The Columbus Area Visitors Center is hosting a display of artwork featuring art inspired by a local landmark, the former Bakalar Air Base..

Erin Hawkins, marketing director for the visitors center,  explains.

Painter David Gray has taken an interest in the planes that flew out of the air base, choosing them as the subject for the display at the gallery in the visitors center, Hawkins says. That grew out of his love for airplanes he developed as a child growing up in southern Indiana.

Hawkins  says that the plane focused artwork should be fascinating to anyone with an interest in the former air base.

But mixed in with the plane paintings at the visitors center gallery are some other works. Gray also has a flair for Indy cars.

Gray will be speaking about his work at a reception Friday, at the gallery in the visitors center on Fifth Street starting at 5 p.m. The paintings will be on display through February.