Big Car

Artist Workshop: Fiber Art and PomPoms with Mary Jo Bayliss
2024-09-07 10:00 - 13:00, 2024-09-11 11:00 - 14:00, 2024-09-14 11:00 - 14:00, 2024-09-18 11:00 - 14:00, 2024-09-21 11:00 - 14:00, 2024-09-25 11:00 - 14:00, 2024-10-12 11:00 - 14:00, 2024-10-19 11:00 - 14:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | 1 Monument Circle, South Facing Steps, United States
Come to SPARK and join artist Mary Jo Bayliss to learn how to create pompoms and contribute them to her Taylor Swift inspired community artwork titled, “The Village”. Visitors will be able to make pompoms that will be used in Mary Jo’s final piece! Come join in on this collaborative artwork and make sure to stop by the circle later to see the final finished piece when Taylor Swift enters her “Indy era” and performs in Indianapolis!
A statement from Mary Jo Mayliss about this piece:
“The Village” is about the power of women working together to create a better, more equitable society. The iconography and rallying point for the activities is inspired by Taylor Swift, and without her presence in Indianapolis, this community artwork, and its far reaching scope, would not be possible–Thank you Taylor! The 13 elements that compose the artwork will be auctioned off at the end of Taylor’s Eras Indianapolis venue, with proceeds being donated for Arts for Learning, Big Car, and Ivy Tech Art Department, Indianapolis.
Mary Jo Bayliss specializes in creating environments that help people feel at ease using space, light and color to achieve these goals.
We at Big Car are teaming up with Downtown Indy and the City of Indianapolis — with support from the Capital Improvement Board and the Indiana War Memorials Commission— to spark Monument Circle with human-scale activities like games, live music, artmaking, and socializing in a comfortable place.

Lunch Break Live! With The Play Testers Presented By Lake City Bank
2024-09-11 12:00 - 13:00
Come join us at SPARK for a lunchtime local concert! Lunch Break Live is presented by Lake City Bank.

The Play Testers is a duo experimental group exploring musicking in the 21st century through written compositions and improvisations. The bandmates are clarinetist Eric Salazar, aka The Clarinet Guy, and bassist Alexo Cazares. Both are performers and composers who love to share their musicking. You can catch them playing board games or making music in Indianapolis.

We at Big Car are teaming up with Downtown Indy and the City of Indianapolis — with support from the Capital Improvement Board and the Indiana War Memorials Commission— to spark Monument Circle with human-scale activities like games, live music, artmaking, and socializing in a comfortable place.

Cyanotype Workshop With Aurora PhotoCenter
2024-09-13 11:00 - 15:00
Cyanotype is a camera-less photography made out in the sun, rather than in a darkroom. You place objects — such as plants — on top of a piece of photo-treated paper, and then use the sun to expose the paper. The result is an image that is an exact outline of the object. It’s a fun and magical way to engage photography! Although it may be new to modern people, cyanotype has been around since photography was invented in the 1800s.
Come explore the creative possibilities of this fascinating process!
We will have some objects on hand to experiment with, but feel free to bring your own objects. Flat items usually work best, and cyanotype can be messy, so precious things like family heirlooms should probably stay at home. All other necessary materials will be provided free at the workshop.
In partnership with Aurora PhotoCenter for SPARK on the Circle.
This activity is best suited for artists 7+ years old; minors must be accompanied by an adult.
We at Big Car are teaming up with Downtown Indy and the City of Indianapolis — with support from the Capital Improvement Board and the Indiana War Memorials Commission— to spark Monument Circle with human-scale activities like games, live music, artmaking, and socializing in a comfortable place.

SPARK on the Circle is an ongoing partnership between Big Car Collaborative, Downtown Indy, City of Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development, the Capital Improvement Board, and the Indiana War Memorials Commission.

