Founded March 12, 2024, at Indianapolis, IN Vol. I, No. 11
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Opinions
The views of the columnists in Current in North Indy are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of this newspaper.
Harrison Center celebrates local artists
By Marney Simon marney@youarecurrent.com
More than three dozen artists featured this summer at the Harrison Center, 1505 N. Delaware in Indianapolis. Kristin Whitney, Westfield, began painting in watercolors as a young girl. As a college student, she studied fine arts and graphic design, but painting was always her first love. In 2007, she became a missionary and graphic designer with Cru, an international nondenominational nonprofit organization. Although Whitney was able to combine her spirituality with her love of art, in 2012 she left missionary work to pursue art full time.
NONPROFIT
This summer, Whitney was selected as one of the Harrison Center’s featured artists.
“Every first Friday of the month, Indianapolis hosts a First Friday, where galleries downtown are open. It’s kind of like a gallery walk where you can go in and view all this art,” Whitney said. “The Harrison Center is really unique because it’s kind of like an artists’ hub.”
Whitney was invited to display her work in July and August. Her paintings are featured in the Underground Gallery, which takes up the entire basement of the space. Her collection, ‘Holy Spirit Flow,’ uses acrylics to convey how Whitney views the harmony of the Holy Spirit with human creativity.
The display has 21 pieces.
“All of my artwork is intuitive art, but the titles are based around Scripture or worship songs or what I’m feeling led to call it or to do,” Whitney said. “Nine of the pieces are about the fruits of the spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.”
Whitney said she worked hard to earn the recognition.
“I’ve been doing art since 2013. I have three little kids, so it’s busy all the time, so it’s just been a slow climb,” she said. “I’ve been slowly growing in the art scene here. I’ve been in the CCA Gallery on Main Street in Carmel. I’ve been there for about five years. I had to take some brief stints away when I had my children. I have a gallery space there. I have some artwork at High Frequency Arts in the Hub & Spoke Design Center in Fishers. I teach a class online. I have some pieces in some medical offices. But really, the Harrison Center is an awesome thing.”
Whitney also participates in the Penrod Arts Fair in Indianapolis each year. Besides her gallery work, her artwork was also selected as featured wallpaper on the proposed Tempo by Hilton hotel in Clay Terrace.
Whitney said being an artist means not being afraid of being vulnerable.
“It’s always a little scary, but I think the reward is not when somebody buys your art. The reward is whether I like what I am putting out and I know it’s good,” she said.
“I know it could bless somebody else. So, my artwork, I’ve been able to have amazing conversations. I’ve cried with people and we’ve prayed together from them seeing something that moves them. That’s really what abstract art is all about; when you see the composition and the colors. It moves you on a spiritual level. It speaks to your soul.”
Whitney said that although her artwork is influenced by Scripture, one doesn’t have to be religious to appreciate it.
“To me it’s spiritual, but I think it can mean so many different things to everybody else,” she said.
She also has advice for others thinking about pursuing their artistic dreams.
“I think success is like a stairway. Sometimes you go up a few steps, and sometimes you go down a few steps,” Whitney said. “But I don’t feel there’s an upstairs
to get to on that stairway. It’s just a slow climb. It’s a journey. What I would say is, just don’t ever give up. If you feel led to do this and it’s part of who you are in the core of your soul, don’t ever give up. Just continue to push forward and push into what you love.”
Whitney’s paintings will be on display at The Harrison Center through Aug. 30, and works are available for purchase.
‘Holy Spirit Flow’ can be viewed during gallery hours Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Harrison Center, 1505 N.Delaware St. in Indianapolis.
Learn more at kristinwhitney.com
ABOUT THE HARRISON CENTER
The Harrison Center is a 65,000-square-foot historic building at 16th and Delaware streets that provides cultural experiences, including art, music, education and grassroots activism. The center focuses on accessible gallery experiences that can be enjoyed by everyone.
The mission of The Harrison Center is “to be a catalyst for renewal in the City of Indianapolis by fostering awareness, appreciation and community for arts and culture.”
Learn more at harrisoncenter.org.
Kristin Whitney said her paintings are intuitive art inspired by Scripture. (Photo courtesy of Kristin Whitney)
Swanky fundraiser benefits Make-A-Wish
By Jennifer A. Haire northindy@yoaurecurrent.com
The second Wine, Women and Shoes event benefiting Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 16 at Lucas Estate in Carmel.
