South Shore Arts in Munster, Indiana has revealed its 2026 exhibition schedule. “In this year of national importance, we intend to celebrate the excellence of local artists and promote our region’s creative spirit,” said executive Director Jonathan Canning.
The year begins with the exhibition Mark Makers that focuses on regional artists with national reputations for elevating the status of drawing and expanding the medium’s impact through the precision of their execution, as in the work of ------, the emotional power of their imagery, evident in Tim Lowly’s portraits of his daughter, and in the innovative conceptual framework that underlies of the art of Mary Porterfield. The exhibition runs through March 14.
Tim Lowly, Jar – Riva Lehrer, graphite and ink on Schoellerhammer drawing board, 28.5 x 40 in., 2022. © Tim Lowly
Mary Porterfield, Holding Out, Holding In, oil on layered Dura-lar film, layered paper 26 x 75 in., 2023. © Mary Porterfield
Throughout the spring and summer, South Shore Arts will highlight the work of young, emerging, and establish local artists through its annual Tri-County Jr/Sr High School Exhibition and Salon Show. Both juried exhibitions are noted for their rich prize pools, with financial awards and scholarships intended to support artists in pursuit of their educational and professional goals. For the first time in its 83-year history, the Salon Show will have a theme – My America – encouraging artists to reflect upon the country’s semi-quincentennial.
83rd Annual Salon Show - Arturo Miramontes, Gratitude, oil on canvas, 48 x 48 in. © Arturo Miramontes
In the fall, the exhibition Still Crazy: 40 Years of the Crazy IN Style Artists will celebrate the legacy of the first Hispanic artists collaborative in the country. Inspired by the graffitied train cars that rolled through East Chicago, Calumet Township, and Hammond in northwest Indiana, young Latino artists like Ish Muhammad and Felix Muldinado established a crew that has contributed to the region’s cultural scene for forty years. Currently, the crew is involved in community mural programs across the region, especially in Gary, IN, where their murals are helping to revive neighborhoods and rekindle local pride.
Ish Muhammad, We Watch Like Our Hands Clean, acrylic on canvas, 72 x 48 in. © Ish Muhammad
Ish Muhammad, Alpha Babble, acrylic on canvas, 12 x 14 in. © Ish Muhammad
The year concludes with the return of the Evergreen Artisan Market that runs from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. This holiday tradition promotes the work of local artists and craft people, providing collectors and seasonal gift givers with unique works of art.
South Shore Arts is located at the Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster IN. Access to exhibitions is free to all. More information about the 2026 exhibition calendar can be found at www.SouthShoreArtsOnline.org.