Justin
My story begins in the fall of 2007, I had just left an incredible job as an elementary art teacher to attend law school with my brother, who is three years younger. Prior to law school I did not pursue my own artistic endeavors, I just had a passion for art. However, right before finals during my first semester, I very much needed an escape from the books. I picked up a paint brush and subsequently painted a series of work that was much stronger than anything before. Since this time I passed the Indiana Bar Exam, practice a little bit of law but have continued to focus on creating full-time.
I grew up on a small family farm in Northern Indiana and helped farm the very land that three generations of Vining’s had farmed before me. During the late 90′s, with the emergence of larger corporate farms, it become more difficult to manage a small farm and like many of other small family farms in America, we stopped farming. This happened in January of my senior year of high school and I can vividly remember the day of our auction. Watching your barns being emptied and everything you have come to know disappear in a day is not something easily forgotten.
Needless to say, this was a difficult time for myself. In the years to come I reflected upon this experience through my artwork and painted a series of old abandoned farm houses trying to express the longing and sadness I have, not only for our lost family farm, but generally, to the end of the era of small family farms dominating the countryside. So, over time these abandoned farm houses in my paintings have evolved and taken new life in the more simplified forms that are common in my work today.
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Education
2007-2010 Juris Doctor, Vaparaiso University School of Law, Valparaiso, IN
1999-2004 Bachelor of Arts, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Professional Experience
2010-Present Attorney/Partner, Vining & Vining, Broad Ripple, IN
2009-2010 Law Clerk, Douglas, Koeppen & Hurly, Valparaiso, IN
2004-2007 K-6 Art Teacher, Maple Ridge Elementary, Pendleton, IN
Solo Exhibits
2012
“Urbanscapes” February 2012, Upland Propaganda Room, Indianapolis, IN
2011
“Pursuit of Visual Complexity” November 2011, Cedar Lake Art Center, Cedar Lake, IN
2010
“Regionalism Reborn” September 2010, Lala Gallery, Lafayette, IN
2009
“Worlds Apart” July 10-August 15, 2009, Lala Gallery, Lafayette, IN
Selected Exhibits
2011
100 Years of Indy Parks, Group Exhibit, Garfield Parks Art Center, December 2011
Selected Artist, IRC Annual Banquet, Irsay Pavillion, November, 2011
Oranje, One of 45 Visual Artists selected to exhibit in this one night show
2010
Art Murmur, Group Show, Warsaw, IN November 2010
Art Murmur, Group Show, Winona Lake, IN, May 2010
2009
10 Years, Influence and Development, Invitational Group Show –
Greater Lafayette Art Museum, October 23, 2009 – January 9, 2010.
Featured Artist, West Lafayette Public Library, December 2009
Friends of the Frankfort Library Annual Christmas Art Exhibition, Group Show, November 2009
Featured Artist, Lafayette’s City Hall, November 2009
Envision/Revisit, Group Show, East Rueff Gallery, Purdue University October 2009.
Featured Artist, The Greater Lafayette’s Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner
Art to Gogh, Annual Benefit Presented by the Ft. Wayne Mental Health Association October 17, 2009.
Mass Ave’s Fall Gallery Walk, Featured Artist, Franklin Barry Gallery, October 2009.
Art at Isabella Bean, Group Show, August 20 – September 20.
First Friday’s Featured Artist, Franklin Barry Gallery, March 2009.
Press (TV/Radio)
2012
The Art of the Matter, Travis DiNicola, WFYI Public Radio, FM 90.1, January 27, 2012
2010
A Case for Creativity: Lindsay Grome, Lakeshore PBS News, Channel 56, January 15, 2010.
2009
Local artist reconnects with past, inspires students, Alyssa Rossomme, WSBT News,
South Bend’s Channel 22, December 6, 2009.
TV Interview and Press Release with Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski, August, 2009.
Live TV interview with Alyssa Rossomme - WFLI TV 18 Lafayette, July 17, 2009.
Live radio interview with Mike Loizzo – WBAA Public Radio – FM 101.3, July 10, 2009.
Press (Print)
2011
Art Show Tonight Celebrates 100 Years of Indy Parks, T.J. Barnes, IndyStar, December 3, 2011
Indiana Artist Sets Sights on ‘Complexity’, Tim Shellberg, NWI Times, D3, November 4, 2011
2010
Hear the Murmur at Mad Anothony’s, David Sloan, Warsaw Times Union, C1, October 13, 2010
Vining Grows Into the Art and Law, David Sloan, Warsaw Times Union, C1, June 9, 2010
Valparaiso artist taps into creativity to benefit Haiti relief, Annette Arnold, Northwest Indiana Times A4, January 24, 2010.
2009
Local artist, law student inspires students, Phoebe Muthart, The Mail Journal 9, December 9, 2009.
Through the eyes of an artist: VU student shares love of art with Texas Elementary School, Annette Arnold, Northwest Indiana Times A3, October 26, 2009.
Law Student Teaches Art to Texas Students, Todd Fleischhauer, The Forum 1, November 2009.
Art teachers influence on display, Tim Brouk, Lafayette Journal & Courier LIFE, November 1, 2009.
Law Student Makes Art, Zach Nelson, The Torch B3, November 6, 2009.
Art project to brighten City Hall, Amanda Hamon, Lafayette Journal & Courier NEWS October 8, 2009.
Artist’s Paintings are World’s Apart, Tom Shafer, Lafayette Journal & Courier D6, July 23, 2009.
Lala goes against the grain, Lafayette Journal & Courier D10, July 17, 2009.
Press (Web)
2010
“Law as Our Calling”, Ann Brandt, Valparaiso Law School, www.valpo.edu/law May, 2010
Interview: Justin Vining, Atom Groom, Northwest Indiana Creative, www.nwicreative.org, January 31, 2010.
An Environment of Support, Todd Fleischhauer, Valparaiso University www.valpo.edu, January 9, 2010.
2009
Vining’s art wows visitors at gallery reception, Clyde Hughes, July 19, 2009 www.ourtown.com/lafayettewestlafayettein/
Utrecht Art’s Featured Artist of the Month, www.utrechtart.com/facebook/ December 2009.
Visiting Artist Lectures
2011
Art Law Guest Lecturer, IU Indianapolis School of Law, Indianapolis, IN
2010
Artist Lecture, Valparaiso International Center, Valparaiso Indiana
Guest Lecturer, Lead a 6 hour workshop for Ector County Art Teachers, Odessa, TX
Guest Artist, 6 Lectures to each Grade Level, Nappanee Elementary, Nappanee, IN
Guest Artist/Instructor, Grand Re-opening, Ft. Wayne Museum of Art, March 27, 2010.
2009
Guest Lecturer, A&D 20100, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Artist Talk, PSNAEA Monthly Meeting, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Live Video Conference, Dodd Elementary, Wylie TX
Guest Lecturer, Plymouth High School, Plymouth, IN
Guest Lecturer, Triton High School, Bourbon, IN
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