Indiana Humanities

Duck & Cover: A Historic Bar Crawl in Indianapolis June 21-22

May 10, 2016 by Naptown Buzz

An upcoming bar crawl through Indianapolis’ Mass Ave on June 21 and 22, from 6 – 9 p.m. each night, will pair adult beverages with historic tales (and re-enactments) of the city and its people. The theme for Indiana Humanities’ fourth annual event is Duck & Cover: A Historic Bar Crawl through Cold War Indianapolis. Participants will start and end at the IndyFringe Theatre and journey to four different locations to learn about the brave men and women whose vigilance kept Indianapolis “safe” from the Red Menace, and hear about the spies and Communist sympathizers that tried to infiltrate the heartland.

“This is one of the best tickets in town because it’s such a unique event – it’s your only opportunity to hear these historic stories with a beer in hand surrounded by friends,” said Keira Amstutz, president and CEO at Indiana Humanities. “This year’s theme is a look at the fear and intrigue that surrounded people in Indianapolis during the Cold War era, and the jobs that were created due to the demand for greater intelligence.”

Indiana Humanities spends several months working with the Indiana Historical Society to conduct archival research and interviews in order to develop the vignettes and characters –played by Indiana Historical Society actors. This year’s stops are all based on real events and include a re-enactment of the first meeting of the Indiana chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and a retirement party for a long-time employee of the Eastside’s Naval Avionics Factory, which produced classified technology for the federal government after World War II.

Tickets are required and are available for $60. The ticket price includes food and drinks at each location, as well as at the pre- and post-gatherings. Reserve your tickets at duckandcoverbarcrawl.eventbrite.com.

SOURCE: Indiana Humanities

Energize the Circle City at Read Indy May 14th

May 2, 2015 by Naptown Buzz

Indiana Humanities and Indy Reads invite the citizens of Indianapolis to cast their vote for an idea that uses the written word to better the Circle City. The organizations will host Read Indy, part of the 5×5 event series, on May 14 at the Fountain Square Theatre.

Now in its third year, 5×5 is a platform for new and innovative ideas for the arts. At the event, five finalists will have five slides and five minutes to present a creative project or program they have envisioned for the city of Indianapolis. The winner, selected by input from a live audience and a panel of judges, will be awarded $10,000 to take a creative proposal from an idea to action.

Indiana Humanities and Indy Reads searched for ideas that used literature, reading and/or the written word to create powerful arts and humanities experiences for the people of Indianapolis. The organizations received 43 submissions in response to their April call for applications.

The 5×5 Read Indy finalists and proposals include:

The House Poem Project
Phyllis Viola Boyd and LaShawnda Crowe Storm
Boyd, an artist and urban designer, and Crowe Storm, a mixed media artist, activist and community builder, propose a project to cover blighted houses with murals of poems written by area residents.

Pedals, Prose & Places
Ashlee Wilson Fujawa
Fujawa, the director of public relations at Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, intends to use the award to create an interactive “choose-your-own adventure” bike ride, where participants bike to different parts of the city and encounter an author or “character” along the way.

Pop-Up Health Poetry
Emily Baughman
Baughman, a published poet and certified health education specialist, suggests the use of poetry stands at farmers markets and other summer events to allow visitors to solicit and read health related poems written by Indiana poets.

Read & Be Heard
Gordon Strain and Dianne Moneypenny
Strain and Moneypenny plan to ask Indianapolis residents to read aloud their favorite sentence from their favorite book and then compile recordings into an audio piece that will play from speakers installed around the city. They have published bilingual short stories, traveled the globe and created sculptures, paintings and installations around the U.S.

Voices from Central State
Elizabeth Nelson
Nelson, the director of public programs at the Indiana Medical History Museum, recommends a series of readings, performances and displays of literature and art by and about patients at Central State Hospital. This series would also include the launch of a historic tour on the former grounds of the hospital.

In addition to the presentation of these innovative ideas, event attendees will enjoy local libations from Sun King Brewery, propulsive music by Cultural Cannibals and plenty of Indy inspiration, including the announcement of the winner of Plan2020’s Love Indy t-shirt contest. Guests looking for more entertainment can venture to the 5×5 after party at New Day Meadery, located across the street from the Fountain Square Theatre.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; program begins at 6 p.m. To RSVP for the event, visit readindy.eventbrite.com.

Crime & Punishment, Indiana Humanities’ Historic Bar Crawl, June 3 and 4

May 6, 2014 by Naptown Buzz

An upcoming bar crawl along Indianapolis’ Massachusetts Avenue will pair adult beverages with historic tales (and re-enactments) of crime and punishment in the city. This year, the Indiana Humanities historic bar crawl has expanded into two nights and will take place on June 3 and 4. Participants will start and end at the Indianapolis City Market catacombs and journey to four different Mass Ave locations, hearing a historic tale about a notorious Indy crime at each spot.

