Stutz Open House

The Stutz Artists Association's annual Open House is today and tomorrow in the Stutz Building, 212 West 10th Street, Indianapolis.

More than 70 artists open their studios to visitors during the two-day event. It's not only an opportunity to see the work of 70 local artists in one place at one time, it's a chance to see where and how the work is created. Artwork ranges from paintings, drawings and photography, to sculpture, jewelry and furniture.

In addition to being a great place to buy one-of-a-kind gifts - artwork ranges from $12 to $10,000 - the event offers a rare chance to see vintage cars in the historic Stutz car factory. Visitors also enjoy special gallery opening activities such as acoustic music and food vendors.

Tickets are $12 at the gate, with a special $8 Saturday re-entry with Friday's ticket stub. On Saturday only, kids 12 and under are free.

Click here for the 2011 frequently asked questions document -- including ticket outlets, parking, admission, afterparty and more.

(Photo courtesy of Stutz Artists Association)

Kathak Dance Comes to Indy

Expand your cultural horizons by attending a Kathak dance recital at 7 p.m. 14 May. Jogini Gandhi will present creative compositions in this style, one of eight classical Indian dance forms, at the Informatics Building, Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis, 535 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis.

Tickets are $20 (just $15 for students). The performance is sponsored by the Fine Arts Committee of the India Association of Indianapolis.

Need more information? Contact Mahesh Merchant, Kshama Ranade, Arvind Thakkar, Chetan Shukla or Parvathy Hadley.

"Six Phases of African-American Genealogy"

"The Six Phases of African-American Genealogy" is the topic for a class at the Indiana Historical Society, 450 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, from 10 a.m. to noon 21 May.

Genealogist Tony Burroughs (pictured), who will lead the class, has identified six distinct phases of research he considers to be the building blocks of African-American genealogy research. This program illustrates an overview of these phases, pointing out methods and sources for each, and progresses from beginning to more advanced research.

Burroughs taught genealogy at Chicago State University for 15 years. He is
the author of Black Roots: A Beginner’s Guide to Tracing the African American Family Tree.

Cost for the class is $10. Admission to the Indiana Experience that day is complimentary for class attendees, who are also invited to a 1:30 p.m. screening of the new WFYI documentary Freedom Riders in the Basile Theater.

For more information or to register for the class, go online or call 317:232-1882.

"500" Tribute at Indiana State Museum

This year's the centennial of the 500-Mile Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. One of the celebrations is 12 May in the Indiana State Museum, White River State Park, Indianapolis.

The Tribute will honor the Hulman-George Family and the 100th Anniversary of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The evening begins with a VIP Reception on the Canal Terrace at 6 p.m. The Tribute begins at 7 p.m. in the Governor Frank O’Bannon Great Hall.

During the event, the museum will induct the late Tony Hulman into the American Originals Gallery. Artifacts from the past 100 years of racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will also be on display during the Tribute.

Tickets at $125 per person, or $175 per person if you'd like also to attend the VIP reception, are available from Charlie Shock, 317:233-9911; reservations deadline is Friday (6 May).

Honorary co-chairs are Indiana Governor Mitchell E. Daniels Jr., Johnny Rutherford and Tony Stewart.

PS: be sure to wear black and white cocktail attire!

"La Traviata" at Clowes Hall

The Indianapolis Opera stages "La Traviata" at Clowes Memorial Hall, 4200 Sunset Avenue, Indianapolis, with performances 13 and 15 May, with music performed by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

Featuring some of opera’s most loved arias and ensembles, Giuseppe Verdi’s popular "La Traviata" soars with unparalleled drama and elegance. Violetta, a Parisian courtesan with a sordid past, falls madly in love with Alfredo, only to have her hopes destroyed when Alfredo’s father intervenes. Their spellbinding reunion is never to be missed.

Of course, it's performed in Italian -- but there will be easy-to-read translations projected above the stage.

GOP vs. Planned Parenthood

"It's amazing to think that the Republican-led Senate would put the health and welfare of women at risk just to score political points with their conservative and tea party base." (from the Indianapolis Times)

I don't usually quote Terry Burns, but this time he's spot on. This Indianapolis Observer wonders whether the Republicans supporting this measure are going to step in and pay for all the health care now given to Indiana residents by Planned Parenthood!

Do they really think we won't remember this idiocy at the next election?

Chutzpah

The Indianapolis Tea Party has asked the city to waive the parking bill for its 15 April "Tax Day Rally" at the Indiana Statehouse, reports Cory Shouten on IBJ.com.

Members of the group parked in metered spaces closed off to public parking by "emergency order" of the Indianapolis Police Department.

