Spirit & Place, IU Indianapolis

Attitude of Gratitude: Finding Gratitude in Times of Loss
2024-11-07 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | Indiana Interchurch Center – Krannert Hall, 1100 W. 42nd St., Indianapolis, IN, 46208, United States
ASL provided by students in IUI’s Program in American Sign Language (ASL) and English Interpreting
How do you maintain a sense of gratitude during times of loss? Panelists from diverse faith and belief backgrounds, as well as the Threshold Choir, will share their experiences and invite participants to also share.
Sharing from their sacred texts, music, theology, sacred art, photography, and personal lives, panelists will explore what their faith or belief communities have taught them about finding gratitude during times of loss. Created as a reflective and interactive experience, attendees will be given the opportunity to not only ask the panelists questions, but also reflect on select question prompts and listen to (and sing with!) the Threshold Choir.
Panelists in include Indu Vasudevan, writer and guide at the Hindu Temple of Central Indiana; Rev. Dr. Lynn Martin, chaplain and former pastor at Light of the World Christian Church; and Connor Bomar, Client Experience Coordinator at Balanced Alignment Ayurveda and graduate student at Christian Theological Seminary (CTS). Threshold Choir International has over 200 chapters and thousands of singers in several countries with a repertoire of almost 600 songs. Chapters send trios of singers sharing gentle songs of comfort in a cappella harmonies to homes, hospitals, and hospices.
Questions?: Contact 317-268-5300 or deb@indycic.org.
Event Organizers: A partnership between Center for Interfaith Cooperation, Indiana Interchurch Center, Threshold Singers of Indianapolis, and Interfaith Alliance for Mental Wellness.
Registration: Registration is encouraged by using the blue button below.

Sacred Steps: Interfaith Understanding through Dance
2024-11-07 13:30 - 15:30 | Franklin College, Old Main – Custer Theater, 101 Branigan Blvd., Franklin, 46131, United States
Join us for an engaging evening of dance, fellowship, and exploration around how different faiths express gratitude through movement. We hope you learn more about others and yourself through this performance-based event and reception.
Before the performance, enjoy a reception with the artists and local community partners where you’ll also be given a chance to reflect on the role gratitude has had in your life and how it might connect to a spiritual or faith tradition. Following the reception period, at least three dance performances will be featured. Each performance will include a brief narrative from the performers exploring how that group’s faith traditions are expressed and celebrated through dance.
Questions?: Contact 317-738-8140 or hadamingram@franklincollege.edu.
Event Organizers: A partnership between Franklin College and Style Dance Academy.
Registration: Registration strongly encourage. Use the blue button below to register.

Spirit & Place Festival Exhibits
2024-11-07 - 2024-11-18, 2024-11-08 - 2024-11-19, 2024-11-09 - 2024-11-20, 2024-11-10 - 2024-11-21, 2024-11-11 - 2024-11-22, 2024-11-12 - 2024-11-23, 2024-11-13 - 2024-11-24, 2024-11-14 - 2024-11-25 and 14 more dates
Image Credit: Marti LaMar by Kaila Austin
An exciting array of exhibits are included in this year’s festival! Information about exhibit hours are below. To check the festival programming tied to the events, return to the Event Page to search for the event. You must register for events separately.
Tearing Down Boxes and Embracing Change
Nov. 4-14, 1-4pm (Tues.-Fri.)
Phoenix Theatre Cultural Center, 705 N. Illinois St.
Monumental Changes: History and Power in Public Art
Nov. 5-17, 10am-5pm (Tues.-Sat.)
Garfield Park Arts Center—Main Gallery, 2432 Conservatory Dr.
The Memory Keepers / Los Guardianes de Memorias
Nov. 4-14, click here to schedule a gallery visit
201 Studio, 201 S. Rural Ave.
The (W)hole in Our Hearts
Nov. 4-12, visit website for hours
Friday, Nov. 5, 5-9pm (First Friday extended hours)
Saturday, Nov. 6, 10am-12pm (Family Day activities)
Nov. 8-12, M-F, 9am-5pm
Circle City Industrial Complex—Stokol Gallery & Hallways, 1125 Brookside Ave.
Introduction to Black Hue-manity: Imagining Blackness Then and Now
Nov. 8-11. Public hours vary.
Eskenazi Fine Arts Center, 1410 Indiana Ave.
We Are the Change We’ve Been Waiting For
Nov. 10, 5:30-8:30pm
Indiana Interchurch Center, 1100 W. 42nd St.
Changing Direction: The Evolution of Treatment at Indiana’s State Psychiatric Hospitals
Nov. 4-14
Online Exhibit

