No Limits Celebration at Indiana School for the Blind, July 22, 2023

Press Release
Indiana Blind Children’s Foundation

INDIANAPOLIS: The Indiana Blind Children’s Foundation (IBCF) is excited to welcome acclaimed musician A.J. Croce to Indianapolis on Saturday, July 22, 2023, for the foundation’s annual No Limits Celebration.

Held in the historic 1930s-style auditorium at Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ISBVI), 7725 North College Avenue in Indianapolis, the performance will be preceded by a pre-concert reception featuring local jazz artist, Reggie Bishop, and a meal from the Jazz Kitchen — all of which is included with the price of admission.

The No Limits Arts Series aims to strengthen inclusiveness and remove social barriers in the arts for individuals with disabilities. In keeping with the goals of No Limits: An Arts Series Focused on Access for All, made initially possible by the Strengthening Indianapolis Through Arts and Cultural Innovation grant from Lilly Endowment, IBCF in partnership with ISBVI, brings artists of all abilities to the stage that mirror the strengths and abilities of students at ISBVI.

The public is invited onto the school grounds to not only experience internationally known artists and musicians but learn about the programs at ISBVI helping students succeed academically and socially.

“The Indiana Blind Children’s Foundation is passionate about bringing high-caliber artists to the ISBVI auditorium stage each year whose career and artistry shine a light on abilities and confront perceived notions surrounding those with vision impairments. A.J. Croce is a multi-talented performer – pianist, singer, and songwriter, who will transform the audience musically and challenge any limiting perceptions,” says IBCF executive director, Laura Alvarado.

A virtuosic piano player, A.J. Croce toured with B.B. King and Ray Charles before reaching the age of 21, and over his career, he has performed with a wide range of musicians, from Willie Nelson to the Neville Brothers; Béla Fleck to Ry Cooder. Son of the late Jim Croce, A.J. has blazed his own trail as an artist, releasing 10 studio albums including 2021’s By Request.

Following his performance, A.J. Croce will take part in a Q&A with event emcee Kathy Nimmer, reflecting on his life’s journey as a musician. Concert attendees are also invited to attend this intimate sit-down conversation at no additional fee.

Tickets can be purchased here for the 2023 No Limits Celebration.

Juneteenth Black Heritage Concert, June 19, 2023

By Jen Thomas
On behalf of Indiana Landmarks Center

Indiana Landmarks’ Black Heritage Preservation Program is honoring Juneteenth with a concert and art show featuring local talent on Monday, June 19. 

Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Indiana Landmarks will celebrate with an evening of performances at Indiana Landmarks Center featuring contemporary gospel group Men in the Fire, R&B group The Downstroke Band and improv comedians Act A Foo. In addition, the artist group “WE ARE Indy Arts” will showcase works in a variety of mediums including painting, drawing, sculpture and mixed media during a special exhibit in the Rapp Family Gallery at Indiana Landmarks Center.

Throughout the evening, event promoter and emcee Thomas J. Griffin and entertainers will share brief facts about Indiana’s Black heritage compiled by Shari Scales, a local writer/researcher. Indiana Landmarks President Marsh Davis and Black Heritage Preservation Program Director Eunice Trotter will open the event with brief remarks.

“This isn’t simply a celebration of a historic day. It’s a celebration of Black history and Black culture,” said Trotter. “The result will be a Juneteenth event that is as enriching as it is entertaining.”

The concert begins at 6 p.m. in Grand Hall, with an opportunity to visit the art gallery after the concert until 9 p.m. Sponsors and VIP ticket purchasers can attend a 4 p.m. reception and meet-the-artists event in the Rapp Family Gallery, where they will enjoy drinks, hors d’oeuvres and an opportunity to purchase art. Sponsors and VIP ticket holders will also receive premium concert seating.

The art exhibit is being curated by Anthony Radford, who will install the exhibit for the June 7 First Friday event, leaving it intact through the Juneteenth holiday. Featured artists are Dana P Smith, Angelita Hampton, Lorenzo Bryant, Jax Robin, Precious Norris, Durango, Landon Taylor, Kenny Mason, Dallas Garrett, Octavius Lettsome, Lundyn-Christelle, and Iliyas Tomasiewicz (Sir Altium).

Ticket prices are $25 for general admission and $50 for VIP tickets. Indiana Landmarks member tickets are $20 and $40.

WHAT:   Juneteenth Concert and Art Show

WHEN:   June 19

                 4 p.m.: VIP reception and meet-the-artists event in the Rapp Family Gallery

                 6 p.m.: Concert in the Grand Hall

WHERE:  Indiana Landmarks Center, 1201 Central Ave., Indianapolis

COST:      $25 for general admission ($20 for Indiana Landmarks members)

                 $50 for VIP tickets ($40 for Indiana Landmarks members) 

To purchase tickets: bit.ly/ILJuneteenthConcert23

Bloombox Festival @HarrisonCtrArts, June 17, 2023

By Erika Blue
Harrison Center for the Arts

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (May 1, 2023)– It’s time for the annual Bloombox Festival (formerly IMAF) with the INDIEana Handicraft Exchange (IHE) on June 17th from 12 pm to 8 pm at the Harrison Center. 

