Carmel Monthly-August 2023

Carmel on Canvas

September 15 - 17 CarmelArtsAndDesign.com

The Arts in Autumn

October 14; 2 - 6 p.m. MidtownPlazaCarmel.com

MEET ME ON MAIN

Second Saturday of each month; 4 - 8 p.m. CarmelArtsAndDesign.com

CARMEL FARMERS MARKET

Saturdays through September 30; 8 - 11:30 a.m. CarmelFarmersMarket.com

CARMEL GAZEBO CONCERT SERIES

Wednesdays through September 27; 7 p.m. CarmelGazeboConcerts.org

CARMEL ON CANVAS

September 15 - 17

CarmelArtsAndDesign.com

BIKE CARMEL: ROUNDABOUT RIDE

September 16

BikeCarmel.com

CARMEL PORCHFEST

September 17; Noon - 6 p.m. CarmelPorchFest.org

NATIONAL ROUNDABOUTS WEEK

September 18 - 22 EventsInCarmel.com

CARMEL INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL

September 23 - 24 CarmelArtsFestival.org

CHINESE MOONCAKE FESTIVAL

September 30; 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. EventsInCarmel.com

OCTOBERFEST

October 6; 6 - 10 p.m. CarmelOktoberfest.org

THE ARTS IN AUTUMN

October 14; 2 - 6 p.m. MidtownPlazaCarmel.com

Oktoberfest

October 6; 6 - 10 p.m. CarmelOktoberfest.org

A special thanks to Allied Solutions for sponsorship of more than a dozen City of Carmel annual events.

This logo indicates events sponsored by Allied Solutions

The City of Carmel thanks IU Health North Hospital for sponsoring bicycle rides as part of our Bike Carmel initiatives.

This logo indicates events sponsored by IU Health North Hospital

MORE

EventsInCarmel.com

(317) 571-2400

Follow the City of Carmel on social media.

17 COVER STORY

Artomobilia 2023

As we have for the past several years, Carmel Monthly is happy to be the media sponsor for the 16th annual Artomobilia. With respect to Artomobilia, Mayor Brainard stated, “It is exciting to see people come and discover Carmel from all over the Midwest, and it does compete with some of the best car shows in the nation like Pebble Beach and Amelia Island. It’s good to see Carmel compete on this stage as it does in so many others.” Mark your calendar for Saturday, September 9 for this terrific event.

Cover Story Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photo // Submitted

Decades of Local Food, Fellowship and Entertainment

The Carmel Farmers Market has been offering fresh food and fellowship to the community for the last 25 years. Additionally, throughout the many years, CFM has been incorporating local music at the market that creates a vibrant and enjoyable atmosphere for both vendors and visitors.

The benefits of local music at a farmer’s market extend beyond just the auditory experience. Music creates a holistic and engaging environment that promotes community, culture and commerce, making the market a dynamic and memorable destination for everyone involved.

RECIPROCATING SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS

We spoke with a few of the talented musicians who have been performing at CFM for many years. While the entertainment is another value add of the farmers market, the exposure is beneficial to

the local musicians as well. They get to perform and engage marketgoers of all ages while adding flavors of culture to the overall market experience.

TIM WRIGHT

“I’ve been performing music at the CFM for at least … well, I’m not certain. Maybe 10 years now? Being a Carmel resident myself, I always look forward to playing on those Saturday mornings — only five minutes from my home. I love playing at the CFM. One of the aspects that makes this particular farmer’s market so enjoyable is the audience that comes out and

sits along the terraced area and up on the lawn tables. Watching the young families with little kids running around, dancing to the music, is such a joy. The Carmel Farmer’s Market brings out the connected community aspect of Carmel — much like the Gazebo concerts, CarmelFest and the 4th of July parade each year.”

Wright added, “The beautiful surroundings on Carter Green, with the Tarkington and Studio Theaters on one side and the stunningly beautiful Palladium to the North, create [their] own kind of “Amphitheater” that delivers the music across the length of the market. Being invited

Writer // Janelle Morrison

• Photography // Courtesy of CFM, Jennifer Hershberger and submitted

to perform music at this special weekly event in the summer is an honor for me, and I always have a great time sharing something I love to do — simply playing and singing songs. Thank you, Carmel Farmers Market! It’s one more reason why I love this community!”