Artist Workshop: Single Fancies With Joan Wyand!
2024-09-13 17:00 - 19:00
Come join artist, Joan Wyand, on the circle to get a tiny painted masterpiece on one of your fingernails! The process involves painting a background color on the nail and once dry, Joan will paint an image of your choice. Past designs have included emojis, hearts, tiger stripes and more detailed imageslike Moby Dick and Godzilla! The artist loves a challenge, so feel free to suggest your own ideas. One nail per visitor!
More about Joan:
Joan Wyand recently received her Master of Fine Arts with a concentration in Integrative Studio Practice at IU’s Herron School of Art + Design. She received an undergraduate degree in Ceramics at the Rhode Island School of Design in 2005 and spent 20 formative years in Providence. Her social-minded experimental practice was recognized in 2012 as a recipient of AS220’s Free Culture Award. She participated in the Venice International Performance Art Week Workshop that coincided with the Venice Biennale in2017. Her work at Herron has been recognized with a Paul Zimmerman Fellowship, Graduate Teaching Fellowships, the 2024 Sherry Queener Award and a summer

We at Big Car are teaming up with Downtown Indy and the City of Indianapolis — with support from the Capital Improvement Board and the Indiana War Memorials Commission— to spark Monument Circle with human-scale activities like games, live music, artmaking, and socializing in a comfortable place.

Indy Humanities Story Time With John David Anderson
2024-09-14 15:00 - 16:00
John David Anderson is the best-selling author of several critically-acclaimed novels for young people, including Posted, Granted, and Ms. Bixby’s Last Day. His books have garnered several awards, been translated into multiple languages, and frequently appear as honorees on state reading lists. Before becoming a middle-grade novelist, Dave (as he prefers to be called) taught at the University of Illinois. Before that he yearned to be Indiana Jones, but his parents wouldn’t buy him a whip. Dave lives with his ever-patient wife and two ornery cats, MJ and Parker, in Indianapolis, Indiana, right next to a State park and a Walmart, in a house that is steadily filling with Lego. His favorite color is gray, and he does not wear ties if he can possibly help it.
We at Big Car are teaming up with Downtown Indy and the City of Indianapolis — with support from the Capital Improvement Board and the Indiana War Memorials Commission— to spark Monument Circle with human-scale activities like games, live music, artmaking, and socializing in a comfortable place.

SPARK on the Circle is an ongoing partnership between Big Car Collaborative, Downtown Indy, City of Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development, the Capital Improvement Board, and the Indiana War Memorials Commission.

Lunch Break Live! With M. Moskaliuk Presented by Lake City Bank
2024-09-18 12:00 - 13:00
Come join us at SPARK for a live lunch break time concert with M. Moskaliuk, presented by Lake City Bank!
M. Moskaliuk is a composer with a background in creating and performing live electronic music. His fascination with vintage analog synthesizers sparked his love of sound and music. His work attempts to capture fleeting emotions and ineffable moments in time.
We at Big Car are teaming up with Downtown Indy and the City of Indianapolis — with support from the Capital Improvement Board and the Indiana War Memorials Commission— to spark Monument Circle with human-scale activities like games, live music, artmaking, and socializing in a comfortable place.

Car Free Day with Downtown Indy and the Office of Sustainability!
2024-09-19 - 2024-09-20
Walk, bike, scoot, skate, blade, ride the bus, or carpool to go car-free or car-lite…Telework also counts!
On Thursday, stop by SPARK from 7-9 am for a continental breakfast and again from 11am-1pm for live music!
Adopting a cleaner commuting habit is one of the best ways to decrease your carbon footprint, improve our air quality, save money, and be healthier and happier.
We at Big Car are teaming up with Downtown Indy and the City of Indianapolis — with support from the Capital Improvement Board and the Indiana War Memorials Commission— to spark Monument Circle with human-scale activities like games, live music, artmaking, and socializing in a comfortable place.
SPARK on the Circle is an ongoing partnership between Big Car Collaborative, Downtown Indy, City of Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development, the Capital Improvement Board, and the Indiana War Memorials Commission.