Now in its 22nd year, Bloombox is a free, daylong festival held at 1505 North Delaware Street in Indy’s Old Northside neighborhood highlighting the best independent local and regional musicians, visual artists, food vendors, and crafters.

Founded in 2002, Bloombox celebrates musicians who perform original live music and artists who create original work. As part of the Harrison Center’s Cultural Entrepreneur Initiative, this year’s festival is coordinated by high school senior Taylor Solomon and junior Grace Graves.

In the courtyard, two stages feature continuous music throughout the day.  Rusty Redenbacher returns as emcee. An exciting line-up from a wide range of musical genres is in store for attendees. The 2023 Bloombox band line-up includes:

KC King & the Soul Collective

Radar Gold

Namen Namen

Remington Hill

BOOKS

Antlerhead

Gregorian

Seaux Chill

Sadie Johnson

Shvdy Rollins (formerly known as Huckleberry Funk)

Seaux Chill (Nabil Ince) will be performing work from his “Deep Currents” project. This is a collection of five songs and accompanying music videos that Ince is creating as part of a songwriting residency at the Harrison Center.

The project aims to amplify stories from historically Black neighborhoods in Indianapolis, harnessing multimedia art to combat cultural erasure and gentrification. This work was made possible by a 2022 Joyce Award from the Joyce Foundation, a $75,000 grant he received in collaboration with the Harrison Center. 

Inside the building and surrounding the Harrison Center, vendors peddle their wares in the juried INDIEana Handicraft Exchange Summer Show.  This contemporary craft fair consciously celebrates modern handmade goods, the relationship between creator and consumer, and local, alternative economies. IHE highlights local crafters and artisans as well as exposes Indianapolis to some of the best vendors on the national indie craft fair map.

Inside the Harrison Center, the galleries feature work by Hannah Paz-Westbrook, Abi Ogle & Kayb Joseph, Dan Thompson, Bobby Gilbreath, Mailinh Ho, Emily Wingate, and Emily Archer. 

A variety of food trucks will provide delicious food options, Sun King Brewery will serve locally-produced beer, and Ash & Elm will serve cider. ArtMix returns with their popular ice cream fundraiser featuring handmade ceramic bowls. The free roller skating rink will return as well! 

With support from Sun King Brewing, @ Properties, Compendium Group, Renew Dental Arts, and Penrod Society.

Interested in volunteering at Bloombox? Volunteers receive a free t-shirt, food, and drink voucher. Email info@harrisoncenter.org to receive the signup link.  For updates about Bloombox, follow @bloomboxindy on Instagram and like Facebook.com/bloomboxindy. 

Unity Concert To Feature Two New @indycchoir Pieces, May 6, 2023

By Emma Diebold Robinson
Indianapolis Children’s Choir

INDIANAPOLIS – – On May 6, 2023, singers from across central Indiana will come together to debut two new songs during its Unity Season Concert. The Season Concert performance will showcase children in kindergarten through 10th grade. They will sing a selection of songs at 3:00 pm at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Indianapolis. This exciting concert brings together singers from the Indianapolis Children’s Choir and its affiliates, the Columbus Indiana Children’s Choir and the Anderson Area Children’s Choir, in a celebration of what connects us all—music. 

In addition to a bringing singers together, this concert also features exciting collaborations with composers and musicians. Singers will be accompanied by the Directors’ Jazz Orchestra, a talented group of musicians which has roots in Madison County and is the resident band for the Pendleton Heights Jazz Festival.

“Unity is going to be a true celebration of coming together to celebrate hope, joy, and music,” says Joshua Pedde, Artistic Director of the ICC. “We are so excited and honored to be debuting two new pieces of music from very talented composers that both illustrate what it means to come together in unity.”

Terang, a song commissioned especially for the Indianapolis Children’s Choir, focuses on a Malay proverb. It explores the fading performance art of Malay-Kelantanese Wayang Kulit (shadow puppet) tradition by featuring various choral techniques that represent duality. The text translates to “a person alone, dies alone; but two people together will talk/discuss/converse.” Terang is the first commission by an American choir by composer Tracy Wong, who hails from Malaysia and currently resides and teaches in Canada. “We are so excited to learn more about the shadow puppet tradition and the cultures represented in this piece – ICC exposes us to so many languages and cultures and this piece is something so entirely new and different,” shared an ICC singer.

Hope is a Waking Dream, composed by Greg Gilpin, is another song making its debut at the Unity concert. The song is based on text from Aristotle that aims to inspire both the performers and audience to seek unity and ignore the divisions among us.

Tickets are $14 each and can be purchased online in advance at icchoir.org/tickets. Ages 5 and under can attend for free but require a ticket. If the concerts do not sell out in advance, additional tickets will be available for purchase at the door prior to the performance.

