Although there’s only 36 more sleeps until Halloween, we have 32 ideas for things to do. Each night, a precious opportunity for eating candy, dreaming spooky, and hanging pretend spider webs in honor of the season’s favorite critter.
How do you celebrate? Send us your photos and show us.
Today’s Play List has stories about the power of change: what is possible when one person decides they want to see a better world. We’re celebrating artists, storytellers and people with big hearts.
WHAT’S NEW IN ARTS & CULTURE
Have you seen the big gray metal boxes on street corners? They’re traffic signal boxes, and they can be turned into public art. Reporter Sophie Young has the details.
Ben Bascom’s new book tells the stories of early queer Americans. To celebrate, he invited four Indiana writers to share their work and talk about creativity and queerness at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, at Indy Reads.
When Paula Diane French lost her brother to AIDS-related complications in 1994, her life was changed forever. She marched to Washington D.C., met with legislators, co-founded advocacy groups and visited schools. On Sept. 15, she was honored by the community she left behind when she died on March 31.
In case you missed something, see all arts and culture coverage here.
WHAT WE’RE DOING
We asked the artists from the upcoming experimental showcase “Risky Business” to tell us what they’re up to this week. You can hear, see and interact with their artworks 5-8 p.m. Saturday for free at the Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre.
- “I’m gathering acorns before squirrels get to them to dye fabrics. I’m also donating art pieces to Blend, a fundraiser for the Calvin Fletcher Foundation, and to the Trusted Mentors Gala.”
— Jeri Warner, textiles artist - “The Brazilian writer João Guimarães Rosa is one of the most amazing writers. In ‘The Devil to Pay in the Backlands (Grande Sertão: Veredas)’ you can find simple but truly deep knowledge about life. One of my favorite quotes from this book is, ‘The most important and beautiful thing in the world is this: that people are not always the same, they are not finished yet — but that they are always changing.’”
— Samantha Ortiz, visual artist - “For two decades, I have been passionate about urushi, a natural Japanese lacquer. My goal is to bring back this art form and express it into our contemporary vibe.”
— Nhat Tran, painter - “You’ll be seeing me at Naptown All Pro’s Dreams & Nightmares on Saturday Oct. 16. The theater and physicality of pro wrestling has fascinated me, and Naptown All Pro is pro-Black, pro-queer, pro-wrestling!”
— Lauren Curry, Indy Movement Arts executive director - “The Garfield Park Art & Music Festival is happening this Saturday, which is always a good time! Another big thing I’ve been gearing up for is my band’s (Mina & the Wondrous Flying Machine) album release party next month at Square Cat Vinyl.” — Mina Keohane, composer and arranger
Looking for other things to do? Check out Mirror Indy’s events calendar.
CITY CHATTER
What’s Good, Friends!
Recently I was invited to brainstorm ideas for an event to celebrate folks who are acclimating back to society after being incarcerated.
I remarked that often, when I’ve been to events organized for a certain group of people … people who couldn’t pay an exorbitant admission fee, the attention to art, beauty and overall experience was lacking. It’s as if that level of care should only be relegated to a special, select few. Plastic tables with no decor, boxed lunches, no music, no warmth … if you’ve been to a community event, you likely have a strong visual for what I’m describing.
I find that to be unfortunate.
We all deserve beauty. We all deserve to be thought of with care and intentionality. As we enter into a season of bonfires, holiday parties and the like, I encourage you to tap into the wisdom of one of my faves — Priya Parker, author of “The Art of Gathering.” “Gatherings aren’t just events, they are moments that remind us of who we are, who we have been, and who we might become,” Parker said in this great podcast.
My hope for you, friend, is that this season brings lots of great connections and experiences your way! Enjoy yourself and one another.
—Ebony Chappel, Free Press Indiana market director
MUSIC NEWS
Last week, local rapper and emcee Oreo Jones released his first album in eight years, “Nephew.” I’ve had “House of Feelings” and “One Day We Shall All Go Back” on repeat since it dropped.
The album is an homage to family and finding joy, which are some things we could all use a little more of these days. “Nephew” is streaming wherever you listen to music or; you could hop into a local record store.
— Breanna Cooper, arts and culture reporter
TIME MACHINE
We don’t have a Time Machine memory this week. Send your cool memories along with a photo to ariana.beedie@mirrorindy.org to be featured in our newsletter.
CULTURE JOURNAL
We’re revisiting the Culture Journal of playwright Lou Harry, who will lead a writing workshop at the first Proof: A Midwest Lit Fest on Oct. 5.
Here’s an excerpt from Lou’s journal:
Day Seven, 1:30 p.m. In what may look from the outside like a bizarro world drug deal, I meet a stranger in a parking lot to buy a copy of the board game Santa’s Workshop. While I still sometimes spring for a full-price purchase, a big part of my game collection has been acquired through similar trades and used-game purchases established through online connections. I look forward to introducing the game to players next Tuesday’s Game Night Social.
CLASSIFIEDS
- Throwing a kids party? Find balloon twisting, glitter tattoos and caricatures at Indy Face Painting & More.
- Indy Party Rentals has the classic fondue and chocolate fountain — perfect for 40-60 guests.
- Rent the “lil’ Indy inflatable race track” from Party Rentals Jump N Play for a very Hoosier party.
- Hire Hillbilly Hot Dogs for on-the-spot frankfurters, tenderloins, pretzels and walking tacos.
- When you need more than just another magic show, call Jamahl Keyes.
Send us your creative service ad to hello@mirrorindy.org and write “Classifieds” in the subject line.
Thanks for reading.
You can reach me at jennifer.delgadillo@mirrorindy.org. I’d love to hear from you!
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This newsletter was written by Jennifer Delgadillo and edited by Mirror Indy’s managing editor of innovation, Amanda Kingsbury.
Play List’s illustrations are by Rebekah Nolan.
The audio version of this newsletter was recorded and edited with Joseph Kilbourn.
The music in the audio version of this newsletter is “Treasure Everywhere” by Forestero.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
