Artful Purpose invites Hoosiers to enjoy a little art for a good cause.
Artful Purpose, curated by local artist and former educator Mattie Jones, is an art auction designed to raise funds to help Gennesaret Free Clinics provide free health care to Indianapolis’ underserved and unhoused communities.
“Art can be used for more than just aesthetics, and putting it on your wall to enjoy,” Jones said. It’s (Artful Purpose) saying that art can have a proper impact on providing for others, and it does have an impact on making people feel a certain way with their moods and everything. But now we’re using it beyond that.”
Founded by Dr. James Trippi in 1988, Gennesaret Free Clinics provides a range of free services to Indianapolis residents, including health care, dental care, women’s health and hygiene kits with necessities for Indianapolis’ unhoused residents, Milele Kennedy, executive director of Gennesaret Free Clinics, told the Recorder. Providers volunteer their time at the various office locations, including St. Vincent de Paul and Gleaners Food Bank; Medical Respite Shelters/Health Recovery Homes and the mobile clinic.
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However, Gennesaret can’t do it all alone and relies on volunteers and donations to keep services free for clients, which is why local artists coming together to donate their work “speaks volumes about how the community relates to Gennesaret, wants to support Gennesaret and lift up the work that we do,” Kennedy said.
“Art is a great way to express so many feelings, and it’s something that everyone can appreciate,” Kennedy said. “We really want to ensure that people get to experience not only the great artwork that’s being presented there, but get to experience a little bit more of Gennesaret and get to know Gennesaret.”
Jones spent most of her career in higher education but left her position in 2023 to focus on her artwork and advocating for homeless individuals. During the pandemic, Jones began photographing Indianapolis’ unhoused residents as a reference for her paintings to raise awareness of the housing crisis and its impact on families and children.
While participating in Art Saves Lives, a juried art show at the Athenaeum, Jones met Trippi, who’s also a cardiologist with Ascension St. Vincent. Trippi bought one of Jones’ paintings for Gennesaret and hung it in one of the Medical Respite Shelters — or Health Recovery Homes within the community where unhoused individuals can stay while they recover from surgery, Kennedy said.
After delivering the painting by hand, Jones said she donated the money Trippi paid for the painting back to the clinic and proposed Artful Purpose, an art auction that would directly benefit health organizations serving underserved communities.
“I’ve done a lot in education that’s been really rewarding, but this has given my art purpose and meaning, and it’s something I’ve always had my head in my heart to do,” Jones said. “I feel like I’m a successful artist because I’m able to do this that will give back to the community.”
Artful Purpose will be Jones’ first exhibit as a curator, and she said the auction will feature donated works from artists across Central Indiana, including Rebecca Robinson and Tony Dickerson, as well as live music from Erick Oneal Fisher and Eric Zhong, light refreshments and drinks. Guests will have the opportunity to bid on art pieces or donate directly to the clinic.
Gennesaret’s Recovery Center will be open during the events, allowing guests to explore the location and its offerings while viewing the artwork, Kennedy said. The Medical Respite Shelter team will also be on-site alongside a few of the residents to showcase how funding can best support them.
“A lot of this will go towards the maintenance of our homes (Medical Respite Shelters), being able to ensure that any repairs that need to be done on the home can be done,” Kennedy said. “We also want to keep up our beautification efforts, both inside and out. We want our residents to feel like they are right at home in the space.”
The funding will also allow Gennesaret to see more patients via the mobile unit and a new partnership with We Bloom Recovery Cafe to support physical, mental and spiritual wellness, Kennedy said.
Artful Purpose takes place from 6-8 p.m. on April 10 at the Gennesaret Free Clinics administrative office, 615 N. Alabama St, Suite 136. The event is free and open to the public. For more information or to reserve a spot, visit eventbrite.com/e/artful-purpose-2026-tickets-1984393816323
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe has a bachelor's in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and has previously worked for Indy Maven, The Lantern, and CityScene Media Group. In her free time, Chloe enjoys live theatre, reading, baking and keeping her plants alive.