GIVING
MAW Director of Donor Advising Leslie Scott said the event “brings together up to 500 of central Indiana’s women of influence (to fulfill their) promise to grant wishes for local critically ill children who are already waiting for their wish to be granted.”
Guests can enjoy select culinary samplings from local restaurants and visit wine stations throughout the property. VIP ticket holders will also have access to a private bar and reserved lounge seating. The event includes a runway fashion show.
“The fashion show this year is hosted by Macy’s, and they’re showcasing their highend brands,” Scott said.
Longtime wish granter and friend to Make-A-Wish, Nicole Pence Becker, owner and operator of Pence Media Group, will serve as emcee.
This years fashion show is hosted by Macy’s and will showcase its high-end brands. (Photo courtesy of Make-A-Wish)
Local high-fashion clothing retailers will be on-site with their latest items available for sale. Moyer Fine Jewelers will bring its most popular pieces.
“Twenty percent of the proceeds that they raise, they donate back to Make-AWish. So, ladies are shopping with a purpose,” Scott said.
The afternoon includes remarks from Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam and Carmel resident and MAW alumna Elizabeth Miller, who will share what the wish experience meant to her.
Additional activities include a live auction, 100-bottle “wine wall” raffle, and a Key to the Closet raffle where one winner will go home with up to $20,000 in prizes. Each raffle entry receives a Moyer Fine Jewelers $100 store credit.
Guests are encouraged to dress in their best fashion-forward attire to be eligible to win prizes for “Best Dressed” and “Best Shoes.”
There are currently 224 promised wishes for central Indiana children.
“They are counting on us,” Scott said. “We look to our guests in attendance to help us try to grant as many as 40 with the event.”
To purchase tickets, donate or become a sponsor, visit one.bidpal.net/wws24/ welcome.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 16 TH , 2024
11AM to 3PM at Lucas Estate, Carmel, IN
oki.wish.org/wws
Seniors learn about elder fraud
By Conrad Otto conrad@youarecurrent.com
Allisonville Meadows Assisted Living recently hosted a seminar presented by the Indiana Attorney General’s office to teach seniors about fraud, identity theft and scams.
OUTREACH
Outreach representative Janice McHenry of the attorney general’s office said older people are most often the demographic targeted by scammers.
“Many times, persons over the age of 60 are victims of fraud,” McHenry said. “Someone may (obtain) control of that senior’s financial assets through deception and intimidation.”
McHenry spoke about different types of fraud, such as high-tech theft — often scams involving data breaches that can be used to trick someone into sharing personal information.
“If it looks like something that came from your bank or something you ordered, call the bank and say, ‘Hey, are you contacting me?’” she said. “Chances are, they didn’t.”
Another fraud that commonly targets the
elderly is the grandparent scam. McHenry said that with that type of scam, a fraud caller poses as a grandchild who has been in an accident and asks for money.
McHenry said the attorney general’s office can receive consumer complaints through its website, in.gov/attorneygeneral, or in person at Government Center South, 302 W. Washington St., 5th Floor.
American Senior Communities Director of Public Relations Stacey Cain said seminars for older Hoosiers are crucial for spreading information about elder fraud.
For more, visit asccare.com/ElderFraud.
Outreach Representative Janice McHenry, left, representing the Indiana Attorney General’s Office, speaks to residents at Allisonville Meadows Assisted Living. (Photo by Conrad Otto)
Saturday, August 10, 2024 | Four Day Ray, Fishers Register at WoofstockRocks.com or scan below!
Race in-person or virtually
Fundraise for PAWsome prizes
Leashed & in-stroller dogs welcome Shirt, medal and swag for all participants
Proceeds benefit HSHC's Survivor Program and hundreds of animals in need
CROSSFIT EXCELLENCE
Black Dog Fitness Gym powers local athlete to CrossFit Games
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Lexi Neely embraces the different challenges in CrossFit competitions.
“I love pushing myself and getting better each day and seeing the progress over these last years on how much stronger and fitter I’ve gotten,” the Fishers resident said. Neely will compete in the CrossFit Games Aug. 8-11 in Fort Worth, Texas. Neely, 21, will compete in the elite women’s division for the first time. She is coached by Carmel resident Chase Larrison, a Carmel police officer.
