS - Friday, November 18, 2005 marks the public opening of never-before-seen paintings by renowned musician, John Mellencamp. The exhibition, John Mellencamp/Paintings, will take place in the Herron Galleries at the Herron School of Art and Design, 735 West New York Street, Indianapolis, Indiana. The opening reception begins at 5:00pm.

Mellencamp's work will be on exhibit in the Eleanor Prest Reese and Robert B. Berkshire Galleries. These new paintings combine Mellencamp's interest in portraiture, expressive form, and the sociopolitical issues prevalent in his music and activism. An advocate for the American farmer, he co-founded Farm Aid in 1985 with Willie Nelson and Neil Young.

Whether it involves advocating for a certain group or mastering music or painting, Mellencamp credits his perseverance as the path to his success. "I'm not an artist. I'm just a guy with a lot of tenacity. I have the ability to not quit. Most people quit on everything too soon. Most people simply don't have the ability to get things done, and that's the difference between me and most people. I don't quit." His never-quit nature is evidenced by the recognition he has received throughout his career. He is the recipient of the 2003 Woody Guthrie Award (for exemplifying the ideals of the legendary folksinger) and Billboard's highest accolade when he received the 2001 Century Award for distinguished creative achievement. He has received 11 Grammy nominations.

In preparation for the Herron exhibition, Mellencamp's tenacity allowed him to create 27 new paintings that are bold and expressive. They will be on view daily at the Herron Galleries, and Mellencamp has no preconceived ideas of what his audience should gain from his work. "I don't have thoughts about trying to alter what people think. I learned a long time ago, you can't control what people think. I can't control what college students are going to think or what one person's going to write. To have a mission of what I hope to accomplish? I've already accomplished it. There it is. There's the song. There's the painting. That's the accomplishment, not what people think about it. If you do things because of what people think, man, you're crippled."

Herron's gallery director and curator, David Russick, comments on Mellencamp's exhibition. "I think those who are familiar with the spirit of Mellencamp's music and social activism will be taken with his ability to combine the two in his most recent paintings.  These are powerful and personal images and I admire the way he has worked his convictions into his current work. It is refreshing to see someone with his celebrity take an unmitigated stand, regardless of how it might be received by his public."

John Mellencamp/Paintings will be on display beginning November 18, 2005 through January 7, 2006. The Herron Galleries are open daily from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm and until 7:00 pm on Thursdays during exhibitions. The exhibition is free and open to the public.

The 2005/2006 Herron Galleries exhibitions are sponsored in part by WFYI/TV 20 FM 90.1 with the support of the Arts Council of Indianapolis and City of Indianapolis. For more information, please contact the Herron Galleries at 317-278-9419.

The Indiana University Herron School of Art and Design is a 103-year-old professional institution that is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. Herron engages the public through its gallery exhibitions, community classes for youth and adults, Visiting Artist Lecture Series, and through professional projects with the business and non-profit communities. Herron also serves more than 800 degree-seeking students. The school is located on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

Media interested in downloading images of Mellencamp's work may do so at http://www.photos.iupui.edu/.

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