ISLAND BREEZE

Greg Anderson also shared his thoughts on what makes CFM unique, from a performer’s perspective. When asked how long Island Breeze has been

performing at the market, Anderson replied, “I believe our friend, Doug Dolan, commented that we’ve been involved 13 years. I love the family atmosphere more than anything. It is so heartwarming to watch Mom or Dad dancing with the kids right in front of the band! I have not attended every farmer’s market in Indiana, but of the many I have attended, the CFM is, by far, the best organized! The volunteers are like family … no, they’re like a highly trained army … WHATEVER! I LOVE THEM ALL!”

BLACKBERRY JAM

Jean Roberts spoke on behalf of another longtime CFM musical act and crowd favorite, Blackberry Jam.

“Blackberry Jam has played at the farmers market for at least 10 years, probably more,” Roberts shared. “I know what we enjoy the most about the farmers market: the audiences are great! Playing in the small amphitheater, the good people of Carmel bring their children, and the small children dance to the music. It is very diverting and a challenge to our concentration because the children and families are so cute and beautiful. The Carmel Farmers Market is the best because it has the best produce vendors, the most beautiful flowers, and fantastic gourmet foods. It is definitely a classy market.”

Be sure to visit CFM for breakfast or lunch, while listening to live music from the Carmel Rotary Amphitheater at Carter Green. And check out CFM’s scheduled lineup of talented musicians and entertainers at carmelfarmersmarket.com.

&

Indulge in upscale dining and cocktails at Feinstein's, an intimate entertainment venue delivering a unique experience unlike any other in the Midwest!

Indy Nights With Ryan Ahlwardt & Friends SOLD OUT

Freeform Concert Series Presents: Small Words w/ Rebekah Osborn | Free Entry

Brittany Brumfield Presents Baby Grand Dueling Pianos | Live Jukebox Experience

A Collective Cy: Jeff Harnar Sings Cy Coleman | Critically Acclaimed Show Celebrating Cy Coleman

Jazz Brunch: Blair Clark Featuring Special Guest Jennie Devoe | 11:00 a.m. Show

Enchanté — Delightfully B urlesque (21+)

Ann Hampton Callaway - Fever: A Peggy Lee Celebration! | Tony Award Nominee

Princess Tea Party | Snow Queen, Beauty, & The Frog Princess With Tea Party Food Included

Melinda DeRocker And Her Jazz Trio | Jazz Standards From The Golden Age

Freeform Concert Series: Stampede String Band w/ Electric Blue Yonder | Free Entry

Michael Feinstein | Two-time Emmy & five-time Grammy Nominee

Freefo rm Concert Series Presents: The Palace w/ John Boyle | Free Entry

DECEPTION: An Evening of Magic & Lies | Magic Show

Brittany Brumfield Presents Baby Grand Dueling Pianos | Live Jukebox Experience

Eric Baker & Friends Present: "The Piano Man: A Billy Joel Tribute"

"Let Me Be Frank" Presented by Ben Jones and Ron Abel | Celebrating Music Of Frank Sinatra

Freeform Concert Series: Bronte Fall w/ Eric Pedigo & David Rosales | Free Entry

The Edwards Twins Presents: The Ultimate Variety Show! | Celebrity Impersonations

John Lloyd Young: Broadway's Jersey Boy | Tony and Grammy Award winner

Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael Wants To Know… Do You Believe in Magic?

David Ranalli is a globe-trotting magician, entertainer and motivational speaker. His latest show, DECEPTION: An Evening of Magic & Lies, is now playing to sold-out crowds and rave reviews. Ranalli most often performs at corporate events, private parties and YouTube, and he has residency in Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel, Indiana, through February of 2024.

Some of Ranalli’s work has been featured on TEDx, Entrepreneur, and TV commercials. He regularly performs for the world’s top CEOs, media personalities and athletes.

Ranalli believes that magic has the power to inspire people and wake them up from a world designed to distract them. His jaw-dropping illusions will make you laugh, think and feel a sense of wonder. He designs his shows to be interactive and to immerse you in the experience. He uses a variety of secret techniques and gets

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography /Michael Durr

inspiration from art, science, communication and hypnosis.

I spoke with this remarkable magician who graciously performed a few of his tricks for me, over a Zoom call no less, and left me completely amazed, baffled and believing that there is magic all around us. We just have to be willing to see it.

Don’t miss a minute of the magic! Get your tickets at feinsteinshc.com.

Janelle Morrison: I read that you got into magic at an early age while growing up in Chicago.

