The Art Of The Matter

This week on The Art of the Matter, we find out about Yelp Indy's one-stop shopping event, hear about the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir's recent Carnegie Hall concert, and chat with Carrie Newcomer about her artistic process. We also meet Eli Lilly before he was successful, and get oral history-gathering tips from Story Corps' Davis Isay.

This week on The Art of the Matter, we find out why You are Beautiful, channel Bob Dylan and The Band, and get all the "mews" from the upcoming Internet Cat Video Festival. We'll also start our holiday shopping as we learn about the Stutz Holiday Open House, and discover poet Norbert Krapf's new prose memoir.

This week, a preview of Indianapolis City Ballets Evening With the Stars, an art installation that pairs poetry and guns, and we'll find out what Hoosiers were listening to in the early dats of our statehood. We'll also meet Spirit & Place Signature Conversation speaker Matthew Desmond and get to know three independent video game designers.

Today, we'll meet Adam Bodony of the New World Youth Orchestras and bassist Bob Goodlett - they're collaborating on an upcoming concert. We'll learn how Sean Gray inspired his mother Sylvia Gray to take artistic risks, and we'll peek behind the scenes at how Tonic Ball is put together each year. We'll also discover how Andy D. found his one-of-a-kind persona. And we'll learn about an exhibit at the Eiteljorg Museum that features a collection put together over the lifetime of the owner of the Tennessee Titans.

On this show, we meet the Indianapolis Children's Choir's new artistic director, hear how professional storytellers can help your business succeed, consider the concept of "home" with some Spirit & Place Festival artists, and connect with voices from another dimension. Finally, we explore The Children's Museum with some actual children.

On this show, the Indiana Repertory Theatre celebrates our state's bicentennial with a collaboration called Finding Home: Indiana at 200; new Heartland Film President Craig Prater tells us how he fell in love with the silver screen; and local band Bullet Points gets ready to open for legendary Japanese Queens of Pop Shonen Knife. Plus folk legend Joan Baez tells us why she's still passionate about music and social justice after 50 years of touring.

This week author-illustrator-composer Devon Kondaki teaches children about the value of diversity through his book "The Mystery of the Magical Bwa Bwa Fruit," while the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra proves its diversity with two concerts interpreting the music of the late rock icon Prince. In other news, a local collaboration produces three Shakespeare plays in repertory, Brandon Meeks finally has time to make a solo album, and we learn how we can design our own roller coaster at the Indiana State Museum. All that and more -- don't miss this week's "The Art of the Matter," with an all-new format!

This October, the Stutz Art Gallery will display professional-level fine art at kids' eye level. All visitors-but especially young children-are invited to touch, smell, open, close, and view the artwork on display. The eight homes on the 2016 AIA Architects' Home Tour represent a variety of architectural styles and neighborhoods, giving visitors a chance to see the latest trends in home designs by some of the city's most talented architects. Throughout the two-day event, you'll discover innovative design solutions, and you can meet the design teams. Folk music serves as a strong inspiration for the classical chamber music featured on this year's Ronen Chamber Ensemble season, which begins on Tuesday, October 17th.

Indianapolis' Phoenix Theatre begins its season this week with Peter and the Starcatcher, the musical prequel to the story of Peter Pan. Sharon learned about the season opener and more. The Long- Sharp Gallery inside the Conrad Hotel is featuring "Nelson Mandela: The Artist" through mid October, and Jill Ditmire talked with the collector responsible for the exhibit. Butler University has a world of artistic resources that it loves to share with the community around the beautiful near-northside campus and beyond. Sharon Gamble invited new Arts Center Executive Director Ty Sutton in to tell us his plans.

Terrance McNally, Claudia Shear, and Neal LaBute are just a few of the buzz-worthy playwrights featured in Theatre on the Square's new season. For his last interview for The Art of the Matter, Travis DiNicola sat down with the Director of the IU Eskenazi Museum of Art, David Brenneman. Travis DiNicola is relocating to his native Pennsylvania, and Sharon recently sat down with him for this last radio conversation. Go with luck and love, Travis!

Sharon Gamble invited US History and English teacher Andrea Neal to tell us about her fun and informative book titled Road Trip: A Pocket History of Indiana. Sharon Gamble invited Actors Theatre of Indiana co-founders Cynthia Collins and Judy Fitzgerald and marketing and development director Kristen Merritt in to learn about the new season. Certain chilled "adult beverages" have always been, um, "on tap" at our city's annual IrishFest, but this year the festival itself is legal. Yes, IrishFest is toasting 21 years, and Sharon Gamble invited the Festival's volunteer marketing guru Erin O'Rourke to tell us more.

Professional gardener Ellen Zachos has made a specialty of foraging wild edibles very close to home, and she's coming to the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Ellen will speak about backyard foraging at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016 at Deboest Lecture Hall at the IMA. Don Gummer: Back Home Again is an exhibition of eight sculptures by Indianapolis-native, New York-based artist Don Gummer. Located on the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: the show runs from now through next August 2017. This year Indy JazzFest is doing a tribute to native son Wes Montgomery. Sharon Gamble invited JazzFest Artistic Director Rob Dixon to share some highlights.

