Stay Home, Folks!

Freezing rain. Wintry mix. Wind.

It's not safe on the roads.

Stay home, folks!

Red/Black: Related Through History

Sure, February is Black History month -- and we're inundated with all the usual suspects.

The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, 500 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, has come up with a new viewpoint on that history.

Since the first arrival of African slaves in North America, the interactions between people of African- and Native American heritage has been a combined story of conflict, cooperation, cultural growth, destruction and survival. Since 2001, the Eiteljorg has pioneered research on this subject, and has drawn together important art and artifacts that demonstrate shared traditions found in history, genealogy, food, dress, music and occupation.

Some American Indians held black slaves and others helped them escape. Sometimes there was intermarriage and a blending of traditions. Red/Black: Related Through History includes an object-based exhibition on the subject, created by the Eiteljorg Museum, and the Smithsonian’s traveling panel show, Indivisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas.

History is filled with stories of individuals who have lived their lives with struggle and triumph with shared heritage. Slaves who traveled the Trail of Tears with their native owners. Slaves who intermarried into tribes to escape the bondage of slavery. There are stories of people with biracial heritage today who struggle with identity and who gets to say who they are.

For example, the story of Radmilla Cody is explored in this exhibit. In 1997, she was the first biracial woman to be crowned Miss Navajo Nation. She recalls her time on the reservation being called names for looking "too black to be Navajo". She remembers letters being sent to local papers saying she should not be Miss Navajo because she doesn’t look “Indian” enough. Yet, she has prevailed. She recently was named one of NPR’s 50 Great Voices.

(Photo of Robert Banks © Peggy Fontenot, courtesy of Eiteljorg Museum)

Indianapolis Home Show Opens Tomorrow

The 89th Indianapolis Home Show opens tomorrow with more than 900 exhibitors in both the West Pavilion and the Exposition Hall of the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Centerpiece is a fully- constructed, decorated and landscaped home built entirely inside the Expo Hall. Built by Fischer Homes, is uses the Keller floor plan with an Arts & Crafts exterior, a light-filled solarium with a 13-foot ceiling and 3,467 square feet of living space.

Tickets are $13 for adults. Parking at the fairgrounds is free 31 January 31 through 3 February (parking at other times is $3 per vehicle).

The Indianapolis Home Show is the nation’s oldest and the Midwest’s largest home-focused extravaganza. It runs through 6 February.

ART INfiber on Exhibit in Zionsville

"ART INfiber" is on display in the Moore Brunes Gallery of the SullivanMunce Cultural Center, 205-225 West Hawthorne Street, Zionsville, through 19 February.

A public reception is planned from 5 to 8 p.m. 4 February.

INfiber is an association of fiber artists in Indianapolis and the surrounding central Indiana area who meet regularly to promote their professional artistic development through networking, educational programs, and exhibition opportunities.

Interests of the INfiber artists include studio art quilts, wearable art, surface design, soft sculpture and art dolls, weaving, and fiber mixed media. Techniques employed include hand-dyeing and hand-painting of fabrics, discharge, printing, stamping, batik, machine and hand embroidery, and beading. Their work includes both 2D and 3D expressions.

The goals of INfiber are the introduction and promotion of the aesthetic qualities of fiber and fabric-based, original art to the viewing public and the continued artistic growth of its members and new members are welcome.

(Image courtesy of Paulette Lancaster)

Ritter's Frozen Custard on Come-Back Trail

Ritter’s Frozen Custard, a once-promising locally based chain that struggled to grow too quickly, is enjoying a rebirth of sorts under new ownership, reports IBJ.com.

At least four Ritter’s stores in the Indianapolis area have either opened or are set to reopen in the same locations where Ritter's premium ice cream once was served before previous franchisees left the company, IBJ notes.

Ritter’s has 17 stores in Indiana, including nine in the Indianapolis area. This Indianapolis Observer's favorite is just northeast of 56th Street and Georgetown Road at 4840 West 57th Street.

Centennial of Indy Parks

Throughout 2011, Indy Parks will highlight the rich history and grand vision of the Kessler Park and Boulevard System.

Indy Parks will introduce new initiatives to promote resources including a challenge to learn about 100 significant landmarks in the Indy Parks system; geocaching, a high-tech scavenger hunt across the entire county, and an opportunity for everyone to share stories, memories and photos from Indy Parks through the years.

Indy Parks has 207 parks with 11,400 acres of parkland, 21 aquatic centers, 16 family centers, 15 spray grounds, 13 golf courses, four nature centers, four disc-golf courses, three dog parks, an ice rink, mountain bike trails, conservatory and sunken garden, arts center, Velodrome, skate park, BMX complex, 59 miles of soft trails and 59 miles of greenways. Each program and event in 2011 will be a part of the 100-year celebration.

Public-Private Partnership Benefits

"Make no mistake about it, when a politician uses the phrase 'public-private partnership', grab your wallet. Public-private partnerships are almost always nothing more than corporate welfare measures involving politicians forcing taxpayers to subsidize private business ventures so that those private businesses (who are also contributors to the politicians) have less risk and can make more money."

Thus sayeth Paul G. Ogden on his blog today. This Indianapolis Observer can only add "amen".