Coloring and Conversations
2024-11-08 13:00 - 15:00 | Indiana Interchurch Center – Room 226, 1100 W. 42nd St., Indianapolis, 46208, United States
Cultivate a richer sense of gratitude—whether experiencing happiness or grief—through the mindfulness and creative expression generated through the simple act of coloring.
This 90-minute self-care workshop will introduce participants to practical tools for cultivating gratitude no matter the situation through guided conversation and the creative expression of coloring. Yes, coloring! Join us in this welcoming and accessible gathering that promotes social wellness and connection, grounding, and self-compassion.
Questions?: Contact 317-597-0149 or larona@cwuwonline.org.
Event Organizers: A partnership between Center of Wellness for Urban Women (CWUW), CWUW Sisters Together Walking Club, and CWUW Power of Retreat Program.
Registration: Please register using the blue button below. Limited seating.

Souls of the Seasoned Saints: An Exploration and Exhibition of Aging Bodies
2024-11-08 13:00 - 16:00 | Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, 3535 W. Kessler Blvd. N. Dr., Indianapolis, IN, 46222, United States
Aging bodies have a wealth of knowledge to share with the world – their experiences, courage, triumphs, failures, and redirection. This exhibit highlights seasoned bodies to reclaim and uplift the
narratives and journeys of our elders. Exhibit opens at 6PM with the panel discussion beginning at 7PM.
We only get one body and the journey that body takes is filled with amazing life lessons. Yet, an obsession of appearing young permeates society. This photo exhibition— built around questions such as, “What advice would you give your younger self about the aging journey?”— aims to highlight seasoned bodies (55+) and encourage deep gratitude for the bodies we have. Too often we run away from the idea of getting older. We complain about changes with skin, firmness, attractiveness, and hope to distract the world from our “imperfections.” However, if blessed, we all will age, shift, and change. This opportunity will remind attendees that aging is a gift, one that we are not all fortunate to receive. Join us in a spirit of for the bodies that come before us and the bodies we will one day leave behind.
Exhibit Dates: Can’t make it out on Nov. 8?
Check out the exhibit from Nov. 4 – 10.
Monday – Friday, 10AM – 4PM
Saturday, 10AM – 2PM
*Slightly different times appear in the festival event guide. The times on this webpage are the correct times.
Questions: Contact 317-278-4060 or info@fatnessfiction.com.
Event Organizer: A partnership between Fatness Fiction and Witherspoon Presbyterian Church.
Registration: Walks-in welcome, but registration is encouraged. Use the blue button below to register.

Ordinary Joy
2024-11-09 07:00 - 10:00 | Ivy Tech Community College – Lawrence Fairbanks Campus, 9301 E. 59th St., Indianapolis, 46216, United States
This family-friendly event will feature a variety of activities allowing participants to reflect on and explore the joy that can be found in ordinary routines of daily life.
During this come-and-go style/self-directed gathering, families will be engaged with activities ranging from printmaking to collaging, visual poetry, and more! In addition to hands-on art activities, assorted stations exploring “ordinary joys” such as gardening and auto maintenance will be available.
Questions?: Contact 317-916-7853 or bpike4@ivytech.edu.
Event Organizers: A partnership between Ivy Tech Community College Central Indiana, Teachers’ Treasures, and Indy Parks and Recreation.
Registration: Registration is encouraged, but walk-in guests are welcome. Use the blue button below to register.

