This is an inspiring story of the COVID-19 pandemic inspiring an artist to start pursuing his dream full-time.
Michael Schulbaum, local artist, spent 12 years as a full-time art teacher, but when COVID struck the world, as a type 1 diabetic, he had to take months off of work to protect himself.
He says arts has been his passion since age 3, but he went into teaching for many reasons, including the financial stability it provides.
“COVID brought a realization into me that life is too short to not do what you were born to do,” Schulbaum said.
Now his dreams are beginning to come true as he has been announced the winner of the Fine Art America national billboard contest. He was voted as 1 of 20 winners out of thousands to have his work displayed on a U.S. major city billboard.

His painting is called “Love and Service,” and he’s been told it’s very emotionally appropriate for the times we are in right now.
Schulbaum also surprised Indy Style’s Amber Hankins with a beautiful portrait (that’s still in progress) he created of her son.

For more information visit:
- michaelschulbaum.com
- IG: michaelschulbaum
- FB: Michael Schulbaum
- Prints: Michaelschulbaum.pictorem.com
- Fine Art America: Fineartamerica.com/profiles/michael-schulbaum
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The local restaurant for today’s Tasty Takeout is On the Border. Watch to see what they delivered us today.
For more information visit, ontheborder.com.
“Indy races, Indy shoots hoops… and INDY ARTS.”
The inaugural Indy Arts Festival is coming to Indianapolis on Monday, September 6. It’s taking place at 3130 Madison Ave. from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Indy Arts Fest has the goal to highlight Indy art talent. 2021’s event will focus on showcasing Indy muralists, street performers, artist vendors, and musicians. 6 muralists will each live paint a 8x12ft mural. Koda Witsken, lead muralist of Hue Murals, will have painted over 100ft of murals on the main building before the event.
She joined us today along with, Madi Williams, fiber artist, to share more about the event.
A General Admission ticket ($10) includes entry into Indy Arts Fest for one person, regardless of age, between 11am and 7pm. GA tickets give you access to view 6 muralists at work, a live body painter, a chalk artist, and more. You also get enjoy live music all day. You will be able to purchase food, drinks, and refreshments from our vendors and shop our artist vendor alley all day.
PLEASE NOTE: Kids 12 and under are FREE. Parking is limited and is NOT guaranteed. There will be limited parking at the event. We highly encourage you to Uber or Lyft for your safety and convenience. If you would like guaranteed parking, please consider upgrading to our VIP ticket option.
You can purchase tickets here until 6pm the day of the event.
A new album, an upcoming performance, and a couple of songs that describe all things “relationships.”
Today Cory Williams, singer/songwriter joined us with a performance of two of his new songs, “Throw It At The World” and “Josephine House”.
The last 5 years, Cory was living in Austin, TX doing what he loved and from that came a couple albums, but specifically a new album he released in March titled, “Bird Mouth.” It was recorded with and performed by Austin staples and The Band Of Heathens, along with songwriters such as, David Ramirez and Kelsey Wilson of Sir Women & Wild Child and album art by Shakey Graves.
He recently moved back home here in Indiana to marry his high school sweetheart and can’t wait to get back out playing shows in Indy which he calls “home.”
Cory has a new album coming out on June 12th.
Today he joined us with a performance of two of his new songs, “Throw It At The World” and “Josephine House”.
For more information visit, CoryWilliamsMusic.com.
The Full Circle Nine Gallery (FC9) will feature Robert Neat and “Celebrate History in Color,” a commemorative show on impactful figures, for First Friday, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Friday, June 4th. He joined us today to share more about the event. Here’s more from him:
“As a young man I always loved art that pushed the boundaries of social issues,” Neat said. “I believe art can be used for social change, and to bring attention to social issues. This show is meant to make you think. Do you like it? Do you hate it? Either way would be a success! It caused you to have an emotion. But the biggest significance is that we never forget those amazing individuals that sacrificed so much.”
Highlighted historical figures, events, and symbolism include Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Anne Frank, as well as Stonewall and the Pink Triangle, as Neat hopes visitors remember and reflect.
