As executive director of the community-based, nonprofit Harrison Center, Joanna Taft constantly heard stories about how awesome surrounding neighborhoods used to be. Many older residents lamented the changes happening in the area, and newer residents came in with the misperception that the neighborhood didn’t have any history.
“Why is it that we long for the good old days? What would happen if we could change our minds about thinking about the good old days and thinking about the future, an equitable future? We are acting out a neighborhood that ought to be.”
So, instead of re-enacting the past, Taft decided to act out the future and PreEnactIndy was born. The first event in 2017 drew a crowd of about 10,000. Taft didn’t plan to recreate the event again so quickly, but neighborhood residents wanted to do it again. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 6, three blocks on 16th Street between the Monon Trail and Dr. Andrew J. Brown Avenue will be transformed into an outdoor festival, complete with a gospel stage, theater productions and a pop-up skating rink.
“You can walk up and down the block and experience different things in different places,” Taft said. “We have the Black Cowboy Association this year …The Black cowboys bring people joy.”
As neighborhoods near the core of the city become gentrified, it’s important that newcomers don’t become modern-day Christopher Columbuses, treating the area as a new discovery.
“The stories are so important,” Freetown Village founder Ophelia Wellington said. Freetown Village will share stories from the neighborhood during the festival. “Often times when communities are gentrified, the story line is changed. If there’s no way to document what was done before then you think what you see has always been there.”
Although PreEnactIndy is about the future, it will also pay homage to its past by honoring six longtime residents, affectionately called “greatriarchs” by Taft. A painting of each one is featured in the exhibit, “Greatriarchs of Monon 16,” on the side of the Gleaner’s Food Bank building.
“It was really just one of the most incredible gifts that these women and this man were willing to let me come and hear their stories,” artist Abi Ogle said. “I really believe if we take the time to listen to stories it will change us. Listening is something we’re not very good at. They were all incredibly wise people.”
As she listened to each person’s story, Ogle often thought of art by African-American artists that she felt connected to each story. When she painted each 6-foot-by-4-foot piece, she connected the greatriarch’s picture with art from the past.
“It reminded me of looking back at other artist’s work, and those artists are still incredible in the art world and how their story is relevant to this story,” Ogle said.
Contact Editor Oseye Boyd at 317-762-7850. Follow her on Twitter @oseye_boyd
PreEnact Indy will be 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 6 on 16th Street between the Monon Trail and Dr. Andrew J. Brown Avenue.
PreEnactIndy 2018
