It’s a gallery, a gathering place and a locale where Hoosiers can experience something new. This fall, the Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) will name its 152-acre campus Newfields with the goal of putting all of its separate entities — IMA, The Garden, the Lilly House, performance spaces and The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park: 100 Acres — on equal footing.
The name Newfields ties into the venue’s past. In 1966, Ruth Lilly and Josiah K. Lilly III donated their family’s estate, Oldfields, to the Art Association of Indianapolis. In a 1967 dedication ceremony for the museum, the IMA’s founders expressed that the museum was to be more than a mirror to the past; it was to be a link to the future for everyday citizens and art scholars alike. Gary Stoppelman, deputy director for marketing and external affairs at the IMA, said the unified campus will help rejuvenate the museum’s original vision by creating attractions that draw people from all walks of life.
“We are ensuring we are welcoming the next generation, and the next generation after that. We want to remain a place that’s important to this community where all people can come together. Our original founders saw it as a place that could break down barriers by providing a common experience,” said Stoppelman.
Catching a movie with friends, exploring nature, playing a game of mini golf and enjoying a cool, refreshing local beer might not be the first thing that comes to mind when someone thinks of a trip to an art museum — but the IMA wants art, music, performance, food, drink and community to all be part of Newfield’s offerings.
Upcoming fall exhibits that showcase vintage street art and the diversity of Indy tie into the innovative vision for Newfields.
Opening Oct. 7, “City as Canvas: New York City Graffiti from the 70s & 80s” will chronicle the origins of graffiti and its evolution from a creative outlet to an accepted form of art. Events related to this exhibition include a concert by hip-hop pioneer Doug E. Fresh; a panel with featured artists; a themed Family Day and film screenings of “Wild Style” and “Fresh Dressed.”
On Oct. 27, “Portraits of Our City” will debut at the museum. Throughout the summer, photographers traveled across Indianapolis, snapping portraits of residents and asking them where they would like to wake up the following day. The answers and images will be featured in this exhibit.
“I’m excited about how the exhibits will work together. ‘City of Canvas’ begins a dialogue of what is real art, and ‘Portraits’ picks up this dialogue. These exhibits will start an interesting dialogue on what really is the role of our organization in this community,” said Stoppelman.
Newfields will also introduce a new holiday tradition this winter: Winterlights will allow visitors to take a magical stroll through The Garden, illuminated by 1 million lights.
Newfields will officially launch with the debut of a new website in early October. For more information, visit discovernewfields.org.
Things to do at the IMA
MINI GOLF
AT THE IMA
This is your last weekend to try mini golf at the IMA. Artists from all over the country have created the 18 holes this year, themed around animals and nature. The activity is included with admission to the museum. Visit imamuseum.org/minigolf2017 for more information.
YOGA AT THE IMA
Start your weekend with yoga on the beautiful Newfields campus. Classes are $15 for the public and take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday mornings. Locations are subject to change, and classes will be held weekly as weather permits. Information will be posted online at imamuseum.org/events-programs/classes.
CEREAL CINEMA: ‘HOCUS POCUS’
Get in the Halloween spirit with the 1993 flick “Hocus Pocus.” A cereal buffet is included with tickets. This event takes place at 10 a.m. on Oct. 2 at The Toby theater and costs $6 for ages 6 and over.