About Robert Neat:
Robert Neat is an Indianapolis-based mixed media artist, combining acrylic and oil paints, pencil, ink and glitter to capture his imagery. Neat says he can utilize all media in the quest to create his art, and loves to play and explore what those media can do and has practiced since he was a young child.
“I have always been attracted to colors, shadows, lights, and anything that sparkled,” Neat said. “When I was younger, I would accept commissions, but soon became bored with creating what others thought was ‘art.’ I now only do work that I enjoy and find pleasing or interesting. As my art evolves, I find myself creating art that address the social issues we all face. I also find myself wanting to capture great moments in history, memorialize famous figures in history.”
About the Full Circle Nine Gallery:
The Full Circle Nine Gallery operates as an artist cooperative gallery, with each of the member artists and the board dividing gallery duties and artists roles. The artists will work together to help each other advance in skill and practice, as well as to bring success to the gallery.
With over two dozen artists occupying a large, three-room space of the more factory-reminiscent portion of the Circle City Industrial Complex, Full Circle Nine offers a wide variety of art forms, media, and approaches.
To better work within the COVID-19 shutdown and restrictions, the Full Circle Nine Gallery has hosted Virtual First Fridays, on the gallery’s Facebook page, @fullcircleninegallery, as well as on its Instagram, @fc9gallery, during the typical First Friday hours. During that time, the artists will host live streams, post videos, or showcase photos of their latest work, in an effort to continue to connect with fans and patrons. The gallery has also resumed weekend hours, 12-4pm on Saturdays and Sundays, with health precautions, such as required masks.
Full Circle Nine Gallery is located at 1125 Brookside Ave., Indianapolis, IN, 46202, in the South Studios section of the Circle City Industrial Complex.
For more information, or for artists interested in joining the Full Circle Nine, please visit Fullcirclenine.com
Damon Karl, singer and acoustic guitarist, filled our studio with the beautiful sounds of his music filled with positive messages.
You can see the Indianapolis native performing live and in-person at GodRoxx Volume Three. It’s being held at The Spotlight Event Center, Sunday, April 18th at 3:30 P.M. and 5:30 P.M. The address is, 5060 E. 62nd Street, Indianapolis.
Tickets are on sale at their website, Godroxx.com.
Here’s more about Damon:
It was in fourth grade that Damon decided he wanted to be a singer. At age 16 he received his first guitar as a birthday present.
Damon is an alum of Arsenal Technical High School. Has been playing guitar since the age of 16.
He was discovered at a talent show contest where the winner would get to open for singer Tank.
Veteran Grammy winning manager/songwriter/producer Sid “Uncle Jamz” Johnson discovered him at the talent contest where he was a judge and would later introduce Damon to his chief influence Indy’s own legendary Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds. After that, Damon got to open a show for Babyface in Louisville, Kentucky. He has also opened for The Isley Brothers, SOS Band, Zapp and Morris Day & The Time.
Damon counts Indianapolis native son Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds and Tori Kelly as the two of his biggest musical inspirations.
He enjoys listening to: Babyface, Usher, Raheem DeVaughn, Louis Armstrong, Sam Cooke, Al Green, Alicia Keys, India. Arie, Tori Kelly and John Mayer. Music with passion is his favorite style to listen to.
Born under the sign of Sagittarius on December 2nd, Damon feels his purpose in life is to stand out and succeed.
His debut single “Colors Of The World” was co-written by him and his label-mate Nut Bush. The song has a great message for these times where it seems people are so divided by race, religion and politics.
Damon’s second single release was “Beautiful Girl”, and it was mostly written by Karl himself along with music producer Rob Hittz. There is a music video for the song.
His latest single, “Love Again,” recently hit #1 in the Atlanta market. The music video was filmed in Atlanta.
This summer he will be have a new single that is being produced by Rob Hittz in Phoenix, Arizona.
To keep up with Damon follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
For bookings: contact: sidviciousjamz@gmail.com.
Katrina Murray, artist & graphic designer, joined us on Indy Style today to tell us all about her current projects, including the work she’s doing in honor of March Madness being in Indianapolis this year. Here’s more from her:

