Heart and Soul
Artist: Randy Sorrell
Medium: Oil on canvas
Measurements: 6' x 6'
c. 2026
Specially commissioned for the Payne & Mencias Palladium, Heart and Soul marks the intersection of visual and performing arts, capturing the kinetic spirit of the Great American Songbook through bold textures and a vibrant, melodic palette. Artist Randy Sorrell has channeled the concert hall’s world-class acoustics into a visual experience, using light and color to mirror the emotional resonance of live music.
The work includes many “Easter eggs” – hidden messages, symbols, references and other details intentionally concealed by the artist for the viewer to discover upon closer inspection. They include:
- At the upper right is a crowd attending Allied Solutions Center’s annual Center Celebration gala. Near the edge is a bold stroke of dark green representing the uniforms of the National Bank of Indianapolis Usher Corps, community volunteers whose work is vital to the success of Allied Solutions Center.
- The gentleman in blue is proposing a toast with a Rollie, the in-house cocktail created to honor the late Rollie Dick, longtime board member, donor and volunteer for Allied Solutions Center and the Great American Songbook Foundation.
- The prominent figure in black near the center is Michael Feinstein, performer, music preservationist, founder of the Great American Songbook Foundation and artistic director for Allied Solutions Center.
- On the right edge, approximately halfway down, is the blue and red Allied Solutions logo, celebrating the Carmel-based company’s long-term support of the Center’s mission.
- Nearby, the circle, square and rectangle reflect the shapes of the Payne & Mencias Palladium’s three lobbies. The additional circles represent Carmel’s famous roundabouts.
- Also on the right, a stroke of yellow represents the hard hats of the craftsmen and construction teams who built the facility.
- The life-sized piano represents Allied Solutions Center’s Steinway pianos. Sitting on the left side is an abstract representation of the Songbook Hall of Fame trophy.
- On the piano music rack is sheet music for “Heart and Soul,” the American Songbook classic penned by Frank Loesser and Indiana legend Hoagy Carmichael.
- The gold caster on the right side of the piano bench resembles a French horn – a nod to former Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard, who led the establishment of Allied Solutions Center and played the instrument on the Payne & Mencias Palladium stage.
- Left of the piano is an abstract rendition of local artist Arlon Bayliss’ Homage to Hoagy sculpture, which towers over the roundabout adjacent to the building on City Center Drive.
- At lower left, the four musical notes on the staff represent the opening of Cole Porter’s Songbook standard “Let’s Fall in Love.”
- At top center are the Payne & Mencias Palladium’s organ pipes and figures from the Seward Johnson sculpture My Sixteen-Year-Old Jazz Dreams, installed outside the building’s west entrance.
About the Artist
Indiana-based artist Randy Sorrell brings a symphonic energy to the canvas, blending a lifelong career in structural design with a profound passion for expressive modern realism. A Ball State University alumnus, serial entrepreneur and former designer, he approaches large-scale commissions with an architect’s eye for space and a musician’s sense of timing. His process is inherently rhythmic: he utilizes layering and “suggestive” strokes to evoke the swell of an orchestra or the intimate vibrato of a solo performance.
His portfolio spans diverse subjects, from energetic abstract realisms and “Sorrellism” cityscapes to provocative landscapes that symbolize hope and resilience. Sorrell works predominantly with oils and acrylics, frequently incorporating personal references, vintage maps or objects into his commission to ground his art in the client’s stories.
Deeply embedded in the Hamilton County community, Sorrell’s work is a fixture in several local businesses, galleries and homes. This commission stands as a testament to his belief that art, like music, is a universal language of joy – a permanent crescendo that celebrates the soul of Carmel’s premier cultural landmark.
More at RSorrellArt.com.
