~BLEACHED~ (Acrylics on repurposed wood panel, and...

Chandra Craig Rettinger

AFFILIATIONS

Pillar Arts Member

~Chandra Craig-Rettinger~ Visual Artist (textiles, mixed media, ceramics) Art has been a passion throughout my life; sculpting with play-dough as a young child, excelling in high school art classes, mom involving me in private drawing classes, exploring a wide variety of art mediums in college, and now independent studies using unconventional materials.

Passion & Inspiration:

I have always respected and appreciated our planets natural environment and all it’s beautiful creatures, so a lot of my creative ideas evolve from this love and compassion. I became a member of the ACA organization (Artists for Climate Awareness) to help spread information on various environmental concerns in the world today, and hopefully stop some of the devastating legislation.
I’ve always enjoyed fashion and the processes that go into artistic designs. Due to the harmful impacts that certain fabrics, and “recyclable” materials can cause on our planet and humans, I have taken to repurposing denim jeans and other discarded fabrics to create my whimsical & fashionable textiles. I also create unique jewelry using various up-cycled household plastics, which helps to keep these non-degradable materials out of our landfills and oceans.

Art Education:

My first higher education experience was in Visual Communications at the community college of Sinclair, Dayton, Ohio.
I then shifted to Visual Arts and moved to Indianapolis, In., where I was accepted into Herron School of Art & Design.
I eventually moved to Bloomington, In. to attended Indiana University for Fine Arts with a focus on Sculpture and Ceramics, as well as; Art Education- grades K-12th, and Art History.

On going artworks… I’m currently creating a series of work involving environmental disasters that increasingly threaten us today, such as, coral bleaching, wildfires, and the melting of ice sheets. Each piece is to be a mixed media of acrylics on repurposed wood panels, and sculpted household plastics. BLEACHED– (#1 of the series) was displayed in the 2024 ACA’s annual exhibit, while # 2 and #3 in the series are are still being created, so stay tuned. ~helping the planet one artwork at a time~

~Chandra Craig-Rettinger~ Visual Artist (textiles, mixed media, ceramics) Art has been a passion throughout my life; sculpting with play-dough as a young child, excelling in high school art classes, mom involving me in private drawing classes, exploring a wide variety of art mediums in college, and now independent studies using unconventional materials.

Passion & Inspiration:

I have always respected and appreciated our planets natural environment and all it’s beautiful creatures, so a lot of my creative ideas evolve from this love and compassion. I became a member of the ACA organization (Artists for Climate Awareness) to help spread information on various environmental concerns in the world today, and hopefully stop some of the devastating legislation.
I’ve always enjoyed fashion and the processes that go into artistic designs. Due to the harmful impacts that certain fabrics, and “recyclable” materials can cause on our planet and humans, I have taken to repurposing denim jeans and other discarded fabrics to create my whimsical & fashionable textiles. I also create unique jewelry using various up-cycled household plastics, which helps to keep these non-degradable materials out of our landfills and oceans.

Art Education:

My first higher education experience was in Visual Communications at the community college of Sinclair, Dayton, Ohio.
I then shifted to Visual Arts and moved to Indianapolis, In., where I was accepted into Herron School of Art & Design.
I eventually moved to Bloomington, In. to attended Indiana University for Fine Arts with a focus on Sculpture and Ceramics, as well as; Art Education- grades K-12th, and Art History.

On going artworks… I’m currently creating a series of work involving environmental disasters that increasingly threaten us today, such as, coral bleaching, wildfires, and the melting of ice sheets. Each piece is to be a mixed media of acrylics on repurposed wood panels, and sculpted household plastics. BLEACHED– (#1 of the series) was displayed in the 2024 ACA’s annual exhibit, while # 2 and #3 in the series are are still being created, so stay tuned. ~helping the planet one artwork at a time~

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MORE ABOUT THIS PROFILE

Arts Organization Type: Artist : Visual Arts , Mixed Media , Textiles

Affiliations and Awards

Please tell us about your affiliations and awards. (For individual artists only; arts organizations may skip this section):

I’m an active member of Pillar Arts, Bloomington, In. I’m also an active environmental artist, and committee member for Artists for Climate Awareness organizations. http://artistsforclimateawareness.org

Art Shows and Exhibitions

Where can we find your art? (For individual artists only; arts organizations may skip this section):

Artist for Climate Awareness Gallery Exhibit 2025; Distant Thunder, April 3-28, Arts Alliance Center, College Mall, Bloomington, In. (opening reception- Sunday April 6th 3-4pm) http://artistsforclimateawareness.org/event
Title- Ecocide by the Seashore- Ceramic (coil built, hand-carved) https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-sphxch/i-pbWnTZR/A

Trashion Refashion 2026; Runway Show, Sunday April 12th , Indiana Buskirk-Chumley Theater, Bloomington, In.
Designs: Retro Revival, Nouveau Nuance, and Country Couture. by Chandra Rettinger
https://buskirkchumley.org
https://bloomingtontrashion.org is part of The Center for Sustainable Living https://simplycsl.org

Outreach / Arts Education

Please provide information about your outreach or arts education program(s).:

Education Programs & Community Involvement:

The past four years I have participated in the Trashion Refashion runway show, which benefits The Center for Sustainable Living. https://simplycsl.org * You can view my 2022, 23, 24, 25 designs at https://bloomingtontrashion.org/history
Three years now, I have made ceramic bowls for Bloomington’s yearly soup bowl drive for hunger, which benefits Hoosier Hills Food Bank https://hhfoodbank.org
Parks & Recreation– Banneker Community Center- Art activities for youth. https://bloomington.in.gov/parks/facilities/banneker-community-center
Arts Fair on the Square– Youth art activity booth. https://seeconstellation.org/art-galleries/arts-fair
Fourth Street Arts Festival- Volunteer https://www.4thstreet.org
I have taught ~Saturday Art School~ through an Indiana University, Bloomington Summer program; one year focused on ceramics for ages 8-14, and another year was an introduction to art for ages 5 & 6.
Lotus Blossom World Bazaar- All ages event and activities for Visual Arts, Music, and Cultural exploration.