It's all about Indiana

ROCKLAND — This town is abuzz with art this summer, and nothing commands more attention than the smart and thorough examination of Robert Indiana's life and work, on view at the Farnsworth Art Museum.

"Robert Indiana and the Star of Hope" shuffles the deck on some of the easy presumptions associated with Indiana, who has lived on Vinalhaven off Rockland's coast since the 1970s. First and most obvious, Indiana is not a pop artist. He's associated with pop art, but his work covers much more territory.

He also has remained prolific. The art world may have ignored him after he moved to Maine, but Indiana did not stop working.

This show focuses on Indiana's art since moving into the Star of Hope Oddfellows Lodge on the island, but also includes many key pieces that he created before coming up to Maine, including various incarnations of his "LOVE" sculpture.

In that sense, the exhibition feels like a retrospective. There is a weight of thoroughness, and attention to detail, that makes this show feel substantial. It's good for casual fans – and in that sense pairs nicely in a quirky way with the museum's all-things-Wyeth exhibitions elsewhere on the campus – but also should satisfy those who care deeply about Indiana.

The centerpiece of the show is dramatic: Indiana's 1964 "EAT" sculpture, which he created on commission for the World's Fair in Flushing, N.Y.

The sculpture has been in storage since, but the Farnsworth led the effort to get it back into working order and installing it. It now sits on top of the museum, announcing itself throughout downtown Rockland with flashing lights. It's dramatic and exciting, and has infused Rockland with a sense of artistic vitality.

Indiana says this show will likely be the last in which he will directly involve himself. Noting that he is now 80, he calls the Farnsworth exhibition "a nice way to wrap things up."

Through this exhibition and others over the years, Indiana has built a solid relationship with the Farnsworth. Nothing's final, but Indiana said he's discussed the museum taking over the Star of Hope after he dies, and running the building as a studio-museum.

"If I toppled over right now, things would be chaotic," Indiana said. "We're working toward the possibility that there might be trust situation, and the Farnsworth might simply take over the Star of Hope as an auxiliary museum. They do not have room for all my stuff there. So maybe it can stay here."

Let's hope it can.

Meanwhile, the Farnsworth has several programs in place to help visitors enhance their experience. At 1 p.m. Wednesday, chief curator and interim museum director Michael K. Komanecky will talk about Indiana's sculptures, including the iconic "LOVE," as well as "EAT" and "HOPE."

Also, the Farnsworth will premiere the documentary "Installing Indiana" by filmmaker Dale Schierholt at 6 p.m. July 15 in the museum auditorium.

“Installing Indiana” tells the story of the installation of “Robert Indiana and the Star of Hope.” The film shows the behind-the-scenes process of assembling the exhibition. Interviews with the Farnsworth curatorial staff, combined with footage of the installation in progress, illustrate the logistical and the physical hurdles of mounting the exhibition.