Since leaving academia in 2017, I turned my dedication into fulfilling my lifelong dream to build a fresco studio. And it has happened! Somersault Studio 12 is in St. Mary’s Studios; a former elementary school converted to artist studios in Northwest Indiana. As a cultural sociologist, I continue to conduct research but now mostly the product is art. Through an Indiana Arts Commission individual artist grant 2023-2024, I researched historic lime production in Indiana and was amazed to discover the quality of lime on par with that of Italy. I produced fresco paintings for two exhibitions – “Dancing on the Shoulders of Giants,” at the Lubeznik Center for the Arts November 3-27, 2023 and “Of Giants and Warriors” at the Chesterton Art Center. There may be a third book in this too! My recent artworks have also been featured in numerous exhibitions in museums and galleries throughout the Midwest including the “Horizons Reimagined” at the South Bend Museum of Art, “Water: Above and Below” at The Ellen Firme Gallery in Beverly Shores, “Simply Black and White” The Rising Phoenix Gallery in Michigan City, “Indiana Now 2023” at the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, the 80th Annual Salon Show at South Shore Arts in Munster, “Comp 45” at Beverly Art Center, Chicago, and “MAAC in the Box” at the Box Factory, St. Joseph, MI. Visit my website at https://dianegramsart.wordpress.com/
