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A Conversation with the Art of

Magdalena Campos-PonsArt’s Window 

When: Thursday April 26, 7:00 PM 

Where: Indianapolis

Museum of

Art, DeBoest Lecture Hall 

Free 

“So a psychologist, a rabbi, and a poet got together to talk about a Cuban painter.” Sound like the beginning of an off-beat shaggy dog joke? Nope, it’s a conversation about Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons. The art of Campos-Pons defies categorization, breaking the boundaries of race, culture and geography, and blurring the lines between photography, installation, and sculpture. Her work begs the question: how do artists construct meaning with the language of the visual arts? How do viewers bring meanings to art?  

Come to the IMA for a true conversation with art and the universal human impulse to seek narrative in form. Join Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso of Congregation Beth-El Zedeck, psychologist and educator Fayth Parks of Georgia Southern University, and Elizabeth Alexander, poet, as they view the art of Campos-Pons through the window of history, healing, spirituality, and more.

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April 29: Bruce Braden “Ye Will Say I Am No Christian”—The ThomasJefferson/John

Adams Correspondence on Religion, Morals, and Values

When: Sunday April 29 2:00 PM Where: Center for Inquiry Indiana, 350 Canal Walk, Suite A,

Indianapolis

RSVP info: Anyone is welcome to attend. Admission is free. Books will be available for sale and Mr. Braden will be there to autograph your copy of the book. Did Thomas Jefferson and John Adams think they were Christians? Would Christians today accept them in the club?

Carmel author Bruce Braden explains. The “Culture Wars” have produced a lot of talk about religion, morals, and values, with both sides often hearkening back to our Founding Fathers. Here is your chance to learn firsthand what two of the most influential pillars of the

American

Republic thought about these perennial topics. From 1812 to July 4, 1826 — when ironically death claimed both men — Thomas Jefferson and John Adams exchanged letters touching on these still controversial issues.

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Indianapolis International Film Festival
The Bigger Picture

When: Wednesday April 25 to Friday May 4

•    Landmark’s Keystone Art Cinema & Indie Lounge at The Fashion Mall at Keystone at the Crossing 8900 Keystone Crossing Indianapolis, IN 46240
•    Key Cinemas 4044 South Keystone Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46227
•    IUPUI - Herron School of Art 735 West New York Street Indianapolis, IN 46202
Click here for Film Passes, All-Access Passes, and Coupon Books.
This is getting BIG! No way anyone can see all the 191 movies that will be screened. Nor should anyone … so much diversity is guaranteed to toss up some films that won’t be to your liking. But it’s almost guaranteed to offer some great movies that you had never imagined watching, some that might change your life. Five categories of films shown during the festival: American Spectrum, which features narrative films by independent filmmakers from throughout the U.S.; World Cinema, which features narrative films from outside the U.S.; Real Visions, which features nonfiction cinema from throughout the world; Special Presentations, which are non-competing films backed by U.S. and international studios that are making Indiana, Midwestern, U.S. or world premieres during the festival; and Shorts, which compete for prizes in the above categories.

This year’s lineup, which boasts 191 films from 45 countries, selected from 526 submissions. While nearly half of this year’s films are foreign-made, many of them come from American independent film companies and star actors such as Parker Posey, David Duchovny and Jeff Goldblum. American and international documentaries pepper the schedule, covering topics from playing video games to landing on the moon. The festival features a retrospective of the trailblazing documentaries of Albert and David Maysles, best known for their film “Gimme Shelter,” which was about the Rolling Stones.

If you like this…You should buy a series pass and clear your calendar for the 11 days.

Volunteer for IIFF: http://indyfilmfest.org/volunteer.html

Blurb

April 23: The best of all possible worlds might bring together the cultures of Africa, Arabs, Islam, and the Mediterranean … which means North Africa. Discuss the cultural practices and beliefs of North Africans at the Cairo Cafe.

