MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. - Lubeznik Center for the Arts (LCA) is debuting a new exhibition, "Cosmic Connections," on view from March 6 through June 14, 2026.

For centuries, artists have turned to the cosmos to seek existential meaning and connection. "Cosmic Connections" explores the work of three artists - Ravi Arupa, Megan Greene and Michiko Itatani - who investigate the universe as an improvisational, creative process mirrored in human imagination. As beings quite literally made of stardust, they engage the cosmos physically and intellectually using art to navigate their place within it. The artworks in this exhibition weave together scientific, spiritual and subconscious insights, inviting all to reflect on their deep, ongoing connection to the universe.

Arupa explores cosmic interconnectedness through the spiral, a form found in everything from galaxies and weather systems to DNA, flowers and seashells. His abstract, energetic and often obsessive graphite drawings, transformative found material sculptures and trascendental self-portraiture reflect a belief that we all share a deep, universal connection. Arupa highlights growth, transformation, extrasensory perception and the spiritual energy that links us all.

Greene's drawings unfold through a slow, intuitive layering of ink wash and colored pencil, building dense, vibrating and otherworldly terrains. Her vivid ultraviolet forms bend, fold and surge, generating cataclysmic energy, like radiant storms flaring across imagined solar systems. Guided by uncertainty yet marked by meticulous material control, Greene's drawings act as portals into strange, mutable spaces where perception and meaning remain in flux.

Itatani's monumental oil paintings imagine vast galaxies and humanless interiors such as concert halls, observatories, libraries, cathedrals and even living rooms that look up to the heavens and are charged with supernatural light and celestial phenomena. Itatani creates fictional spaces that engage with humanity's quest for knowledge and creative connection. Her glowing rings, traveling stars and mysterious illuminated nocturnal vistas suggest portals to parallel universes, inviting viewers toward hopeful, speculative and transcendental realms beyond the here and now.

Free, public events taking place during the run of "Cosmic Connections" include:

• Opening Reception: Friday, March 6 - 5-8 p.m.
• Curator Gallery Talk: Saturday, March 14 - 11:30 a.m.
• Family Day: Saturday, May 30 - 1-3 p.m.

Free gallery tours are available for groups and organizations. To schedule a docent-led tour, contact Janet Bloch, LCA's executive director, at jbloch@lubeznikcenter.org. To schedule a children's tour, contact Nelsy Marcano at nmarcano@lubeznikcenter.org.

For more information about "Cosmic Connections," please contact Jessie Sexton, LCA's marketing manager at 219.874.4900 or jsexton@lubeznikcenter.org.

About LCA
LCA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides access to compelling exhibitions and programs that explore contemporary ideas. The organization is located at 101 W 2nd Street at the lakefront in Michigan City, Ind. Admission is free year-round. For more information about LCA, please visit LubeznikCenter.org.