“The bar crawl allows people to connect to our past and each other in a really fun way,” said Brandon Judkins, director of programs for Indiana Humanities. “The great legends and forgotten tales of Indianapolis has quickly made this one of our most popular events. What better way to experience the seedier side of history than with a drink in hand?”

The Crime & Punishment-themed event will feature interpreters and performances at each stop, including a rousing courtroom debate (attendees will cast their jury vote regarding infamous KKK leader and accused murderer D.C. Stephenson) at The Hall (formerly Old City Hall) and a behind-the-scenes of tour of Art Bank Gallery, the site of one of John Dillinger’s early bank robberies.

Tickets are $50 each, and include food and drink at each location, as well as at the pre- and post-parties. Tickets may be purchased via Eventbrite.

Food for Thought: An Indiana Harvest

November 29, 2012 by Brian Groce

Need a gift for that hard-to-buy-for relative or boss? How about one for a best friend who’s a foodie, or a colleague who loves to shop local? Food for Thought: An Indiana Harvest is a new coffee table book that features vivid photography and personal stories from more than 80 Hoosiers involved in Indiana food. The book includes entrepreneurs such as Sun King Brewing Co.’s Clay Robinson and Goose the Market’s Chris Eley; chefs such as Duos’ Becky Hostetter and R Bistro’s Regina Mehallick; as well as producers and growers that supply them – including Greg Gunthorp and Dave Fischer.

The book retails for $24.95 and is sold at a variety of local stores including Homespun, Silver in the City, Indy Reads Books, Big Hat Books, Book Mama’s, and the new West Elm store at The Fashion Mall at Keystone. It is also available online at www.IndianaHarvest.com. All proceeds benefit Indiana Humanities, which creates engaging humanities programs for Hoosiers.

Over the next few weeks, several Indianapolis locations are hosting free book signings with author David Hoppe and photographer Kristin Hess. At the events, the books will be available for 20% off the cover price for $20.

Locations and times of the book talks and signings:

Thursday, Nov. 29 from 6 – 8 p.m.
Book signing at New Day Meadery (1102 Prospect Street, Indianapolis)

Saturday, Dec. 1 from Noon – 4 p.m.
Holiday Author Fair, Indiana History Center (450 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis)

Friday, Dec. 7 from 4 – 7 p.m.
Holiday Harvest book signing at Sun King Brewing Co. with Duos (135 North College Avenue, Indianapolis)

Friday, Dec. 7 from 8 – 10 p.m.
First Friday book signing at Murphy Art Center with People for Urban Progress (Murphy Art Center, 1043 Virginia Avenue, Indianapolis)

Wednesday, Dec. 12 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Book signing at Goose the Market (2503 North Delaware Street, Indianapolis)

At Goose the Market, local producers, food advocates and chefs all featured in Food for Thought: An Indiana Harvest will be available to sign autographs, dedications and talk one-on-one with guests about the challenges and successes of Indiana’s local food future. New Goose products just for the holidays will be available including special releases made from the goods grown and cooked up by people featured in the book.

“Through our Food for Thought program, we met an amazing group of people involved in Indiana food,” said Keira Amstutz, president and CEO of Indiana Humanities. “We wanted to share their stories about making a living through food, how the creative, entrepreneurial passion drives people to take risks and introduce food-based innovations, and how Hoosiers’ efforts are working to solve food-based challenges across the street and around the globe. These are the stories we will be telling about through our book.”

Commissioned by Indiana Humanities, Food for Thought: An Indiana Harvest features a broad spectrum of Hoosiers statewide, and is a legacy of the two-year award-winning program called Food for Thought. Food for Thought: An Indiana Harvest was published by IBJ Publishing and printed by an Indiana company.

Chew on This: Moonshine & Morality

October 13, 2011 by Naptown Buzz

A one night think & drink discussion with friends and neighbors about the legislative, political and social themes of the Prohibition Era and their current presence in society.

Complementing Ken Burns’ latest documentary “Prohibition” and the Indiana Historical Society exhibition, You Are There 1920: Busted! Prohibition Enforced, you are invited to join a “Chew on This” conversation on the legislative, political and social constructs of this era and the continued tensions these issues create in contemporary times. In some of Indy’s best loved watering holes, we’ll talk, eat and drink (non-alcoholic options available) while discussing the legacy and lessons of prohibition. Following the small group cocktail conversations, all participants and invited to engage in more dialogue at a post-event reception. Why this topic? Listen to Ken Burns discuss the theme.

When:
Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011
6-7:30 p.m. – Cocktail Conversations (various locations)
7:30-8:30 p.m. – Reception (ArtSpace at the Athenaeum)

Cost:
$15 + small transaction fee includes one drink, plus appetizers.