INDIANAPOLIS — A first-of-its-kind literary tour of Indianapolis will feature the stories and perspectives of more than 20 writers who have called the city home.
Bookmark Indy is a self-guided outdoor experience of 19 physical sites (and a mobile friendly website) that celebrate writers from the past, such as Booth Tarkington, Mari Evans and Kurt Vonnegut, as well as writers from today, including John Green, Maurice Broaddus and Susan Neville.
Connecting pen to place, the sites create a space for community interaction and inspire creativity both on-site and online through Bookmark Indy’s immersive website, BookmarkIndy.com.
A dozen locations are accompanied by an original artwork — painting, collage, dance or music — inspired by the work of the featured writer. Works are presented in their digital forms at BookmarkIndy.com and at occasional in-person performances at sites around the city. Featured artists will include Manon Voice, Xin Ying, Kyle Herrington, Matthew Phemster, Joshua Thompson, Elizabeth Guipe, Mary Ann Davis, Tatjana Byrd, Abi Ogle and others.
Bookmark Indy locations and writers include:
• Barton Towers, 555 Mass. Ave. – Etheridge Knight
• Booth Tarkington Home, 4270 N. Meridian St. – Booth Tarkington
• Crossroads of America, Intersection of Meridian and Washington streets – Kurt Vonnegut
• Fletcher Trust Building, 10 E. Market St. – C.L. Moore
• Indiana Avenue, Intersection of Indiana Ave. and West St. – Mari Evans
• (Former) Jacob Klein Bakery & General Store, 234 N. Davison St. – Johnny Gruelle
• Lockerbie Street between East and North streets – James Whitcomb Riley
• Meredith Nicholson Home, 1500 N. Delaware St. – Meredith Nicholson
• Pogue’s Run, 1004 S. White River Pkwy. Dr. – John Green
• Red Key Tavern, 5170 N. College Ave. – Dan Wakefield
• Shortridge High School, 3401 N. Meridian St. – Multiple
• Skiles Test Nature Park, 6828 Fall Creek Rd. – Susan Neville
• Woodruff Place, 735 Woodruff Place East Dr. – Booth Tarkington
Over the next 19 weeks each site will be spotlighted with an event or “activation,” including the following:
From April 20-22, 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Shortridge High School, 3401 N. Meridian, there will be a Light Show Projection of yearbook photos of Shortridge High School alumni Kurt Vonnegut, Dan Wakefield, Madelyn Pugh and Marguerite Young will be projected on the façade of the building. The event will be free.
On May 31 at 7 p.m., there will be a virtual Swinging Syllables: A Head-to-Head Haiku Competition to Honor Etheridge Knight. Poet Etheridge Knight was known for tackling serious topics with playful language, perhaps made most evident in his haiku. This battle of “Haikusters” will celebrate the legacy of Etheridge Knight by featuring haiku that showcase the topics and aesthetic of the late poet. The winning poet will receive a cash prize of $250! Register at https://bookmarkindyhaikus.eventbrite.com to compete.
On August 21 from 10:30-noon at the former Jacob Klein Bakery and General Store, 234 N. Davison St., students in kindergarten through third grade are invited to learn about Johnny Gruelle, creator of Raggedy Ann and Andy and about the history of the former Jacob Klein Bakery and General Store. Led by Suzanne Walker of the Indiana Young Readers Center, the event will include Raggedy Ann stories and the opportunity create some toys to take home. Registration for this event will open on July 1.