There are three stages to qualify. From the open tournament, the top 25 advance to the quarterfinals. Then the top 40 in each region move on to the semifinals. The open and quarterfinals are determined by a submitted video workout. From the region, the top 11 qualify for the CrossFit Games, based on a scoring system from the workouts. Neely finished 11th to get the final spot in the region May 31 to June 2 in Knoxville, Tenn. There were six workouts over the three days.
Larrison said most of the stages of the CrossFit Games will take place at Dickies Arena.
“But they’ve announced we’ll be outside (at night Aug. 9) in the Texas heat at a high school,” Larrison said. “There’s also a swimming event. There could be anywhere between 12 and 15 events. It’s way more volume and way more competition, because it’s the top 40 women from all over the world.”
Neely, a 2021 Hamilton Southeastern High School graduate, competed in the CrossFit Games in 2018 as a teenager. She qualified in 2020, but it was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“She is the first female from Indiana to qualify for the CrossFit Games in the open division, ages 18-35,” Larrison said. “There has only been one other (Indiana) male to do the same thing. We are considered the hardest region (North America East). Women who made it in the past from our region didn’t make it this year.”
Larrison said some of the workouts are strength-based, and some are cardio-based.
“It’s a mixture of everything. It can be swimming, running, bicycling, anything under the sun is what CrossFit encompasses,” Larrison said.
Neely, who majors in health care and business at Butler University, said her strengths are gymnastics and weightlifting. She has competed in CrossFit for 10 years. She previously competed in gymnastics.
Larrison, a 2010 Carmel High School graduate, owns Black Dog Fitness in Indianapolis. His wife, Mackenzie, serves as a fitness instructor.
“We have classes every day, and it’s all instructor-led,”
Larrison said.
Neely serves as an instructor as well.
“Chase does all my programming and coaching,” Neely said. “All my training is around classes we do.”
Larrison said he works with Neely to train almost every day.
“It’s been a big learning experience for both of us,” he said. “It’s been a lot of work in and out of the gym, building that chemistry. I think she has a bright future in the sport.”
Larrison has served as Neely’s personal coach since January 2023. Neely has worked at Black Dog Fitness since it opened.
“He’s very direct and straightforward in his coaching, which is what I needed,” Neely said. “He’s there to support me and help me grow, but also make me better. We just try to keep pushing to get better and moving forward. Even when things are tough, he’s pushing me to move forward.”
Neely has to pay entry fees at each level, including $400 for the CrossFit Games, so they have been doing fundraisers to help defray the cost.
“It’s an expensive sport from that standpoint,” Larrison said.
MORE ABOUT BLACK DOG FITNESS
Black Dog Fitness offers multiple daily crossfit sessions through monthly memberships or one time visits.
“It’s a mixture of everything. It can be swimming, running, bicycling, anything under the sun is what CrossFit encompasses.”
–CHASE
ON THE COVER: Lexi Neely and her coach, Chase Larrison, at the CrossFit Games semifinals in Knoxville, Tenn. (Photo courtesy of Chase Larrison)
Lexi Neely competes in the CrossFit Games semifinals. (Photo courtesy of Chase Larrison)
Larrison
Antonia Bennett eager for jazzy Carmel Symphony Orchestra performance
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Antonia Bennett had the benefit of learning from the best.
Not only did the jazz vocalist perform with her legendary father, the late Tony Bennett, since she was young, but she also was exposed to many of his famous friends.
“Especially in Beverly Hills at that time, there were a lot of talented people that lived (nearby), like Ella Fitzgerald and Rosemary Clooney,” she said. “Our neighbor was songwriter Sammy Cahn, who lived right across the street. Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire were within walking distance. When my parents would have parties, they would all be there and get us to sing around the piano. There was a lot of exposure to people who were at the top of their craft who loved what they did and got to do it. It just became a possibility for me.”
Bennett will perform at 8 p.m. Aug. 9 with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. She is the opening-night headliner for the Carmel Jazz Festival, set for Aug. 9-10. She will sing songs by George Gershwin and Duke Ellington. Saxophonist Bryan Thompson, who performs as B. Thompson, will have a one-hour set at 6:30 p.m.
The 50-year-old Bennett said she is excited to work with Carmel Symphony and Joel Smirnoff. Bennett said her relationship with Smirnoff goes back several years because he was a good friends with her father.
“It’s nice to do something together,” she said. “To celebrate Ellington and Gershwin is very meaningful.”
Bennett said some of the arrangements are Smirnoff’s and some are her own. Smirnoff is working on an arrangement of Ellington’s “It Don’t Mean a Thing.”