2023 Summer Nights Film Series @NewfieldsToday

Summer Nights Film Series. Photo courtesy Newfields.

Press Release
Newfields

INDIANAPOLIS, April 18, 2023— The National Bank of Indianapolis Summer Nights Film Series returns to The Amphitheater at Newfields on weekends from June through August 2023.

This year there are a few new plot twists to the beloved summer tradition. Along with family favorite picks, scary thrillers and decades-old classics, Newfields will host an Audience Vote film in partnership with Indiana Black Expo, Inc.’s Film Festival, as well as a super-secret film for the adventurous movie goer on the final date of the series.

Tickets will go on sale for members Thursday, April 20 at 11 a.m. and Tuesday, April 25 at 11 a.m. for the general public. Individual tickets are $9 for members and $12 for the general public, all children 5 and under get in free but a ticket must be reserved. All tickets can be purchased at discovernewfields.org.

“Supporting the Summer Nights Film Series is a way for us to give back to our city, and to support our community in an engaging and meaningful way,” said Ann Merkel, Senior Vice President and Chief Market Development Officer at The National Bank of Indianapolis. “We dedicate our resources to activities that create a stronger community and enhance the quality of life for all who live here.”  

Guest curator and film scholar, Coye Lloyd returned this year to help select the 2023 Summer Nights lineup and introduce the films. To learn more about Lloyd and her work, please visit coyelloyd.com. 

The 2023 lineup includes: 

• Friday, June 2: The Big Sleep (1946, dir. Howard Hawks, 114 mins., NR) 
• Friday, June 9: But I’m a Cheerleader (1999, dir. Jamie Babbit, 85 mins., R) 
• Friday, June 16: Predator (1987, dir. John McTiernan, 107 mins., R) 
• Friday, June 23: Finding Nemo (2003, dir. Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich, 100 mins., G)
• Friday, June 30: Crazy Rich Asians (2018, dir. Jon M. Chu, 120 mins., PG-13) 
• Friday, July 7: Audience Vote presented with Indiana Black Expo, Inc. 
• Friday, July 14: Rear Window (1954, dir. Alfred Hitchcock, 112 mins., PG)
• Saturday, July 15: Desperado (1995, dir. Robert Rodriguez, 104 mins., R) 
• Friday, July 21: Indy Shorts International Film Festival (Oscar® Shorts)
• Saturday, July 22: Indy Shorts International Film Festival (Award Winners) 
• Friday, July 28: Fist of Fury (1972, dir. Wei Lo, 107 mins., R)* 
• Friday, August 4: The Mummy (1999, dir. Stephen Sommers, 124 mins., PG-13) 
• Saturday, August 5: Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995, dir. Aditya Chopra, 181 mins., NR)* 
• Friday, August 11: To Kill a Mockingbird (1962, dir. Robert Mulligan, 129 mins., NR) 
• Friday, August 18: Evil Dead II (1987, dir. Sam Raimi, 84 mins., R) presented with Indy Film Fest in The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park 
• Saturday, August 19: Set It Off (1996, dir. F. Gary Gray, 123 mins., R) in The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park
• Friday, August 25: Super-Secret Film (120 min, PG)

*Film is presented in another language with English subtitles.

Dates and films are subject to change. DiscoverNewfields.org will always have the most up to date information.  

Tickets:
Single Film Tickets $9 members / $12 public / free for ages 5 & under (ticket required)

What to Bring:  
Bring your chairs, blankets, pillows, umbrellas, food, and non-alcoholic beverages. You can purchase beer, wine, and snacks from our Culinary Arts team. Also, be sure to bring some sunscreen and bug spray. Newfields is currently a cashless campus; credit or debit cards are the only form of payment accepted at this time. Plan to come early to snag the perfect spot! 

What Not to Bring:  
Alcoholic beverages, grills, pets, knives, guns and candles taller than  twelve (12)  inches are not permitted. 

Inclement Weather: 
The National Bank of Indianapolis Summer Nights Film Series is a rain or shine event.  In the event of inclement weather, films will be shown in The Toby at 9 p.m. Check Newfields’ website and social media for updates on the weather before you head out to the movie. Ticket holders will receive an email about any changes to the scheduled film screening. If the screening is halted due to inclement weather less than 45 minutes into the screening, guests will receive a full refund. 

Accessibility:
Seating for attendees with limited mobility is available upon request. Assistive Listening Devices are available upon request and each film will be presented with closed captioning (when available). Call 317-923-1331 for additional information.

Content Warning: 
Because this film series spans a variety of genres and decades, these movies may contain depictions and/or treatment of people or cultures that can be interpreted from a variety of lenses. It is important to understand the content and language used in the context of the films. You can find tags for potentially triggering content for each film on our website at DiscoverNewfields.org. If you have any questions or would like to know more about a specific film, please contact us at info@discovernewfields.org.