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On August 2nd, 2024, FoodCon returns to the Harrison Center for its 11th year alongside August’s First Friday Gallery Opening. In 2010, the Harrison Center partnered with the Cultural Development Commission, Butler University’s Center for Urban Ecology, and Indiana Humanities to create the first FoodCon, an unconventional convention celebrating the art and culture of food in Indiana. Local businesses and foodie neighbors manned booths and shared information with attendees on subjects ranging from hydroponics to raising goats and chickens.
This year’s FoodCon promises a lineup of activities, including edible bugs, beekeeping, chickens, cooking on your car engine (!), cheesemaking, mushroom music, aquaponics, food desert education, food preservation techniques, vertical gardening, and more! In a special feature for this year's convention, attendees will also be treated to screenings of the "Food for Thought" Short Film Series presented by Indiana Humanities. Don't miss out on vendors such as Indianapolis Public Library’s Seed-Saving and Mobile Library, The Chaotic Forager, Strawberry Moon Farm, and Tulip Tree Creamery. And, of course, some of our favorite food trucks, including Black Leaf Vegan and Garnacha Spot.
The community is invited to learn how to care for the environment, create foods inventively, and become equipped to share their new foodie findings with their family and friends.
In addition, our monthly First Friday event will occur alongside FoodCon. This year, we will offer art and wine pairings to deepen both your art and taste palettes for art by exhibiting artist Jay Parnell. We will also share family recipes by artists Josh Rush, Elise and Caleb C. Keitt, Willard Johnson, Kristin Whitney, and Barb Knuckles. Check out all eight galleries, tour artist studios, buy local art, and enjoy surprising new activities.
Enjoy these openings:
- In the Harrison Gallery, Love Comes Quietly by Jay Parnell. Parnell’s latest body of work, consisting of oil paintings on wood panels, delves deep into naturalism, engaging the viewer in emotionally riveting scenes. Through meticulously applied brushstrokes, he conveys the raw beauty and complexity of human emotions, inviting the audience into a contemplative journey.
- In the Gallery Annex, Down Shift by Josh Rush. Through this series of paintings, Ruch captures the ephemeral landscapes encountered through the lens of a midwestern bicycle commuter. This collection serves as a visual ode to the rhythm of life on two wheels, exploring the often overlooked beauty and dynamic shifts in scenery found within the daily commute, inviting viewers into a world of transient moments magnified on canvas.
- In the City Gallery, Persimmon, Persimmon by Elise and Caleb C. Keitt. This is the debut exhibit of the married makers. Both individuals use their mixed-media practices and imagination to depict shared human experiences. Elise does this by showing how food is vital for community and in every culture; Caleb does this by reimaging his personal Black experience in America through words and fashion. In their body of work, they want to invite the viewer to consider how they can interact with the pieces and where they fit into the story being told.
- In the Speck Gallery, Night Train by Willard Johnson. Drawing from the digital landscapes of Google Earth, Johnson's mixed media paintings capture the essence of Tokyo, Cairo, and Guam—all places he has called home. In his work, dreamlike intersections of people and places evoke the fleeting connections of lives momentarily entwined, all journeying toward the enigmatic Night Train.
- In the Underground Gallery, Holy Spirit Flow by Kristin Whitney. Whitney explores the realm of divine collaboration using acrylics to convey the transformative power of engaging with the Holy Spirit. This collection is a testament to the harmony between human creativity and divine guidance, showcasing how the Holy Spirit's attributes and powers can manifest in our lives through art. The work serves as an invitation to witness the extraordinary outcomes of spiritual and artistic partnership.
- In the Hank & Dolly’s Gallery, Roots and Bones by Barb Knuckles. Kuckle's work, a mixed media ensemble on paper and canvas, delves into the profound theme of heritage passed down from our parents, exploring the inextricable roots and bones that shape our beings. It's an introspective reflection on the foundational elements we inherit, woven into the very fabric of our lives.
All shows will open at 6 pm on Friday, August 2nd.
In-person gallery tours will open for visitors Monday-Friday from 9 am - 5 pm. Online galleries will open on August 3rd. Make an appointment or view the online galleries at harrisoncenter.org/buy-art.
Special Senior Hours are every Friday from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm. No appointment is needed.
With support from Indy Arts Council, City of Indianapolis, Indiana Arts Commission, Christel DeHaan Family Foundation, Lilly Endowment, and Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation.
About the Harrison Center
The Harrison Center is a community-based, nonprofit arts organization that seeks to be a catalyst for renewal in the city of Indianapolis. Founded in 2001, the organization’s work is two-fold. The Harrison Center is for the Arts by hosting 40 artists’ studios and 8 galleries. It provides programming to foster the creation of new art, build community among artists and emerging patrons, and provide a forum for public conversation. The Harrison Center is for the City by connecting people to culture, community, and place to strengthen Indianapolis’s core neighborhoods. For more information on the Harrison Center, call 317.396.3886 or visit www.harrisoncenter.org. Connect with the Harrison Center on social media at Facebook/@HarrisonCenterArts, Instagram/@harrisoncenterarts, or Twitter/@HarrisonCtrArts.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
1505 N Delaware St, Indianapolis, IN, United States, Indiana 46202