Without a waiver from the Board of Public Works, the group would have to pay $450, or $15 per meter per day for the 30 meters it reserved along Washington Street, said DPW spokeswoman Molly Deuberry.

Deuberry said the Tea Party event is the first time in memory a politically minded group characterized as a nonprofit has applied for a parking meter waiver, Shouten writes.

Dance Kaleidoscope: The Body Electric

Dance Kaleidoscope takes to the main stage at the Indiana Repertory Theater, 140 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, 19-22 May for "The Body Electric", a celebration of dance and life. The performance features two audience favorites and a world premiere, as well as live music from jazz violinist Cathy Morris.

Electric Counterpoint (world premiere) - set to a jazz guitar score by Steve Reich, David Hochoy translates the word "counterpoint" into physical planes of contrasting movement. Featuring duets for George Salinas/Zach Young, Mariel Greenlee/Caitlin Swihart, and Jillian Godwin/Tim June.

In the Moog (2008) - Prepare to have your funny bone tickled! It's the intricately structured music of Bach, but capriciously played on the famous Moog synthesizer.

Skin Walkers (1999) - This folklore fantasy weaves a tale about beings that can shift between human and animal forms. The Celtic score is composed by Indianapolis' own T.H. Gillespie and L.E. McCullough and played by the incomparable Cathy Morris.

No-So Fleeces Indy Taxpayers

"The $156 million North of South project is a complicated, risky and potentially transformative bet on downtown," writes Cory Shouten on IBJ.com.

"Taxpayers are putting up nearly every dollar used to build the apartment, hotel and retail project, chiefly by loaning $86 million raised from the sale of municipal bonds. All without the city’s landing any job commitments, charging the developer a spread above the city’s cost of capital as any banker would, or installing a mechanism for taxpayers to enjoy some upside if the deal succeeds....

"The city sold about $98 million in bonds to finance the project and will kick in another $9 million for infrastructure improvements. Add in a $6 million state grant, and taxpayers are on the hook for about $113 million."

This Indianapolis Observer remains in a state of shock that Indy's on the hook for big bucks while private company's stand to benefit from our tax dollars. Way to go, Ballard!

Indiana Artisan Marketplace

Get on over to the Exposition Hall at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 East 38th Street, Indianapolis, tomorrow or Sunday for the first Indiana Artisan Marketplace.

Technically, it's not all Hoosier-made, however. This debut showcase will feature art and food from about 150 artisans from Indiana and an additional 75 artisans from Kentucky.

In addition to browsing the booths, visitors will enjoy Indiana music, literary readings, live art and craft demonstrations, and food and drink tastings.

Hours on Saturday (16 April) are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Sunday (17 April), it's open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $8 (and don't forget it costs $3 to park at the fairgrounds). Bring the kids! Admission is free for children 15 and under.

University of Liberia: A Restoration Story

The second oldest institution of higher learning in West Africa, the University of Liberia (UL) played a pivotal role in the early years of the nation. Established in 1851 as an institution for clergymen and public officials, the university has educated many of Liberia's leaders.

Indy's Sagamore Institute, 2902 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, is hosting a discussion from 10:30 a.m. 'til noon on Wednesday (20 April) with Dr. Charles Reafsnyder and Dr. Mary Beth Riner on efforts to rebuild UL.

Dr. Reafsnyder is Associate Vice President in the Office of the Vice President for International Affairs (OVPIA) at Indiana University-Bloomington. Dr. Riner is Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program for the Indiana University School of Nursing.

The recent civil war wreaked havoc on the university, reducing the faculty from 1,400 to 307. Additionally, more than 90 percent of the university's facilities (including computers, books, and typewriters) were looted and pillaged.

In 2008, however, Indiana University (IU) recognized the accomplishments of Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in reestablishing democratic governance and beginning to rebuild the country.

Despite recent progress, Liberia continues to have some of the highest rates of maternal/infant mortality, malaria, and malnutrition in the world. Coupled with a seriously depleted health care workforce, the average life span of Liberians has plummeted from pre-war years.

During President Sirleaf's visit to the United States in 2008, IU made a commitment to address Liberia's health care workforce training needs through the development of health and life science programs at UL.

IU faculty is helping UL boost their own faculty, redevelop curriculum, and revitalize UL's School of Medicine's programs in biology, biotechnology, nursing, public health and pre-clinical science instruction.

If you plan to attend, please register online by 18 April.

Attendance Tops Record at Children's Museum

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis has set an all time attendance record for spring break with visitation up 33 percent over the previous year and 19 percent over the previous attendance record set in 2006.