David Ranalli: I started doing magic when I was 13. I snuck in to meet David Copperfield at one of his meet-and-greets. Then I started looking up local magic shops and I found a good one where there was a lot of community. So, I would go and just hang out and learn on Saturday mornings. Then at 14, I started doing magic in a restaurant — going table to table.

JM: The world is full of cynics and hecklers. How hard is it for you and your colleagues to make people believe that magic is real?

DR: The fact that they stopped believing is part of the problem but that is why I stay employed. For me, it’s about connecting with what is real and what’s so magical about that in the first place. For instance, a bubble is very magical. Just because we know how it works doesn’t make it not magical. To me, magic is very real.

JM: How much of performing magic is understanding human nature and psychology?

DR: I feel like [performing magic] is a customer service job for the soul. I try to touch

on things where I can use psychological elements and also imaginational elements and make a game out of it so people have fun. And hopefully, I’m able to say something interesting about human nature at the same time so that people walk away and say, “I’ve never really thought about that.” I hope that as I continue to make my work more artful, it comes across that we are creating life as we go. The best thing that we can do is try to push back the negativity and feel that sense of wonder … and feel like every day we’re getting a chance to do something amazing.

JA: Does the onset of new technology such as AI hinder or help your industry?

DR: CGI screens exist because magicians helped innovate screens back in the 1800s. There is no right answer or correct way to approach this. We could argue that what we’re doing right now, virtually, [Zoom] is not the correct way to communicate and that technology can be overloading because we’re shoving electricity in our faces several hours a day. I think that technology, in terms of my craft, is yet another way to play with people’s perceptions. It’s another tool. But at the end of the day, I can just directly read your mind and write [the answer] down on a piece of paper and that will get a way better and more impactful reaction than me trying to incorporate some complex technology into it.

JM: Do you prefer smaller, more intimate venues over larger ones to perform your magic?

DR: Even the biggest stadiums can feel intimate if the

the venue [Feinstein’s] fits the vibe for what I’m doing.

JM: What do you enjoy most about performing at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael?

DR: Feinstein’s is by far the best residency I’ve ever had. I really love the venue, the team and the people who come in. I also love this stage and how it functions. And it goes without saying: the food is amazing! I try to give as many people as possible personal attention before the show. With that

gage with people and give them a “moment” so they feel they got something personal from the show. I try to make the show as energetic as possible. There’s a collective thing that happens that you have to be there [in person] for. Watching magic on TV is certainly not the same experience. You have to “buy the ticket and take the ride” as Hunter S. Thompson would say.

To learn more about the IMS Museum’s renovation and to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit imsmuseum.org.

CENTER PRESENTS: THE PALLADIUM // THURSDAY, OCT 5, 7:30 P.M. ET ANIMANIACS: IN CONCERT

Known for its topical and multilayered humor that appeals to all ages, the Animaniacs TV series was an instant classic when it debuted in the 1990s. Now, the interactive stage production Animaniacs: In Concert stars the original Emmywinning composer, Randy Rogel, on piano and actors Rob Paulsen (the Emmy-winning voice of Pinky and Yakko on Animaniacs) and Maurice LaMarche (The Brain), performing tunes and sharing fascinating and hilarious behind-thescenes tales of how the characters, stories and songs were developed. Video clips from the series accompany this rollicking ride through the creative process. School group matinee performances are available. Contact schoolprograms@ TheCenterPresents.org for details. To purchase tickets, visit thecenterpresents.org. It was one of the greatest honors of my entertainment journalism career to speak with Randy Rogel and Rob Paulsen via Zoom.

Janelle Morrison: I’m a fan of your other works, but Animaniacs came out when I was in high school —and now that I’ve exposed my age …

Rob Paulsen: Excuse me, but Randy and I were the entertainment at the last supper. My high school yearbook photo is a cave painting, so you don’t have to worry about your age.

JM [Laughing]: Animaniacs became such a part of our lives, especially for the tail end of Gen X. We still quote it to this day. And I think it was the last great cartoon of our generation.

Rob: I have to say this is the best part of our “job.” Randy and I are in the “happy” business. It’s kind of a remarkable thing to be associated with something that has not only proven itself inarguably that it is worthy of your kind of praise, but to get another crack at it a couple of years ago, with the “King of Hollywood” [Steven Spielberg], with Maurice LaMarche, Tress MacNeille, Jess Harnell and Randy’s music again … talk about lightning in a bottle.

