Upcoming Indianapolis Events for Artists and Designers

Indianapolis has a rapidly growing art and design community and everyone is getting involved. Here are some hand curated upcoming events and workshops you may want to keep on your radar. This is a call to all creatives or those interested in art and design- not just professionals. See you around town!

AIGA Indy Homegrown: Logos and Symbols

When: March 7, 2018
Where: The Hatch
Cost: Free

Hosted by the Indy Chapter of AIGA, this is an event for anyone who loves great design and/or the Hoosier State.

From AIGA Indy:

“Lilly's logo, the Ball mason jar, a Cummins decal, the Flag of Indianapolis. You’ve seen them. You recognize them. If you had to, you could sketch their images from memory. If you’re a designer from Central Indiana, you probably already have. Join us for the kickoff of our AIGA Indy Homegrown series to find out what makes the logos and symbols of these Indiana brands so iconic.”

Did we mention Centerpoint Brewing will be providing beverages?

Get Registered.

Art Speak

When: TBA
Where: TBA
Cost: Free

Art Speak is barely a year old but has done some great things in that timespan. This is a speaking series with a mission to ‘connect society to artists’ in Indianapolis. This isn’t Bob Ross happy trees story time- it’s dancers, hip-hop artists, tattoo artists, streetwear designers, photographers, digital designers and more, telling their story and getting the community involved. Come support these artists and grow in the process.

Stay tuned for their next event by following on Instagram @artspeakcommunity.

Learn More.

Drawing and Doughnuts 

When: Every Saturday morning 9a-12p
Where: The Dancing Donut
Cost: Free

Ever feel like you need a little push to set aside time to draw? Of course you do. Drawing and Doughnuts is a laid back draw fest at The Dancing Donut in Broad Ripple every Saturday morning. Get a donut as big as your head then have a seat and socialize with other creatives in the area. Whether your drawing pad is made of paper or a screen- you’re welcome here.

Follow at @drawinganddoughnutsindy to get a sneak peak.

Barter School Indy

When: Ongoing classes, see link below for full list
Where: Rabble Coffee
Cost: It's a barter system!

What an amazing concept. A skill-share scenario to learn skills like 'Marketing on Etsy' or 'Developing Black and White Film with Coffee' (WHAT!) and all you have to do is bring an item predetermined by the instructor of that class. For example, the previously mentioned film teacher’s requested form of payment includes a bottle of wine, colored film, or a donation to Barter School Indy.

These classes are held at Rabble Coffee- a great local coffee shop that is continually involved in the art community. Scroll through the hashtag #DrawnAtRabble on Instagram to see the results of sketch nights held during live performances at the shop. VERY Cool.

For a full list of classes and to get registered, check out the Barter School Indy page. 

Cat Head Press: Printing Workshops

When: Several times per month
Where: Cat Head Press
Cost: Free to affordably priced

Cat Head Press is a not-for-profit community center and fine art printmaking studio on the Near Eastside of Indy. This is a gallery space, a place for workshops, and an open studio so you’re not screen printing band t-shirts on the kitchen floor of your apartment while fighting your cat.

This is for First Friday enthusiasts, seasoned printmakers, or the creative master of none interested in taking a workshop. (T-shirt idea. Front: C.M.O.N. Back: Creative Master of None, printed pretty well but not amazingly)

Check out the upcoming events. They’re either free or very affordable! BONUS: Once you complete the screen printing workshop, you will have access to the studio for a small fee- a worthy investment.

Carrie Mae Weems - The Jane Fortune Outstanding Women Visiting Artist Lecture

When: April 4th, 2018
Where: Herron School of Art and Design
Cost: Free

If you’re not privy to the visiting artist lectures at Herron School of Art and Design- get on it because there are some great artists coming through Indy to share their stories and it is truly inspiring. Mark your calendar for this very important talk by Carrie Mae Weems.

From Herron Galleries:

“One of the most important and celebrated contemporary American artists, Carrie Mae Weems has for over thirty years investigated issues of race, gender and class, and her artwork continues to raise important questions about cultural identity and the politics of representation.”

Learn more.

Here are some vintage and contemporary goodies for you by Carrie Mae Weems:

Kitchen Table Series (1990) and Blue Notes (2014-2015) 

The Bigger Picture Show- 90's

When: April 13th, 2018
Where: Circle City Industrial Complex
Cost: Free

Every year designers in Indy get together to reimagine and auction off movie posters to benefit Indy Film Fest. This year's theme is 90's. I'm predicting some cult classic titles- kerned, framed and ready for your office. Grab a beer, make your rounds, and bid on these big boys. Hosted by Lodge Design (Some super creative folks).

Learn More.