INDIANAPOLIS — The 2018 Spirit & Place Festival celebrates, explores, challenges and reflects on the meaning behind “intersection” in its 23rd year. The Spirit & Place Festival is Indianapolis’s largest collaborative festival that uses the arts, religion and humanities as a tool for shaping individual and community life through 10 days of events designed with community partners, individuals and communities. The festival this year will explore the theme of “intersections.” Intersecting lines represent collective creativity and deeper understanding, as well as points of division or conflict. This year, the festival will run from Nov. 2-11 at a number of different venues throughout the city.
Event submissions that exemplified key traits of the Spirit & Place Festival were nominated for an “Award of Awesomeness.” The winning event will receive a $1,000 award at the end of the festival. The opening night will be held during First Friday at the Harrison Center, 1505 N. Delaware, which represents how artists collaborate and intersect in Indianapolis to create a vibrant art scene.
The 23rd Annual Public Conversation will be held Sun., Nov. 11 from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. at the Indiana State Museum, 650 W. Washington St. and will feature Zeynep Tufekci. Tufekci is a techno-sociologist who focuses on social movements and civics, privacy and surveillance and social interactions. Tufekci’s latest book, Twitter and Teargas, thoughtfully examines both the positive and negative ways digital platforms support the work of social change. Admission is free.
On Sat., Nov. 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Explore Art-omotive! at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, 4790 W. 16th St.will delve into the relationship between art, design and the history of automobiles. Participants will watch a virtual engine build competition, participate in a “car parade,” design their car of the future and explore the history of automotive design in this family friendly and free event.
Hummus & Happiness on Mon., Nov. 5 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Indiana Interchurch Center, 1100 W. 42nd St. will encourage the audience to consider how film and food can create spaces for the exploration of complex issues and diverse viewpoints. Guests are invited to a hummus-tasting competition, where you can sample (and then vote on) hummus recipes from around the world, prepared by local hummus-makers, who will share their narrative and the story of their recipe. The winner will be announced after the film screening of “Life and Hummus,” followed by a short panel discussion and audience Q&A. Admission is free.
Afrofuturism in Action: A Conversation with Tobias Buckell will be held Fri., Nov. 9 from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. at the Kheprw Institute/Renaissance Center, 3549 Boulevard Pl. Afrofuturism is the reimagining of a future filled with arts, science and technology seen through a black lens. It’s a literary and creative genre that allows us to discuss matters of race, gender and social justice as well as model possibilities for the future. Hear from Tobias Buckell, author of Crystal Rain, Arctic Rising, and Halo: The Cole Protocol, and join in a community conversation where we use art, science and faith to imagine a future together.
Convergence: Connecting our Shared Experience through Performance and Prose will be held Sa., Nov. 10 from 3 – 6 p.m. at The Church Within, 1125 Spruce St. Featuring many local artists, attendees will reflect on the convergence of artistry, culture and tradition through poetic prose, rhythmic dance and visual storytelling.
For a full listing of events, visit www.spiritandplace.org