This is what our show is really about. It really nails that profoundly precious

part of your soul. It’s no different than remembering the smell of your grandmother’s cooking, your mom’s perfume or the first song you can remember lyrics to.

Randy Rogel: And you don’t have to know Animaniacs in order to enjoy the show. It stands on its own. What’s fun for a lot of the fans too is we’ll ask, “Do you want to hear a song that the network killed?” Or “Do you want to hear the original version before they made us change it?” And of course, with Rob and Maurice and all the incredible voices they do.

Rob: The laughter is the most precious part of what we do. It’s like having a superpower where all you have to do is say “Narf” or “Hello Janelle,” and that look on your face … there is nothing that can be more complimentary or gratifying for a performer, than knowing that you’re involved in something that with just one syllable, you can bring a smile to someone’s face. That is a really big deal for us, and we’re really glad to be able to come to your neck of the woods and do this.

Randy: It’s a really lovely, fun show. There’s a lot of laughs, a lot of great animations and a lot of wonderful songs and stories. And then these guys [Rob and

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography //Courtesy of the Center

Maurice] break into all these voices. It’s just as fun for us as it is for the audiences.

Rob: Laughter is universal … or Warner Brothers or Disney or whatever. [Laughing] Laughter transcends language, ethnicity, gender identity, and all this stuff that we’re dealing with now. Humans love to laugh. And you’ll see at the show, it’s just relentless, a relentless pounding of “happy.”

JM: I’m always interested in learning about people’s creative processes. Would you mind describing yours?

Randy: I have an engineering degree, and with that, you have these steps that if you follow, you will build a bridge and it will work or an airplane and it will fly. With art, nothing says, “When you spend an entire day writing [or] if you do these 10 things, you’ll have a hit!” It doesn’t work that way, and so there is always that know in your stomach. If you come to the show, I’ll show you exactly how some of these songs get created. Know your craft. If you’re a writer, musician,

actor or whatever, follow the people who really turn you on to the things you’re really passionate about. That will lead you to your creative place, and when you’re big and famous, you can be Mel Gibson and make “Hamlet.” But in the meantime, do the things that will hit the home runs, and that’s how you get a career.

Rob: It’s a deeply collaborative effort, and when it works, it’s magic. When I came to Hollywood, just after the Eisenhower administration, I was smart enough to know that I knew nothing. I have surrounded myself with people who are way better. The creative process is sort of nebulous. I don’t know if Andy Warhol could’ve explained to me why a picture of a Campbell Soup can works, but it’s iconic. If you’re here [Hollywood] long enough, you’ll get a shot. Capitalizing on it, making a career out of it and still working when you’re almost 70 years old, that’s a different story. I’m not going to be so falsely modest to say that I’m lucky. I’m fortunate that I was smart to put myself in a position to get lucky.

Randy: I was talking with Maurice, and he was asking me about this. I said that my job is to put it over the plate. And if I can get it anywhere near the plate, then a guy like Maurice or Rob can hit it over the fence. You can’t expect Rob to hit it over the fence if you give him crappy material. But if we work together and I can give them good material, oh my God … they elevate it into something else. And then, of course, we have the artists who draw it and the orchestra and everybody in the room has to bring their game, and when we all do, that’s when the magic happens.

JM: We cannot wait to see you in Carmel in September!

Randy: The real treat for me, Rob and everyone in this show is when we get to see the audience reacting to what we’ve written, what we’ve done and our performances. That’s really fun because we get to see how much joy it brings, and that is just an incalculable joy to us. Everybody, come! You’re going to love this show!

Jet Access

Car enthusiasts are clearly a part of the population that enjoys innovation and acceleration. So, as part of this year’s Artomobilia Weekend festivities, Jet Access is hosting a hangar party in collaboration with the organizers of Artomobilia to showcase the allure of private jet travel and a few choice examples of luxury jets.

Aside from the luxury and convenience of private jet travel, Jet Access offers safe, cost-effective, uncomplicated, and comfortable private jet travel. Jet Access is the first vertically integrated full-service aviation management company in the industry. Its team consists of highly experienced, qualified, knowledgeable and results-oriented professionals.

COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE

Jet Access Executive Vice President of FBO Development Sean White spoke about the aviation services Jet Access offers and about hosting this year’s newest Artomobilia event: Veloce on Friday, September 8 at the Jet Access Center at the Indianapolis Executive Airport in Zionsville. The five verticals that Jet Access operates are charter and management services, maintenance and avionics, FBO and

airports, aircraft sales and flight training.

