Black History Month 2023

Eiteljorg Museum

6:30 to 8 p.m. February 16

Eiteljorg Museum, 500 W. Washington St.

Kyle T. Mays: Leon Jett Memorial Lecture

Mays (Saginaw Chippewa), a professor of African American Studies and American Indian Studies and History at UCLA, will speak about hip-hop music by Native artists. His work explores intersectionality, dispossession, and the cultural aftermath of colonialism and white supremacy. $15 non-members, $10 members.

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Garfield Park Arts Center

February 3 through 25

Garfield Park Arts Center, 2432 Conservatory Dr.

Legacy: Celebrating Black Voices

Artwork by talented local African-American artists in a variety of mediums, including painting, drawing, mixed-media, and sculpture. “We have a rich and vibrant Black arts scene in Indianapolis. A show like this can showcase so many badass artists across the city. I’m excited to see who will be featured.” FREE.

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Indy Jazz Fest

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38th & Postmodernism Documentary: Premium Blend

Indy’s Jared Thompson and his band, Premium Blend, put together this film pairing live performance and interviews with the city’s Black artists, thinkers, and change-makers during the reflective period following the summer of 2020. “Another shining example by Black artists in Indianapolis. This made me emotional and thankful to be a part of this scene.” FREE.

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Artist: Pamela Bliss

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Musicians' Repair and Sales, 332 N. Capitol

Indiana Ave Jazz Masters Mural

A mural depicting Indiana jazz legends. “This breathtaking Indy mural stops me in my tracks every time. A family friend, saxophonist Jimmy Coe, is featured. He was pivotal in the Indianapolis jazz scene, and lived down the street from my maternal grandparents. They were the only two Black families that lived in that northside neighborhood.” FREE.

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