The Museum’s spring break period is defined as the last two weeks of March and the first full week of April (21 March thru 10 April this year).

Piano Jazz Finals

The Jazz Fellowship Awards will be decided Saturday (16 April) in the Athenaeum, 401 East Michigan Street, Indianapolis. The finals in the competition, sponsored by the American Pianists Association (APA), begin at 7:30 p.m.

The evening will feature performances by the five finalists with Grammy Award winning jazz singer, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and the Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra.

The five Finalists are Emmet Cohen (Miami, age 20), Zach Lapidus (Indianapolis, age 24), Glenn Zaleski (New York City, age 23), Aaron Diehl (New York City, age 25) and Jeremy Siskind (New York City, age 24). They will compete for the largest jazz prize in the world, $50,000, and the title of 2011 Cole Porter Fellow in Jazz of the APA.

Tickets for the finals are $35. For more information about the American Pianists Association or to purchase tickets, go online, or call 317:940-9945.

Is Mike Pence Serious?

According to news reports today, Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), said he will likely vote against a budget deal to cut about $38 billion from federal spending levels because the compromise bill does not eliminate subsidies for Planned Parenthood.

Why do the Republicans continue to let social issues trump economic ones?

In no way, shape or form will "eliminating subsidies for Planned Parenthood" do anything more than punish the women who rely on the agency for health care.

Bart Peterson Signs Indiana Compact

Bart Peterson, former Mayor of Indianapolis (2000-2008), signed the Indiana Compact today (8 April), joining former Mayor William Hudnut, Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller, and a long list of state leaders from academia, the business community, and faith-based and social services communities who have signed the Compact, according to a news release.

“Indianapolis must, above all, be a city that welcomes diverse talent. The Indiana Compact recognizes that diversity produces prosperity. I hope lawmakers can find ways to encourage our continued development as an international city.”

The Indiana Compact is a statement of five principles that the signers hope will guide rational immigration policy debate as the 2011 session of the Indiana General Assembly enters its last three weeks. There are a number of legislative proposals being considered that deal with immigration.

The Compact, based on a similar document in Utah, was developed by the Alliance for Immigration Reform in Indiana (AIRI), a coalition of leaders in business, academia, faith-based and social services organizations. Nearly 4,000 Hoosiers have signed the Compact to date, including this Indianapolis Observer.

The Compact states:

FEDERAL SOLUTIONS: Immigration is a federal policy issue between the U.S. government and other countries—not Indiana and other countries. We urge Indiana’s Congressional delegation, and others, to lead efforts to strengthen and reform federal laws. We recognize that border security is a critical element of national security, and further urge our Congressional representatives to work to protect the borders as part of a comprehensive immigration policy.

LAW ENFORCEMENT: We respect the rule of law and support law enforcement’s professional judgment and discretion. Local law enforcement resources should focus on criminal activities, not civil violations of federal code.

FAMILIES: Strong families are the foundation of successful communities. We oppose policies that unnecessarily separate families. We champion policies that support families and improve the health, education and well-being of all Indiana children.

ECONOMY: Indiana is best served by an economy that maximizes individual freedom and opportunity. We acknowledge the economic role immigrants play as workers and taxpayers. Indiana’s immigration policies must reaffirm our global reputation as a welcoming and business-friendly state.

A FREE SOCIETY: Immigrants are integrated into communities across Indiana. We must adopt a humane approach to this reality, reflecting our unique culture, history and spirit of inclusion. The way we treat immigrants will say more about us as a free society and less about our immigrant neighbors. Indiana should always be a place that welcomes people of goodwill.

Durham Ordered to Confinement

According to IndyStar.com, Magistrate Judge Kennard P. Foster has ordered Timothy Durham to be confined for seven days at the Volunteers of America halfway house in Downtown Indianapolis.

He had been free on a $1 million bond since being arrested 17 March on 12 felony counts involving his Ohio-based investment firm Fair Finance, The Star said.

Ackles' Actions Back in the Spotlight

According to Advance Indiana, "A three judge panel of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has reversed a dismissal of the race discrimination lawsuit brought against former Marion County Coroner Kenneth Ackles by Drs. Stephen Radentz and Michele Catellier, and their business, Forensic Pathology Associates of Indiana, LLC."

Dawgs vs. Connecticut

Final game - 9:23 p.m. Monday, 4 April 2011

Dawgs vs. Virginia Commonwealth University

Tip off at 6:09 p.m.

Indy Home in the New York Times

Today's New York Times features a home for sale in Indianapolis, a four-bedroom, four-bath converted barn listed for $700,000.

Interested? The details are here.