“Jet Access is a multi-vertical aviation business,” White said. “While Jet Access is locally owned and based, we are a national company that operates the five aviation verticals. We’ve got about 400 employees across the country and all of our divisions. The company is primarily owned by the Ricker Family, who previously owned Ricker’s Convenient Stores. After [the Ricker Family] sold their convenience stores, this [was their next business venture. We have 10 FBO locations and 2

additional locations where we operate our flight school without the FBO. We do both international and domestic travel, and we operate out of the Indianapolis area, primarily, and we have a strong presence in Columbus, Indiana, with our flight training facility. We’ve certainly seen high demands in the flight training side of our business and a huge shift in interest coming from younger people. We are limited by supply [planes and instructors], not by demand for flight training.”

When asked why he thinks there has been an increase in the number of people interested in private jet travel, White responded, “Private aviation is not that inaccessible, and I think there are a lot of ways to get into private aviation,

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Submitted

their lives, in terms of saving time and returning them to their families safely and more quickly. A trip that would take you away from your family for 2-3 days can be done in a single day and have you back in time before dinner. That’s a game-changer for people.”

INTRODUCING VELOCE

Veloce is the largest, premium automotive and aircraft-focused hangar party in Indianapolis, hosted in the world-class Jet Access Center at the Indianapolis

as well as business and civic leaders from

an unmatched collection of wings and wheels that will engage and delight.

“Certainly, when you do something like this on an airfield, in a hangar, there’s a uniqueness that draws people out,” White observed. “I think people are usually interested in aviation; it’s one of those things that piques people’s interest, and it’s a different event. We are having a lot of fun making it into a nice indoor/ outdoor evening event where people have the opportunity to see not only cars but we’ll have a couple of charter aircraft

for people to view and walk through. There are a lot of commonalities between a crowd of folks who like fast cars and folks who like airplanes. So, Veloce is a fun mix of these two things.”

Artomobilia Event Director John Leonard added, “It’s the only hangar party in Indianapolis that will focus on supercars and hypercars. It’s a unique experience and one that I’ve only done one other time in 2019. It was a wild success, but COVID put a stop to it, and I’ve been told by more than one person that out of all of the Artomobilia evening events that we’ve done, the hangar party was their favorite. So, we’re rebooting it, calling it a different name and will be bringing out cars that will delight and amaze. In fact, the Lotus guys [Gator Motor Sport] are bringing some brand-new Lotuses from the UK, so there will be lots to see and something for everybody.”

To purchase tickets to Veloce, visit artomobilia.org, and for more information on Jet Access and all of its aviation services, visit flyjetaccess.com.

Smooth. Savory. Easy to drink. Taste award-winning avor with every sip. is is the way a Bloody Mary is supposed to taste.

Bentley: An Iconic Bespoke Brand

Bentley Indianapolis is proud to be the first and only Bentley dealership in Indianapolis. If you want to get behind the wheel of a new Bentley model such as the Continental, Flying Spur or even the Bentayga SUV, then Bentley Indianapolis is your place.

TIMELESS AND SUBTLE LUXURY

Will Hobbs, representing both Bentley Indianapolis and Bespoke Xchange, spoke about the incomparable qualities of the Bentley brand and its legacy as well as a brand-new subscription service that is Bespoke Xchange.

“Bentley is a brand that has been somewhat dormant in Indiana for the past couple of years,” Hobbs said. “Bentley Indianapolis started almost two years ago here at 96th and Keystone [Parkway] by the same family [Barham] that started Coast to Coast Imports [1999]. The growth has been awesome, and two of the brothers, Yousef and Moe [Mohammed], continue to grow their brands here in Indiana. One of the things that really separates Bentley from a lot of other marques is that [Bentley] is subtle luxury, and for those in the know … it’s ‘small batch.’ Bentley is very similar to Rolls Royce, but we use a little less chrome.”

Hobbs described Bentley as being a bit of a “dark horse.”

“While a lot of people have gravitated towards 4 and 6 cylinders, Bentley’s kind of the twilight brand for its 12 cylinder presence,” Hobbs stated. “While Bentley is looking at hybrid options as well as full electrification, going with eco-consciousness as well as performance, Bentley applications that are hybrid are still going to be cranking out 600-plus horsepower. Everything Bentley does revolves around the quote from its founder W.O. [Walter Owen] Bentley, [who founded Bentley] ‘to build a good car, a fast car, the best in its class.’”

radars of U.S. drivers. A car subscription offers you flexibility and a convenient way to be in a car you actually want to drive, rather than be limited by the parameters of standard ownership.