Sharon Gamble invited Indianapolis Symphonic Choir Artistic Director Eric Stark to tell us why he's taking the ensemble to New York City's more storied venue this October. Vonnegut's World: a weeklong festival to explore what made Vonnegut, Vonnegut starts on September 7th and leads up to the world premiere of the opera Happy Birthday, Wanda June, presented by the Indianapolis Opera. Indianapolis is home to what we believe is the country's largest business and arts luncheon, and this year the event is celebrating a big anniversary. Sharon Gamble invited Arts Council of Indianapolis President and CEO Dave Lawrence in to tell us about his organization's role in the Start With Art luncheon.

Okara Imani and Sammie Brown were interns this summer for the Harrison Center for the Arts. Their job? To create a Hamilton style musical that could be used by tour groups visiting historic Indianapolis locations. The Indianapolis Foundation is celebrating a century of investment in the central Indiana community, and Sharon Gamble invited Vice President for Development and Philanthropic Services Rob MacPherson in to share the highlights of their plans. Flight of Fancy is a group show featuring artists who explore subconscious thoughts, dreamlike scenes, and surreal visions at Indiana Landmarks Center's Rapp Family Gallery which opens in October. Travis DiNicola couldn't wait to find out about it and invited artists Brinton Farrand and Wazeil in to learn more.

On the eastern edge of Indianapolis, the town of Cumberland is home to a vibrant annual arts festival called Cumberland Arts Goes to Market. Sharon Gamble invited festival organization Thomas Wyatt Watkins to tell us about the 8th annual event's offerings. The IndyFringe starts next week with over 50 shows in 7 venues during 11 days with 384 performances in downtown Indy. One of those shows is based on a book by Kurt Vonnegut called, "God Bless You Dr. Kevorkian." Travis DiNicola spoke with the creators of the show Jeffery Martin and Michael Hosp. The City of Carmel is taking advantage of its abundant outdoor performance spaces by staging its second annual Celebration of Bands, and two-day, free, family friendly feast of band music from Mozart to Dixieland. Sharon Gamble invited Indiana Wind Symphony Music Director Charlie Conrad and saxophonist Jeff Goens in to learn about the Celebration.

Sarah The Cheese Lady used to have a different last name. That was before she discovered her unusual calling -- crafting sculptures out of enormous blocks of cheese. Sharon just had to find out more ahead of Sarah's appearance at this year's Indiana State Fair. A newly formed advocacy and action group called Landmark Columbus, led by Richard McCoy, has announced plans for Exhibit Columbus a biannual design exhibition to start in fall 2017. "Attucks: The School That Opened a City" is a new documentary project of WFYI Public Media, Ted Green Films, and Heartland Film. Sharon Gamble invited producer-director Ted Green and composer-performer Tyron Cooper to tell her to talk about this film that captures the heart and pride of not only a high school but also its wider community.

Rad Drew and Freddie Kelvin are two of the judges for Indianapolis' third annual JCC International Mobile Phone Photography Exhibition. Sharon Gamble invited them to tell us about how the contest and exhibition have grown. A few years ago Travis DiNicola interviewed art teach Nathan Heck about a new video series he was creating to get kids excited about art history, and art making. The show, Artrageous with Nate just won its second Emmy, is now partnering with PBS Digital Studios. Earlier this summer, film preservationist Eric Grayson gave a talk at the Mostly Lost gathering of film historians and other enthusiasts at the Library of Congress. Sharon Gamble invited him to tell us some of the highlights of his talk.

The Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra is exploring the roaring '20s, Christoper O'Riley, and contemporary composers -- and that's just this fall! Sharon Gamble invited the ICO's Music Director Mathew Kraemer and executive director Elaine Eckart to tell her about the start to the orchestra's season and a special contemporary music festival this fall. Heartland Actors' Repertory Theatre, or HART, is producing The Winter's Tale for their annual free Shakespeare in the Park - the White River Park, that is. Travis DiNicola spoke with actors Ryan Artzberger and Rob Johansen, and Director Robert Neal about the show. Writer Chris Forhan is primarily a poet, but a couple of years ago one of his poems made him realize that he needed to write prose to help him untangle a mystery at the center of his family life -- the suicide of his father when Chris was just 14. My Father Before Me is the resulting memoir, and Sharon Gamble invited Chris to read from and talk about the process of documenting the dynamics of his family.

Award winning author Susan Neville is known for her creative non-fiction as well as her short stories. Travis DiNicola recently sat down with her to chat about her work. Housed at Park Tudor School, Summer Stock Stage brings together musical theatre students from all around central Indiana to collaborate with adult theatre professionals in two summer productions each year. Sharon Gamble invited artistic director and founder Emily Ristine Holloway and John Collins, star of Shrek the Musical to tell her about why Summer Stock Stage exists. The Cabaret at the Columbia Club continues to bring some of the top cabaret, jazz, and musical theatre stars to its intimate venue downtown. Travis DiNicola spoke with the Cabaret's director, Shannon Forsell, about their upcoming season.

For nearly two decades Mark Zelonis served as the Ruth Lilly Deputy Director of Environmental and Historic Preservation for the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Mark has recently retired from that position, and Sharon Gamble invited him in to learn what he's most proud of and what his next chapter is. Travis DiNicola spoke with filmmaker Hanna Myers Lindgren about the new feature documentary "Food First", that looks at how the nationwide food movement is impacting Indianapolis. 19 Stars of Indiana Art is the Indianapolis Museum of Art's tribute to our Bicentennial. The exhibit will take visitors through 200 years of our state's visual art and present the accomplishments of 19 artists who were born in Indiana, such as T.C. Steele, Robert Indiana, Michael Graves and Bill Blass, along with many other artists who were raised or worked in Indiana.