Renowned for his meticulous renderings of Indiana landmarks, artist Harry A. Davis Jr. (1914-2006) inspires a devoted following among Hoosier art and architecture enthusiasts.

On June 7, Rachel Berenson Perry, fine arts curator emerita of the Indiana State Museum, presents an illustrated talk at Indiana Landmarks Center sharing the pivotal events of Davis’s life that shaped and inspired his art, offering a comprehensive picture of Harry Davis as teacher, husband, father, and artist.

Following the presentation, attendees can view a companion exhibit of Harry Davis’s work at a free First Friday opening reception in Indiana Landmarks Center’s Rapp Family Gallery. The exhibit will run through June 28.

Following studies at Indianapolis’s Herron School of Art in the 1930s, Davis launched a prolific career. In 1938, he won the prestigious Prix de Rome fellowship in painting, which led to work in Europe and North Africa. After serving as artist-in-residence in Wisconsin’s Beloit College in 1941-42, Davis enlisted in the U.S. Army, working as a combat artist in Italy during World War II before returning home to join Herron’s faculty. From figurative work that captured scenes from his rural Indiana upbringing to the paintings of buildings destined for demolition, Davis has left behind a legacy of hundreds of paintings.

“He had these really precise images of Indianapolis buildings and other places too, like perfectly measured moments of his time and place,” says Perry.

The program and art show are presented in partnership with Herron School of Art and Design and IUPUI University Library Special Collections and Archives, made possible through a grant from Indiana Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

WHAT: “The Art of Harry Davis,” a First Friday Art Show and illustrated talk exploring the work of prolific Indiana artist Harry A. Davis.

WHEN: Friday, June 7, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. EDT. Talk runs 6-7 p.m. (ticket required); Gallery show opening is 6-9 p.m. (free admission).

WHERE: Indiana Landmarks Center, 1201 Central Ave., Indianapolis

COST: Tickets to the talk cost $5/general public and are free with RSVP for Indiana Landmarks members. The First Friday opening reception in Rapp Family Gallery from 6 to 9 p.m. is free and open to the public.

RSVP: HarryDavisTalk.eventbrite.com or 317-639-4534

About Indiana Landmarks
Indiana Landmarks revitalizes communities, strengthens connections to our diverse heritage, and saves meaningful places. With nine offices located throughout the state, Indiana Landmarks helps people rescue endangered landmarks and restore historic neighborhoods and downtowns. People who join Indiana Landmarks receive its bimonthly magazine, Indiana Preservation. For more information on the not-for-profit organization, visit www.indianalandmarks.org.

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Media contacts:

Suzanne Stanis, Vice President of Education, Indiana Landmarks, 317-639-4534, sstanis@indianalandmarks.org

Mindi Woolman, Director of Marketing and Communications, Indiana Landmarks, 317-639-4534, mwoolman@indianalandmarks.org.