Another great beauty of car subscription services is that if your car preference changes, so too can the car you get to drive. You can drive a different car every month, rather than having to wait years to drive the car of your dreams. With a car subscription, you pay as you go and do not have to worry about long-term commitments that come with leasing or financing a vehicle.

“Bespoke is completely revolutionary for Indianapolis,” Hobbs said. “You can subscribe for as many months as you need and want and have access to high-performance cars like Lamborghini, Ferrari or anything in that exotic [car] segment. We also have a subscription that is a little more entry-level if you want a nice Mercedes, Range Rover or something that’s in that luxury sphere.”

Bentley Indianapolis invites you to visit its showroom to learn more about the brand’s uniqueness and hand-crafted, “bespoke” offerings. They also hope interested enthusiasts will inquire about the brand-new Bespoke Xchange program.

Visit bentleyindianapolis.com and bespokexchange.com for more information, location and hours of operation.

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Submitted

Bespoke is completely revolutionary for Indianapolis...”

Mayor Brainard Reflects on Artomobilia’s Impact on the City of Carmel

In this last lap of Mayor Brainard’s final term, I spoke with Brainard about how events like Artomobilia have contributed to the culture and success of the city’s inner core and how Artomobilia specifically contributes to the car enthusiast community that supports the city’s automobile dealership district off 96th Street and Keystone Parkway.

A WORLD-CLASS EVENT

Ever since the organizers brought Artomobilia from Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis to the heart of Carmel in the Arts & Design District, the annual event has drawn tens of thousands of car enthusiasts into Carmel to enjoy exceptional automotive innovation as well as art, shopping and dining.

“When we started [redevelopment in the city’s core] more than 20 years ago, we had heard from the community that they wanted a traditional successful downtown where people can shop, dine [and] meet up with their neighbors and friends. Carmel didn’t have that back

then. One of the reasons that downtowns across the country are not doing well, particularly in smaller suburban cities, is they don’t have any sort of downtown that people can access easily [or] have events that draw people there so they

can learn about and experience the local restaurants and shops.”

Brainard continued, “Having events on a regular basis, whether they be concerts, street dances, festivals … these events are an important part of what has made our downtown, from the Art & Design District all the way to City Center, successful. These are important to our downtown businesses and to keep them thriving. Artomobilia is a tremendous event, and it draws people from a multi-state area. Artomobilia is well organized and marketed by our partners at Artomobilia. It is exciting to see people come and discover Carmel from all over

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography //Courtesy of Artomobilia and City of Carmel

the Midwest, and it does compete with some of the best car shows in the nation like Pebble Beach and Amelia Island. It’s good to see Carmel compete on this stage as it does in so many others.”

DRIVING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS RETENTION

Over the years, Artomobilia has not only injected revenue into the city’s inner core, but its success has also created a ripple effect that touches the automobile dealership district in the city’s southeastern corridor. In addition to the city’s redevelopment of 96th Street and Keystone Parkway and improvements to that area, the dealerships — including several exotic and luxury brands — have found the area to be easily accessible and welcomed by the area’s car enthusiast community that Artomobilia continues to invigorate.

“We had to fix the road system, which was terribly congested,” Brainard shared. “We did that by removing the stoplights and replacing those with roundabouts.

We wanted to cement that this corridor is the place to buy a car in the Midwest by installing four beautiful sculptures designed by Arlon Bayliss and fabricated by bo-mar Industries.”

The four sculptures feature artistic interpretations of the classic cars Marmon, Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg, Stutz and Studebaker — each of which were designed and built in Indiana during the first half of the 20th Century when

America first began to fall in love with automobiles.

“Great public art is an important part of our mission in Carmel to create a City that stands apart for its beauty and quality of life,” Brainard said. “As this corridor is home to so many automobile dealerships, we felt it would be appropriate to celebrate the beauty and genius of Indiana’s classic cars and the remarkable contributions they made to the industry.”

Brainard concluded. “The automobile dealerships, due to their contractual relationships with the manufacturers, often are required to put so much invested capital into their dealerships and have to rebuild their dealerships to stay competitive, so we want to make sure that the dealerships have a good argument to go to the manufacturers and say, ‘We want to stay right here [in Carmel] and invest our funds in this corridor that focuses on car sales and automotive culture.’