Artist Workshop With Giselle Trujillo
2024-09-20 17:00 - 19:00
Come join us at SPARK for a FREE workshop with artist Giselle Trujillo!
About the Artist:
Inside of me, like inside of everyone, there are many characters waiting to come out in order to be somehow present in this world. They come out from a pencil and play with papers, from our mind and play with our life.
Once, when I was a child, I was close to the sea and I understood everything it said to me. then my hands made a face, a body; some faces, some bodies that watched me, touched me, and I watched them and touched them and then they abandoned me, leaving with the sea, melting themselves with all those characters who were born and going to be born from the sand and they had left with the breeze and with the sea (they are still my friends that I will never see again).
It happened the same with the mud, but the faces and the bodies wouldn’t leave. and here they were; I didn’t plan them, I didn’t make a sketch of them and they appeared. They wake me up any hour, any time talking to me, moving through my hands and when they say ” leave me like this ” I transform them in stone… …And my mind and my soul will rest in the stone, in the paper and in the sand, which had already gone.
We at Big Car are teaming up with Downtown Indy and the City of Indianapolis — with support from the Capital Improvement Board and the Indiana War Memorials Commission— to spark Monument Circle with human-scale activities like games, live music, artmaking, and socializing in a comfortable place.

SPARK on the Circle is an ongoing partnership between Big Car Collaborative, Downtown Indy, City of Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development, the Capital Improvement Board, and the Indiana War Memorials Commission.

Kids Day!
2024-09-21 14:00 - 16:00
Come over to SPARK on Monument Circle for Kids Day!
Playworks will be bringing some of your favorite recess classics like four square, hopscotch, jump rope, and hula hoops!
Visitors will be able to make friendship bracelets and get their faces painted!
The Indianapolis Synphony Orchestra will be hosting their instrument petting zoo and holding a make your own instrument work shop, followed by story time!
We hope to see you out at SPARK for this FREE and kid centred event!
We at Big Car are teaming up with Downtown Indy and the City of Indianapolis — with support from the Capital Improvement Board and the Indiana War Memorials Commission— to spark Monument Circle with human-scale activities like games, live music, artmaking, and socializing in a comfortable place.

SPARK on the Circle is an ongoing partnership between Big Car Collaborative, Downtown Indy, City of Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development, the Capital Improvement Board, and the Indiana War Memorials Commission.

Lunch Break Live! With Yeajin Kim and Jonah Krolik Presented By Lake City Bank
2024-09-25 12:00 - 13:00
Join us at SPARK for a lunch time concert from Yeajin Kim on violin and Jonah Krolik on cello, presented by Lake City Bank!
We at Big Car are teaming up with Downtown Indy and the City of Indianapolis — with support from the Capital Improvement Board and the Indiana War Memorials Commission— to spark Monument Circle with human-scale activities like games, live music, artmaking, and socializing in a comfortable place.
SPARK on the Circle is an ongoing partnership between Big Car Collaborative, Downtown Indy, City of Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development, the Capital Improvement Board, and the Indiana War Memorials Commission.

Artist Workshop: Pyrography with Nasreen Khan
2024-09-27 17:00 - 19:00
Pyrography, commonly known as wood burning, is the art of drawing and writing using a burning tool for etching designs onto different surfaces, usually wood.
You can use pyrography to add drawings or writings to wood, gourds, leather, and any other material that wouldn’t be destroyed by the heat from the burning tool.

Khan will talk about the process, give examples and allow attendees to try it out (must sign a waiver).

Indianapolis-based artist Nasreen Khan grew up in West Africa and Indonesia and moved to the gritty American Midwest by way of New York City. She and her toddler son live in their bungalow on Indianapolis’ Near Westside. On a Friday night she can be found cooking various organ meats or chasing down a stellar mint julep.
Her Indianapolis art is all a tribute to Haughville. Since moving to Indianapolis and putting down roots, walking the streets of Haughville and becoming part of the fabric here has kept her grounded. Haughville has been the tableau for building community, exploring her queer identity, motherhood, and teaching her son about race.

We at Big Car are teaming up with Downtown Indy and the City of Indianapolis — with support from the Capital Improvement Board and the Indiana War Memorials Commission— to spark Monument Circle with human-scale activities like games, live music, artmaking, and socializing in a comfortable place.

SPARK on the Circle is an ongoing partnership between Big Car Collaborative, Downtown Indy, City of Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development, the Capital Improvement Board, and the Indiana War Memorials Commission.

