A discussion of Indiana & Africa November 16

Imagining a Global City
Visions of Indianapolis and the World

A Spirit & Place 2008 Event

When: Sunday, November 16 — 2:00-4:00 PM
Where: Indianapolis Museum of Art 4000 Michigan Road Indianapolis

Indy is an increasingly global city. Our economy is ever more tightly bound to the world’s; we watch films and listen to music produced by artists from around the world; and every week more newcomers from countries across the planet are making Indianapolis their home.

Our challenge is not only to welcome the diversity of cultural and religious views immigrants bring to Central Indiana. It is to learn from newcomers, to discover new views about faith, family, and community. It’s to have imaginative conversations that make all of us more creative, all of us better.

Be part of one of these conversations when the Indianapolis Museum of Art hosts a discussion of new ways of imagining wellness and the health of individuals, of communities, even of Nature.

Framing the conversation will be three pieces from the IMA’s African art collection. “The Healing of the Abiku Children,” by Nigerian artist Prince Twins Seven Seven, shows a Yoruba village reacting to the death of several sets of twins.

Ghanaian artist El Anatsui weaves a gorgeous community cloth called “Duvor” from discarded beer bottle caps and copper wire.

And the power figure from the Songye people in Congo was used when the community had to make important decisions.

IMA’s African art curator Ted Celenko will lead an optional tour highlighting these pieces. Then join several new Hoosiers from Africa to examine how these pieces reflect their cultures and assumptions. How are their political and social views changing as a result of being in Indiana and the United States? How can we bring together these different perspectives to create a culture that is new and better?

For more information about the event, about the pieces to be discussed, and about Global Indy, visit http://www.provocate.org/. Send questions to John Clark at john@sipr.org.