Event Main Title

April 23: Cultural Beliefs and Practices of North Africans

Event Subtitle

A Mosaic International Café Conversation

When

Monday April 23 6:00-8:00 PM

Where

Cairo Cafe 3047 Lafayette Road Indianapolis

RSVP info

Buffet: $13.00 per person. SEATING IS LIMITED, so RSVP by calling or emailing Cindy Ball at 317.920.0231 or cindyball@sbcglobal.net

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Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco benefit (and sometimes suffer) from bewildering cultural blending: Arab, African, and Mediterranean cuisine, ancient civilizations and still newly independent countries, powerful strengths and unsuspected vulnerabilities. Nothing shows the creative potential more than the remarkable music the region produces. Lately they have seen waves of destructive Islamic extremism and terrorism, at the same time that their governments make stumbling steps toward democracy.

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And what a great place for a discussion of North Africa! Check out www.indyethnicfood.com to see reviews of Cairo Café.

If you like this event, you should check out

Attend some of the other Mosaic International Café Conversations.

You should know before you go…

Read breaking news stories about North Africa as well as articles about the region’s history and civilizations, culture and art, politics and economics at www.north-of-africa.com.

For more information

A good book: Barnaby Rogerson, A Traveler’s History of North Africa.
Even better, explore the music, beginning with the CD The Very Best of North Africa and Rough Guide to the Music of North Africa.

Indy experts

Get involved

Blurb

April 23: What would make me undergo the terrible and traumatic experience of listening to Elton John’s “Can you feel the love tonight”? One Night, One Stage, One Reason: HIV/AIDS relief in Central Indiana.

Event Main Title

April 23: Spotlight 2007 – One Night, One Stage, One Reason

Event Subtitle

Arts Organizations’ Benefit for Indiana AIDS Fund

When

When: Monday, April 23, 2007 7:30 p.m.

Where

Where: Clowes Memorial Hall, Butler University Indianapolis

RSVP info

TICKETS: $25, $65 and $125 at the Clowes Hall box office, by calling 317.239.1000, at all Ticketmaster locations or ticketmaster. FOR SHOW INFORMATION ONLY, call the Clowes Hall box office at 317-940-6444. Go here for more information about the event. And check out a multimedia message here.

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Twenty of Indianapolis’ performing arts organizations, including leaders from the local theatre companies, will take the stage at Clowes Memorial Hall on April 23 to benefit HIV/AIDS education, prevention and testing programs across Indiana.

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Janet Allen, artistic director Indiana Repertory Theatre, has assembled five leaders from the theater community to read excerpts from “God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian” as part of The Year of Vonnegut, Indianapolis’ 2007 tribute to native son Kurt Vonnegut. Other collaborative acts include a performance of “Easter Hymn” from Cavalleria Rusticana by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Indianapolis Opera, as well as a finale created by local pianist and arranger Gary Walters that incorporates “Circle of Life” and another Elton John song, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” from Disney’s The Lion King. The finale will be performed by Drums of West Africa, tenor Steven Stolen, soprano Brenda Williams, the Butler University Percussion Ensemble and Kenyettá Dance Company.

If you like this event, you should check out…

For another view of how music and motion can play a role in healing wounds, see the Ugandan Documentary “War/Dance” April 29 or May 1

You should know before you go…

Read breaking news stories about HIV/AIDS.
The Indiana AIDS Fund began in 1994 and has become the largest private funder of HIV and AIDS programs in the state of Indiana. It is a fund-raising and grant-making organization dedicated to supporting programs and services that help educate and assist Hoosiers with HIV/AIDS. To date it has provided more than $3.8 million to more than 60 organizations across Indiana.

For more information

The webpage for the PBS Frontline program Paul Babcock recently spent two years working on AIDS in Uganda, now is working on the issue in Marion County

Get involved

To get involved in solving the HIV/AIDS crisis in Indiana, contact the Indiana AIDS Fund.
To help fight HIV/AIDS worldwide, contact the marvelous program Indiana University Medical School has in Kenya.