Check out the full itinerary for this year’s Artomobilia Weekend at artomobilia.org.

When we started [redevelopment in the city’s core] more than 20 years ago, we had heard from the community that they wanted a traditional successful downtown where people can shop, dine [and] meet up with their neighbors and friends.”

Re-Imagining the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is one of Artomobilia’s community partners, and in addition to displaying one of its treasures at Artomobilia in honor of this year’s featured marque, Mercedes-Benz, IMS is preparing for a transformational renovation that will modernize the museum and create new and exhilarating experiences for its visitors.

AN EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF AUTOMOTIVE INNOVATION

IMS VP of Curation and Education

Jason Vansickle spoke with Carmel Monthly about the museum’s renovation project and capital campaign. Additionally, he shared a brief background on what makes the 1908 Mercedes 150 HP GrandPrix Racer an incomparable artifact in the IMS archives.

The 1908 Mercedes 150 HP Grand-Prix Racer was acquired by the IMS Museum in the 1960s. As part of this vehicle’s illustrious history, it marveled the spectators back in its day at Hill Climb challenges.

“Hill Climb is an interesting form of racing,” Vansickle explained. “It was ob-

viously a significant challenge that early automobiles and auto manufacturers utilized to compete and show the merits of their cars, along with road racing and eventually speedway racing that we have today. The Hill Climbs were a pretty accomplished feat for an automaker to win. The car itself [1908 Mercedes 150 HP Grand-Prix Racer] is pretty staggering when you see it up close. It’s a two-seater, chain drive, so you see huge sprockets on either side of the driver or passenger that propelled the vehicle coming off the drive shaft from the engine, so that’s kind of menacing to see these big chain links.”

Vansickle added, “It’s only a 4-cylinder, but it’s over 800 cubic inches, which if

you look at Artomobilia’s participants … some of the bigger engines coming out of the muscle car era in the late 60s, early 70s, they were 427, 454, 455, in that area, and that’s half the displacement of this engine. It’s interesting to look back and think about the fact that Mercedes-Benz, throughout its history, has had racing so close to its legacy. And still, today, whether it be with F1 or other sports car racing, they’ve been successful from the jump, and this car is no exception.”

UNVEILING A BRAND-NEW EXPERIENCE

Since its official opening four decades ago, IMS will be closed to the public as it undergoes a major renovation that comes with an $89-million price tag. With a projected re-opening and ribbon cutting in April of 2025, Vansickle shared what visitors can anticipate experiencing when they come out. He also spoke about the ongoing capital campaign as well as the support from the Lilly Endowment that is instrumental to IMS’ renovation project and its future programming and educational initiatives.

Upon completion, IMS will unveil its new exhibition space, a mezzanine space that will overlook its gallery of winning cars, a STEAM learning center that will feature a racing simulator and an immersive exhibit that is guaranteed to thrill participants of any age! And you don’t need to be a race fan or automotive enthusiast to enjoy the new IMS Museum

Writer // Janelle Morrison

• Photography /Courtesy of IMS Museum

experience … it is a hollowed place that is steeped in the rich history of IMS and auto racing, no question. But the museum really embodies the Hoosier spirit. It connects all of its archives and collections to the state’s remarkable history and the extraordinary people who have

“[The renovation] has been a long time coming,” Vansickle said. “We are our own 501(c)(3) entity, and it will take help and support to raise the $89-million total cost. The breakdown is: $64 million will go into the existing museum building that is here on the ground at the speedway. We’ve then allocated $15 million for an offsite restoration department that will double as car storage, and the million is an endowment to help support the operations here.”

Vansickle expressed his and the entire IMS Museum staff’s appreciation to the Lilly Endowment for its financial

“We are now in the public phase [of the capital campaign], and we’ve been reaching out to specific donors prior to that,” Vansickle said. “The Lilly Endowment has been a huge benefactor and additionally is offering a match so that anything that is donated, any new pledges, that come before the end of September, will be matched up to $5 million. At the end

of the day, we want [the museum] to be more family-friendly and a modern experience to go on par with the renovations that you have seen throughout IMS that Roger Penske has completed in just a short time.”

