A Facebook post by an artist friend from Phoenix about attending an event called Art Battle intrigued Libby Wyatt.
“She went to this really cool event, Art Battle, in Phoenix, so I looked it up and it looked awesome,” said Wyatt, who owns StoreHouse, a home goods store in Fortville. “We’re working really hard to bring the arts to Fortville. I threw it out there (as an idea) to Lacey (Willard), and that’s basically how it got started.”
Wyatt, Willard and John Kitterman are founders of Art Battle Fortville. The event, which is making its Indiana debut, features 12 artists going head-to-head during 20-minute rounds of live painting. It is set for 6 to 10 p.m. Sept. 29 on Main Street in Fortville. Proceeds will benefit the opening of a nonprofit art gallery on the first floor of the 100-year-old Carnegie library structure on Main Street.
“It’s a pretty vibrant artist scene, and we think Art Battle matches what our community is calling for in terms of art culture and music,” said Willard, a Fortville resident. “Some of the artists we’ve invited are from Fortville, and we reserved a couple for Indianapolis artists as well. We have artists coming in from the Region, coming from as (far away as) Detroit, St. Louis and Omaha.”
Willard said Art Battle is usually put on by nonprofits.
There are two rounds of six artists each competing in a vote by those in attendance.
“It’s all voted on by the attendees,” Willard said.
The winners of each round meet in the championship. The winner advances to a regional event. There are then national and international rounds.
“It’s such a unique concept of giving an artist 20 minutes to make a masterpiece,” she said.
Willard said each round takes approximately one hour.
“There is some down time while people are voting, so we have a DJ playing music,” Willard said. “For the children, there is a live mural painting, so they will be able to try their hand at art.”
Kitterman, who lives in Fishers, is a painter. Kitterman, who owns Sunrise Bakery and Kittworks in Fortville, said Art Battle’s national organizers select the 12 artists.
There will be a beer garden and all the restaurants will be open. Willard said the restaurants will have specials and their food truck is from Fox Gardin Kitchen & Ale, a Fortville restaurant.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Children 12 and under are admitted free.
