Indiana University East is proud to kick off an exhibit, “Paintings by Charlie Adams,” with a reception for the local artist and art teacher, from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, July 7, at the Room 912 Gallery, located at 912 E. Main Street, Richmond, Ind.

Adams believes that his art is an expression of the heart, and his acrylic, watercolor, and oil paintings are inspired by, and reflect his love of the beauty of nature, and he can often be found painting a landscape or still life in local parks.

A native of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, Adams has been a fixture of the Richmond artistic community since 2000 and has had solo exhibitions at Reid Health, the Preble County Art Association, and Morrison-Reeves Library. He is a member of the Richmond Group and Richmond Art Museum, and he has won awards in the juried Annual Exhibition of Richmond and Area Artists.

The exhibit will run through August 19. Visitors may view the exhibit, free of charge, during gallery hours, 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The Tom Thomas Gallery now has on exhibit “Low Hanging Fruit,” featuring the work of ceramicist Joe Paushel. The exhibit is free and open to the public through July 15. The Tom Thomas Gallery, located in Whitewater Hall, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Through the coupling of cast and replicated forms, while referencing material culture, Paushel considers the value of objects and their places in his life. He questions the impulse for overcompensation and the struggle for balance between extremes when more of something is validating. He makes copies of existing objects, and then molds, casts, and alters them for different contexts. At times, decorative and bodily forms break down, become fluid, and resemble many things at once. In other cases, they seem to get caught up in a game of dress-up and pretend play while trying to fit into their surroundings. Eventually, they find themselves negotiating new categories on and off the wall as the decorative grotesque.