Vansickle concluded, “We’re adding more hands-on learning activities such as the STEAM classroom. We’re being really clever about adding public spaces within the existing footprint of the museum. The basement, for instance, is currently not open to the general public, but that will become part of the new public space, and any ticket purchased will allow you to go down there and see temporary galleries and exhibitions. The new elevated mezzanine will house non-vehicle objects and artifacts so we can tell more stories and have more purpose-driven narration with this kind of unique use of space.”

To learn more about the IMS Museum’s renovation and to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit imsmuseum.org.

India’s City of Destiny

Last month, the City of Carmel established a new Sister City relationship with Visakhapatnam, India. Mayor Jim Brainard joined an international virtual meeting on Tuesday, July 26, with Golagani Hari Venkata Kumari, who serves as Mayor of Visakhapatnam. They signed a memorandum of understanding that formally establishes the relationship. Saikanth Varma, Commissioner of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation [GVMC], Raju Chinthala, President of Indiana India Business Council and Pavan Varma, Resident of Carmel, also joined the signing ceremony.

This is Carmel’s fifth international Sister City relationship. Prior to this, Carmel had established similar relationships with Jelgava, Latvia; Cortona, Italy; Kawachinagano, Osaka, Japan; and Xiangyang, Hubei, China.

STRENGTHENING GLOBAL ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL RELATIONSHIPS

According to the memorandum, the focus of future exchanges will include the exchange of people, ideas and

information in a wide variety of areas of mutual interest, including business, trade, culture, education, healthcare, government, technology and other endeavors. The agreement also establishes a joint effort to explore the growth of business and trade relations between the two economies.

Visakhapatnam “Vizag” is the largest and most populous metropolitan city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is situated between the Eastern Ghats mountain ranges and the coast of the

Bay of Bengal. The city’s history dates back to the 6th century B.C.E. when it became an ancient Port city that had trade relations with the Middle East and Rome. The city is home to several educational institutions and the headquarters for the Indian Navy’s Eastern Naval Command.

Visakhapatnam is also a major tourist destination and is known for its beaches, ancient Buddhist sites and the natural environment of the surrounding Eastern Ghats. It is nicknamed the “City of Destiny” and “Jewel of the East Coast.”

Writer // Janelle Morrison

• Photography // Courtesy of City of Carmel

Left to right: His Holiness, Parama Pujaya Sri Sampoornanandagiri Swamij; Raju Chinthala, President of Indiana India Business Council; and Mayor Jim Brainard

“Sister cities, in general, are important for us as a country and as a city,” Brainard stated. “These relationships are good for business, students and others to learn about other cultures. In this case, it’s particularly important because Carmel has so many residents who originally immigrated to the United States from India. So, it’s important that we understand the cultural similarities and dissimilarities. I look forward to seeing visitors that can perform in our festivals and concerts, and we look forward to sending our performances, artists, students and tourists to Visakhapatnam as well.”

Recognizing that the relationships that the city has built with members of many different communities unifies the Carmel community and sends a message to current and future residents about the importance of preserving the work that has been done and the relationships that have been cultivated.

Chinthala reflected on the last several years that he has spent working with the Indiana community, both abroad and

throughout central Indiana, and with Mayor Brainard, to foster economic and cultural partnerships that have contributed to the growing population of Indian residents in Carmel.

“The mayor has been building these global relationships, and it is important that Carmel is connected to the world,” Chinthala stated. “We had been thinking about having a sister city in India for the last few years, so we —the mayor and myself—evaluated several cities in India. Vizag is a very beautiful city, and it has a lot of history. You can see beaches and mountains, which we don’t have here. It’s a fascinating city with architecture, arts, and a very large, historical [sea] port.”

Exchanging culture as well as commerce is an important component of Sister City relationships. Chinthala elaborated, “Our mission consists of a few things, one being an exchange of our performing arts. We look forward to having performing arts groups come to Carmel and perform at the Palladium and maybe we have a performing arts group from

Carmel that goes to Vizag. Also, I see Carmel residents traveling to Vizag for tourism. Many [people here] don’t know about the city, and when they go to India, they go to Mumbai and Delhi … they go to the Taj Mahal. Maybe we can add Vizag to their list of cities. And once we have the relationships between people, the Chambers of Commerce, Rotary Clubs, governments and businesses, the sky is the limit as to the benefits.”

You can learn more about the city and opportunities for tourism by visiting Visakhapatnam.ap.gov.in/tourism.

The mayor has been building these global relationships, and it is important that Carmel is connected to the world...”