Heartland Artists Gallery has a whole new look and environment due to Todd Hoover’s display. His work will perk up any who visit the Gallery. Heartland is excited to have him as our featured artist with his interactive display of masks that a visitor to the Gallery can use for a selfie. His photography, mixed media, and sculptures will keep you enthralled and will remain on display through July 20. The community is invited to the Open House Sun. July 7 from 1-4 with an Art Talk at 2:30 by Todd Hoover.
He received a B.S. degree in Art Education from Indiana University, Bloomington in 1968, and an M.F.A. from the University of Notre Dame in 1973. He taught drawing and photography classes at James Whitcomb Riley High School, South Bend, Indiana and photography at Indiana University, South Bend Campus. He received a 1999 Lilly Endowment Education Grant to study non-silver photography.
Todd has a strong exhibition history in juried art shows and has had many one-man shows including shows at the South Bend Museum of Art; the Northern Indiana Artist Association Gallery, Hammond, Indiana; Indiana University, South Bend Campus; St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana; Mount Mercy University, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; the Michiana Jewish Federation, South Bend, Indiana; Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan; the Colfax Cultural Center, South Bend, Indiana, and the Buchanan Art Center, Buchanan, Michigan.
In 2010, Hoover explored digital photography. Initially, leaving the dark room for digital computer printed photography was an extremely difficult transition for him after making photos in his darkroom for so many years. In 2011, he purchased a digital camera and started photographing small toys which he combined with vintage fabric backgrounds. In 2012, he started taking digital images from nature where he focused on pattern and form. In 2013 he continued to photograph toys and figurines which he greatly enlarged. In 2014 and 2015, Hoover created bird images and birdhouses using strips from his large collection of “Paint-by-Number paintings. In 2016, Hoover returned to film and his darkroom to develop photographs. Part of the process was to drip the chemistry across the photo paper creating an unusual pattern on the print. In 2016 and 2017, his digital images incorporated high contrast stripes that visually vibrated and created strong geometric patterns. In 2018 and 2019, he combined images to make three panel triptychs that conveyed strong social meaning. His latest artistic endeavor includes vintage doll heads used in a series he calls “cute little faces.” Hoover’s search for new subjects to explore and his love of the photography process results in an ever expanding body of work.
The Gallery’s mission for over 30 years is to support area artists, and to bring and to teach the arts to our community, as we just did with the Art in the Street Festival in June. Our not-for-profit Gallery gives area artists a venue to show and sell their art. Our art classes fulfill our mission for educating and they also assist in our financial means to maintain the Gallery. Heartland has embarked on a new Membership Campaign for all art enthusiasts and artists. We have several levels of membership sure to suit the individual or family needs. The Gallery has opportunities and as we continue to grow we want to share those with more of our community.
Visit www.heartlandartgallery.com, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or call 574.936.9515 for more information. The Gallery is located in downtown Plymouth. Gallery hours are Tues. – Sat. 10-4.