Walks & Arts
2024-11-09 07:00 - 10:00 | Peace Learning Center at Eagle Creek Park, 6040 DeLong Rd., Indianapolis, 46254, United States
Participate in a guided and reflective walk through scenic Eagle Creek Park followed by creative opportunities to honor and express gratitude including a sound bath, visual art, poetry, and movement.
Upon arrival participants will be led on a gratitude walk through scenic Eagle Creek Park. (Gratitude walks will depart at multiple times during the event’s 3-hour window.) Afterwards, attendees will be invited to express their gratitude with a range of options including writing stations, dance and movement instruction, sound/listening areas, and visual arts. A joyous but reflective event, we recognize some participants may find themselves grateful for the memories of a passed loved one. There will also be a listening circle for anyone dealing with grief. Truly, all are welcome!
Participate in a guided and reflective walk through scenic Eagle Creek Park followed by the below creative programs:

“Moving Through Gratitude” sponsored by ARThentic Arts featuring TaKisha Jones of MpoweredtobE
Sound bath & light yoga with The Yoga Lady
A poetry experience led by Brickstreet Poetry
Visual art with ceramics with Sarah Zuniga, the outreach director of Allisonville Christian Church

Questions?: Contact 317-327-7144 or ajackson@peacelearningcenter.org.
Event Organizers: A partnership between Peace Learning Center, Brick Street Poetry, Allisonville Christian Church, Brooke’s Place, The Yoga Lady, and ARThentic Arts.
Registration: Registration required to receive a complimentary pass into Eagle Creek Park. Use the blue button below to register.

Having Our Stories Told: Preserving LGBTQ+ History
2024-11-09 09:00 - 11:00 | Eugene and Marily Glick Indiana History Center, 450 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis, 46202, United States
ASL provided by students in IUI’s Program in American Sign Language (ASL) and English Interpreting
Remembrance is a gratitude that honors our past and propels us forward with love and knowledge. Join LGBTQ+ organizations from across Indianapolis for a community discussion and behind-the-scenes tour of the Indiana Historical Society LGBTQ collection.
Attendees are invited to explore holding of the IHS archives and engage in small group conversations examining the theme of gratitude as well as queer recognition, forgetting, agency, and storytelling. Guests will reflect on how these acts of acknowledgement, or lack of, influence understanding of queer communities and identity. Tour and talk with others to find new connections while delving into the IHS’s LGBTQ collection and deepen your sense of gratitude for past generations and the stories they’ve shared.
Questions?: Contact 317-234-0033 or cterry@indianahistory.org.
Event Organizers: A partnership between Indiana Historical Society, Indiana Historical Bureau, Indiana Youth Group, Indy Pride, Indiana Pride of Color, and artist/citizen historian Sylvia Thomas.
Registration: Registration encouraged; use the blue button below.
Image Courtesy NUVO, Indiana Historical Society

29th Annual Public Conversation featuring Dacher Keltner & Ebony Chappel moderated by R. Eric Thomas
2024-11-10 11:00 - 13:00 | Visionloft at the Stutz, 1060 N. Capitol Ave., Indianapolis, 46202, United States
ASL Interpreted.
Artwork is audio described.
What might a psychology scholar, local creative, and best-selling author and storyteller have to say about GRATITUDE? Join us and find out!
This year’s Public Conversation features Dacher Keltner who is the founder of the Greater Good Science Center and author of Awe: The Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life and award-winning multimedia journalist, business owner and local community leader, Ebony Chappel. Moderated by R. Eric Thomas – best-selling author of Here for It, or, How to Save your Soul in America and Congratulations, The Best is Over! – we are sure this year’s conversation will be filled with some amazing (and affirming) twists and turns!
BONUS!!
Artist Shamira Wilson will debut a new painting inspired by the GRATITUDE theme during a pre-event reception. Wilson’s commission by Spirit & Place was made possible in part by Noblesville Creative and the Indiana Arts Commission, which receives support from the State of Indiana and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Doors open and (cash bar) reception begins at 4PM. The conversation begins promptly at 4:30PM.
Questions?: Contact 317-274-2462 or festival@iu.edu.
Event Organizers: Presented by Spirit & Place, GANGGANG, and the Indiana Medical History Museum with grant support from Indiana Humanities in cooperation with the National Endowment for the Humanities, and from The Indianapolis Foundation, a CICF affiliate.
Registration: Limited seating, registration required. Registration will open in early October.
Parking Map: Visionloft STUTZparking. Parking is an adventure downtown! Be prepared. (And remember metered parking is free on Sunday.)