In addition to performances, Bennett has plans to release a holiday album.
“We’re just finished that and are in the process of mixing it now,” she said.
A single will likely be released from it this fall, followed by a full release near the holidays.
“I’m excited about that because the holidays were always such a big deal in my family,” Bennett said. “I got to record a lot of the songs that I grew up singing. In a way, it’s a tribute to my father. He loved holidays so much and I think he made two or three holiday records over his career span.”
Bennett said she and her dad sang a duet on “I’ve Got My Love to Keep me Warm” on one of his holiday albums.
“Just to be able to redo some of those classic holiday songs helped me to honor him,” she said. “This is a way to keep him close to my heart.”
Tony Bennett died July 21, 2023, at age 96.
She has another album called “Expressions,” which she plans to release after the holiday album. One of her original songs, “Right On Time,” has already been released as a single. She said likely one more single will be released this year
“We’re going to maybe release one
more single this year and then at the beginning of the year, drop another single,” she said. “Then sometime in that year, we’ll release the rest of the record. That album is a really good reflection today of who I am as an artist because it’s half standards and half original songs. It’s a nice compilation and a very strong record of things that I love.”
Besides Gershwin and Ellington, Cole Porter is another of her favorites.
“I grew up with all those songs and watched a lot of musical theater and plays growing up,” she said. “My parents did a great job of exposing me to all the arts. I used to watch shows like ‘Oklahoma!’ and I would memorize all the songs in one weekend. I was doing that constantly because there are so many great musicals and songs. When you have such a rich library to pull from, there is always something new to do. You can do the same song over and over and it never gets old because the lyrics are so rich and meaningful, and the harmonies are so beautiful that you can tell the story slightly differently each time you do it.”
For more, visit carmelsymphony.org and carmeljazzfest.com.
‘LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL’
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s production of “Legally Blonde: The Musical” runs through Aug. 25 at the Indianapolis venue. For more, visit beefandboards.com.
SYMPHONY ON THE PRAIRIE
Evil Woman: The American ELO will perform Aug. 2, and A1A: The Official and Original Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show will perform Aug. 3 at Symphony on the Prairie at Conner Prairie in Fishers. Both performances start at 8 p.m. For more, visit indianapolissymphony.org.
PHISH
Phish will perform at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2-4 at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville. For more, visit livenation.com.
LIVE AT THE CENTER
The Live at the Center series will feature the Brandon Meeks Quintet at 7:30 p.m. July 30 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. Tickets are $10 or register for a free livestream at thecenterpresents.org.
DISPATCHES
Home Free set for holiday concert — All-vocal country group Home Free will perform at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts this holiday season on its “Any Kind of Christmas” tour. The a cappella quintet has amassed 750 million views and 1.7 million subscribers on YouTube. Tickets are on sale at thecenterpresents.org.
Broadway star to lead master classes — Best known for originating roles in “SIX” and “The Great Gatsby” on Broadway, Samantha Pauly will lead two in-person choreography master classes Aug 22 at Grace Church in Noblesville. Classes are recommended for ages 12 and up. Pauly will teach choreography from “SIX” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and from “The Great Gatsby from. 7:30 to 9 p.m. For more, visit discoveringbroadway.org.
Antonia Bennett will perform Aug. 9 with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra at the Palladium. (Photo courtesy of Antonia Bennett)
DREAM HOME
‘Golden Girls’ parody set
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
It’s easy for Robert Jones to pinpoint the best part of being in the cast of “The Indy Golden Girls.”
COMEDY
“My favorite part is just like the four women in ‘The Golden Girls,’ the four of us have built a very beautiful friendship and really enjoy doing this together,” Jones said. “‘The Golden Girls’ has a big following of people, obviously, (who) watch the reruns on Hulu and stuff like that. It’s really cool for them to see our interpretation of these four iconic women.”
“The Indy Golden Girls: A Drag Parody” will perform two original episodes Aug. 8-10 at Basile Westfield Playhouse.
“All of the episodes have been inspired by a real episode from ’The Golden Girls,’” Jones said.
Jones is the youngest of the four actors at age 35. He plays the part of Blanche. The other cast members are Jim LaMonte as Sophia, Thom Turner as Rose and Jeremy Tuterow as Dorothy.
The roles were played by the late ac-
tresses Betty White, Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty.
Jones said he and his castmates started performing as the “The Indy Golden Girls” about three years ago.
