The Indianapolis Public Library Celebrates “Love in Action” with 38th Annual Meet the Artists Celebration
INDIANAPOLIS - Art, fashion, community, and a celebration of Black History Month take center stage as The Indianapolis Public Library launches the 38th annual Meet the Artists exhibit and reception, a monthlong celebration of African American creativity built around this year’s theme, “Love in Action.”
The celebration will kick off in the Central Library Atrium with a free opening reception Feb. 14 from 5:30–10 p.m., packed with live entertainment, a red-carpet pre-show and hands-on activities for all ages. New this year, the fashion show will highlight sustainable designs. Other exhibits will make debuts as part of a focus on creativity, learning, and community connection.
The evening will continue with entertainment hosted by personalities Steve “Scoop” Jefferson and Karen Campbell. Youth activities include face painting, balloon twisting, canvas painting and STEM projects. A full gallery of 2D, 3D, written and youth artwork will also be on display.
The exhibit will be available to view from Jan. 28 to March 28 at Central Library, and feature a diverse collection of visual art, literary works, and youth creations.
“Meet the Artists is more than an exhibit that is free and available to all. It’s a celebration of talent, heritage, and the stories that African American artists bring to life,” said Cordea Watkins, circulation manager and chairperson of the Indianapolis Public Library’s African American History Committee. “We are excited that this tradition is still going strong, and we can continue to offer the community a space to connect with the art and the culture of Black creatives in Indianapolis.”
The celebration continues throughout the exhibit and culminates in a special Fourth Friday event March 27 from 6–9 p.m., giving the community another opportunity to meet featured artists, designers and authors in an intimate, gallery-style setting inspired by Indianapolis’ late-night arts tradition.
“Meet the Artists consistently elevates local creatives and strengthens our city’s cultural landscape,” said Gregory A. Hill, Sr. CEO of The Library. “The African American History Committee has built a powerful legacy of recognition and representation. It’s inspiring to see our Library staff, the featured artists, and the Indianapolis community come together to make Meet the Artists such a vibrant celebration. I look forward to this year’s theme, which ties into our successful We Love Our Library campaign.
Meet the Artists is presented by The Indianapolis Public Library’s African American History Committee, formed in 1979 to increase awareness of the contributions of African Americans to society, encourage African American programming throughout the Library system, and showcase the diverse accomplishments and heritage of African Americans to the public. This year’s event is made possible by Friends of the Library through gifts to The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation and supports the Center for Black Literature and Culture.
Artwork was commissioned thanks to funding from The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation.
For media inquiries, contact Austin Goss at media@indypl.org