Proof: A Midwest Lit Fest attracts avid readers, poets

Proof: A Midwest Lit Fest, Indiana Humanities’ first annual literary festival, went off with a bang.

The day-long festival welcomed hundreds of local writers, authors, poets and readers alike to the Harrison Center on Oct. 5. Proof offered a variety of interactive author talks, panel sessions, writing workshops and the adult version of the scholastic book fair throughout the day before rounding out the night with a rooftop poetry open mic as the sun set.

“It’s a matter of identifying what the community is missing,” local poet Mitchell L.H. Douglas said in an email to the Recorder. “We wanted an event that would celebrate all of the literary talent we have, not just at universities but on open mics, not only in Indianapolis or Indiana, but the entire Midwest.”

Douglas, who co-founded the Proof: A Midwest Lit Fest with Hoosier poet Chantel Massey, said the event was their way of honoring the talent in the Midwest and its contributions to American literature. They saw a need for an event that would gather both book writers and book lovers in a space where they could celebrate both.

“We wanted to do this because we are connected to the community that is thriving and vibrant and beautiful, and stories that are so connected and constantly evolving and inspiring — not just myself, but many others in here who have come up here to talk about how poetry has movement, right?” Chantel Massey, cofounder of Proof, said during the open mic. “So that’s what this is for.”

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Attendees also had the opportunity to explore a book fair featuring local booksellers such as Indiana Young Readers Center, Black Worldschoolers, Dream Palace Books and Coffee, Loudmouth Books and Tomorrow Bookstore.

Jake Budler, co-owner of Tomorrow Bookstore, said it was important to them to curate a selection of books that were about the Midwest, based in the Midwest or by authors from the Midwest.

“One thing that did is it showed people there’s some major authors who are from the Midwest or write about the Midwest, and people have no idea,” Budler said. “Beyond that, we’ve got a ton of literary talent, local in Indy and spaces across the Midwest.”

As the workshops came to an end and the bookfair closed for the evening, many of the attendees remained, gathered on the Harrison Center’s rooftop for the open mic hosted by local poets Januarie York, Mariah Ivey and Corey Ewing.

“You ain’t gotta just put your poetry out there where everybody got their back turned to you,” York, Indianapolis Poet Laureate, said during the open mic. “That’s why we have spaces like this. That’s why we have events like Proof.”

Beginning with Indiana’s Poet Laureate Curtis L. Crisler, community members took to the mic one by one to share poems, excerpts from books and positive stories as the air cooled and the sun set over Indianapolis. 

There was an overwhelming overlap in attendees and poets who frequent open mics hosted at other venues around the city — such as VOCAB at the White Rabbit Cabaret, That Peace Open Mic, Nightjar at the Tube Factory and Sometimes Y at the Chatterbox Jazz Club — including Ghemaiya Bradley.

“I’m not super familiar with the local poets, but I just like being around poetry and art,” Bradley said. “I like going outside to stuff like this: different open mics, community events, resource fairs.”

Charity Allen, who came to the event with Bradley, said she was most excited for the book fair. She regretfully missed earlier portions of the festival; as an avid reader, Allen said the idea of having an event specifically designed to highlight local authors and their work with the Indianapolis community is exciting.

“I didn’t get to participate, but I just thought it was cool to have an event where it’s local authors,” Allen said, dressed in a shirt that said, ‘Reading is hot.’ “I do like to read but I do think it’s cool to see the art of that.”

Although there is currently no information yet available concerning next year’s festival, Massey said she is happy to see so many people excited for another year of Proof: A Midwest Lit Fest.

“There is a wealth of talent here coming from so many different facets of the community. We don’t take this role lightly,” Douglas said. “There’s a great sense of responsibility and pride in what we do. We approach each endeavor with the belief that art improves our quality of life and the quality of our communities.”

For more information about Indiana Humanities, visit indianahumanities.org.

Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.