I am an artist located on the 2nd floor of the Circle City Industrial complex. I have been running my art and design business there for 9 years. We are having a virtual First Friday on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Additionally the artists take visits by appointment and there will be a show in the Schwitzer gallery (open to the public all month).
I am currently working on a commission through the Arts Council of Indianapolis for March madness. It will be a new, temporary, site-specific art intervention in vacant downtown windows. Essentially, I will use vinyl adhesive to create an outdoor collage for two sets of double doors at the Former Ike and Jonesy’s at 17 West Jackson Place).

I won the creative renewal grant for 2021 that I had planned to use for travel to Greece and study ceramic making there. But The shut down due to the coronavirus made it impossible to travel abroad as I had planned in April last year. Those plans changed to: purchase a kiln, take a class at the Indianapolis Art Center and a drive-to museum visit. These things are In place of the original grant plans.
I did get a small PPP loan and some small stop gap grants to help keep my business afloat during the shutdown and subsequent months of lean business.

For more information, visit KatrinaJMurray.com and KatrinaMurrayDesign.com.
Studio open first Fridays and by appointment: 1125 Brookside Avenue, S 03B, Indianapolis, IN 46202.
He’s known as the “snow artist” and has turned his front yard into a frozen art studio of sorts. Rick Horton of Greenfield joined us today to share more about his work and success in the field.
First one was November 1997 Homer Simpson.
He started this season with a Corgi made as a surprise for his daughter. It took 6 hours.
His Grogu Baby Yoda has made him a star with over 17 million Facebook post reach and climbing.
Clint Breeze and the Groove Quartet is one of the many music acts from this year’s annual Art & Soul festival. Today they graced Indy Style with a performance of their song, “W-9.”
Their next live performance is March 27th at the Jazz Kitchen.
Here’s more on Clint Breeze and Art & Soul.
Clint Breeze is the artistic persona of Indianapolis-based drummer and Hip Hop producer, Carrington Clinton. The Groove is an all-star lineup of Indy-based Jazz musicians featuring Nick Tucker (bass), Jared Thompson (saxophone), Joel Tucker (guitar), Christopher Pitts (piano), Zachary Finnegan (trumpet) frontman Pernell From Pike (vocalist, emcee) and led by drummer and beatmaker Clint Breeze.
Catch a one-song performance at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday through Friday in February on WISH-TV’s Facebook page. And if you love what you saw there, you can come back and watch the full, 45-minute performances here.
Art & Soul fans will be able to watch great performances by 15 acts, from emerging musicians to legendary bands, plus hear a conversation with this year’s visual artist, Matthew Cooper. Matthew created the backdrop for this year’s performances. It’s a collage of the pieces he painted this summer on the boarded-up windows of Old City Hall as part of the Murals for Racial Justice initiative. Matthew also created two original works that viewers can see through the large exterior windows of Gallery 924 at the Arts Council.
Along with the 16 Art & Soul shows, we’ll be presenting special content including a guide to the best Black History Month arts & culture events at indyarts.org.
We worked with Indy Jazz Fest and Asante Art Institute of Indianapolis to program this year’s festival. We shot all the performances over three days in January at the Indianapolis Artsgarden. Everyone wore masks except the singers!
Please follow @indyartscouncil and #ArtSoulIndy on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to join the celebration.
To learn more, visit Indyarts.org, Clintbreeze.com and linktr.ee/clintbreeze.
THIS SEGMENT IS SPONSORED BY THE INDIANAPOLIS ARTS COUNCIL.
The local arts community has been hit hard financially by the pandemic, and that includes visual artists.
WISH-TV photojournalist Joy Hernandez profiles Nancy Lee, Metalsmith artist, who’s getting by, thanks to an emergency relief fund.
This story was brought to us by our partners at Great Day TV with Patty Spitler.
Watch Great Day TV Saturdays at 10 am on WISH-TV.