Battle Ground News

Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., is video recorded by a cell phone during a visit to the West Lafayette wastewater treatment center Monday, May 7, 2012 in West Lafayette, Ind.

Republican U. S. Senate candidate Richard Mourdock urges his supporters to get to the polls on Tuesday as he makes a campaign stop Monday, May 7, 2012, at Immanuel Reformed Presbyterian Church near Battle Ground, Ind.

BATTLE GROUND, Ind. - Wolf Park welcomed a new litter of pups on April 6, 2012. One of the park's female wolves, Dharma had six puppies: Two girls and four boys.

BATTLE GROUND, Ind. - An ominous scene painted just out side of downtown Battle Ground Thursday afternoon with large, extensive fires and smoke that was so dense at times that it blocked out a lot of sunlight.

Two exciting exhibits are currently on display at Lala Gallery in downtown Lafayette. 'Current Inventiveness,' showing in the north gallery, is a gathering of abstract artists Chad Bohren, Elizabeth Diaz, Michal Lile, Diana May and Maura Schaffer. The show consists of oil paintings, wall constructions and ceramic sculpture. Bohren's 'Bella,' a large mixed-media work on paper, displays lively energy that stays true to the artist's mark-making agenda. The human condition is explored through layers of graphite and paint. Diaz's work continues to delve into the power of the brush. In an unrestrained vigor, the artist discovers new ground in a combination of muted as well as brightly colored counterstrokes. The wooden box constructions of Michal Lile have matured over time and have settled into fascinating color and surface studies that will send the viewers' eyes on an optical adventure. The ceramic sculpture by Battle Ground artist Diana May is dynamic in size and boldness of form, and holds its own with this strong two-dimensional work. Maura Schaffer has combined paint and construction techniques to produce outstanding wall art. Is it a painting? Yes. Is it sculpture? Yes. Her portals of paper cutouts mix smoothly with the interesting painted and sometimes textured surfaces of her work. In the small south gallery, 'Insufficiently Surreal' consists of six paintings and drawings by Andrea Remer. Two very large paintings on canvas visually dominate the space with their morphed human qualities. One would think that two 4-by-6-foot works would be too much for this intimate space, but this work is easily viewed from close range. All of these powerful works display a certain dynamic that translates into a somewhat erotic physiological transformation. The artist's subtle palette works extremely well with the Francis Bacon-meatiness of these fascinating pieces. This is a must-see exhibit for those interested in celebrating the abstract. Contributing columnist Tom Shafer provides insight about interesting art exhibits throughout the Greater Lafayette community. He may be reached at orieshafer@hotmail.com.