The Aug. 8-9 performances begin at 7:30 p.m. There will be two shows Aug. 10 at 6 and 9 p.m. Tickets are $20, and $35 tickets include VIP seating and a meet-andgreet with photo.
A For more, visit westfieldplayhouse. org/special-events.
From left, James LaMonte, Robert Jones, Thom Turner and Jeremy Tuterow appear as “The Indy Golden Girls.” (Photo courtesy of James LaMonte)
CIDE celebrates 25th season
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Central Indiana Dance Ensemble co-Artistic Director Ashley Jacobs has had a close-up view of the program’s growth.
DANCE
After all, her mother, Suzann DeLay, founded the organization, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
“It has been at the top of my priority list to continue my mom’s legacy,” said Jacobs, who was 12 when her mother started CIDE. “She built this company from eight company dancers, 30 in ‘The Nutcracker’ in 1999, to a company of 70-plus and over 120 in ‘The Nutcracker’ in 2023. The company has become a pillar in the community and is known in the central Indiana area as having the best training in the state, so carrying on what she has started is of the utmost importance for me, the artistic staff and board of directors.”
A gala celebrating the anniversary is set for Jan. 25, 2025.
“As we go into the next 25 years, I am extremely proud and excited of artistic staff and the continuance of my work.”
said DeLay, who serves as executive director.
DeLay has been awarded the Outstanding Citizen Award from Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam and Distinguished Hoosier honor from Gov. Eric Holcomb.
Jacobs, who serves as co-artistic director with Michael Casey Clark, stopped dancing upon graduating from Indiana University in 2009 with a degree in dance performance.
The season opens with “The Nutcracker” Dec. 13-15 at Star Bank Performing Arts Center in Zionsville. For more, visit cidedaance.org.
From left, Michael Casey Clark, Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam, Suzann DeLay and Ashley Jacobs. (Photo courtesy of CIDE)
MUSICAL THEATRE
Saxophonist excels on TV show
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Bryan Thompson received some rave reviews for his national TV debut.
The saxophonist, who performs as B. Thompson, made it to the next round of “America’s Got Talent” as all four judges gave approval in an episode that aired in early July.
MUSIC
eventually became the last one to give his approval.
Thompson, an Indianapolis native who now lives in Los An geles, will perform a one-hour set before Antonia Bennett’s show with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 9 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. Bennett is the opening-night headliner at the Aug. 9-10 Carmel Jazz Festival.
For his “America’s Got Talent” audition, Thompson played a sax solo of “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” on the episode that aired July 9. Judge Sofia Vergara called his performance “sexy.” Vergara and judge Howie Mandel were the most enthusiastic about his audition. Simon Cowell
“He’s a tough cookie,’ Thompson said. “It’s hard persuading people the world deserves to see you in a few minutes. I’m grateful for the chance to do more. To give a captivating performance without giving your all is difficult to achieve. You want to have more for future rounds.”
Thompson has been performing as part of Babyface’s band. Kenneth Brian Edmonds, who goes by Babyface, also is an Indianapolis native.
Thompson has performed at the Palladium but has never played his own show with his own band.
“This will be the first time I can create something to entertain at the Palladium,” Thompson said. “It’s sort of my favorite venue in the Indianapolis area. I’ve seen a lot of favorite artists there (such as) Brian Culbertson, Kenny G, Boney James and Dave Koz.”
For more, visit bthompsononline.com and carmelsymphony.org.
Blueprint for Improvement: Sleek and stylish Indianapolis kitchen
Commentary by Larry Greene
Built in 1977, this Mystic Bay condo was prime for a modern upgrade, starting with the kitchen. Our team transformed the space into a sleek, contemporary haven that radiates a fresh vibe and perfectly reflects the homeowner’s style.
THE BLUEPRINT
• New flat-panel cabinets, gleaming chrome hardware and a tonal palette establish a modern and sophisticated aesthetic.
• Removing the bulkhead allowed us to extend the cabinetry to the ceiling, creating a bold, streamlined look with enhanced functionality and storage.
• Reworking the layout enhanced the flow between the kitchen and dining room, allowing for the addition of a larger island and wine fridge.
• Double doors leading to the new deck flood the space with natural light and showcase stunning lake views.
Larry Greene is the owner of Worthington Design & Remodeling (formerly Case). You may email him at lgreene@worthingtonindy.com or visit worthingtonindy.com for more remodeling inspiration and advice.