Artist Workshop: Fiber Art and PomPoms
2024-09-28 11:00 - 14:00, 2024-10-16 11:00 - 14:00
Come to SPARK and join artist Mary Jo Bayliss and her apprentices to learn how to create pompoms and contribute them to her Taylor Swift inspired community artwork titled, “The Village”. Visitors will be able to make pompoms that will be used in Mary Jo’s final piece! Come join in on this collaborative artwork and make sure to stop by the circle later to see the final finished piece when Taylor Swift enters her “Indy era” and performs in Indianapolis!
A statement from Mary Jo Mayliss about this piece:
“The Village” is about the power of women working together to create a better, more equitable society. The iconography and rallying point for the activities is inspired by Taylor Swift, and without her presence in Indianapolis, this community artwork, and its far reaching scope, would not be possible–Thank you Taylor! The 13 elements that compose the artwork will be auctioned off at the end of Taylor’s Eras Indianapolis venue, with proceeds being donated for Arts for Learning, Big Car, and Ivy Tech Art Department, Indianapolis.
Mary Jo Bayliss specializes in creating environments that help people feel at ease using space, light and color to achieve these goals.
We at Big Car are teaming up with Downtown Indy and the City of Indianapolis — with support from the Capital Improvement Board and the Indiana War Memorials Commission— to spark Monument Circle with human-scale activities like games, live music, artmaking, and socializing in a comfortable place.

SPARK of Magic!
2024-09-29 14:00 - 17:00
What happens when two of the most prestigious local magic clubs in the Indy scene join forces with BigCar Collaborative and Downtown Indy? You get a “Spark of Magic.”Join us at “Spark” as we release a “Spark of Magic” into downtown Indy. This will be an unforgettable time of enchantment up close – no smoke or mirrors – in an experience the whole family can enjoy! You will be welcomed by a team of local Indiana magicians, ready to showcase their talents and immerse you in a world of wonder!

We at Big Car are teaming up with Downtown Indy and the City of Indianapolis — with support from the Capital Improvement Board and the Indiana War Memorials Commission— to spark Monument Circle with human-scale activities like games, live music, artmaking, and socializing in a comfortable place.

SPARK on the Circle is an ongoing partnership between Big Car Collaborative, Downtown Indy, City of Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development, the Capital Improvement Board, and the Indiana War Memorials Commission.

Artist Workshop: Fiber Art and PomPoms with Mary Jo Bayliss and Apprentices
2024-10-02 11:00 - 14:00, 2024-10-05 11:00 - 14:00

Lunch Break Live! With DJ Manual Katz Presented by Lake City Bank
2024-10-02 12:00 - 13:00
Join us at SPARK on the Circle for a lunchtime concert with DJ Manual Katz, a musician who recently relocated to Indianapolis, presented by Lake City Bank!

Ron Record is a 24 year old musician from Fort Wayne, IN. He is excited to DJ for lunch break live and provide the vibes and a good time through live hip hop beats he made!

Big Car are teaming up with Downtown Indy and the City of Indianapolis — with support from the Capital Improvement Board and the Indiana War Memorials Commission— to spark Monument Circle with human-scale activities like games, live music, artmaking, and socializing in a comfortable place.

Artist Workshop: Tarot With Brooklyn
2024-10-04 17:00 - 19:00
My name is Brooklyn and I help provide spiritual guidance through tarot readings! I specialize in first time readings because I love to challenge the stigma around tarot and providing guests with a comfy space and a meaningful experience.
SPARK is a partnership with Downtown Indy @downtownindy the City of Indianapolis @indy_dmd and the Indiana War Memorials Commission – and funded by the Capital Improvements Board. It is a continuation of our work last year and in 2015 on the Circle.
At Big Car, we approach our work at the Circle as a site- and community-specific socially engaged art and creative placemaking project. The SPARK on the Circle pop-up park was collaboratively designed with Indianapolis-based Merritt Chase to be a restorative public place where people of all walks of life can relax, play, socialize, and engage with art and artists in the heart of our city.

Live Music with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra!
2024-10-07 12:00 - 13:00
Join us at the SPARK every Monday in October and have lunch while Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra musicians serenade you for the hour! They will be performing a variety of repertoire, from standard classical repertoire to popular music. This week we will be joined by Yeajin Kim (violin), Yang Guo (viola), Adam Lee (cello), and Dianne Seo (flute)! We hope to see you there!
We at Big Car are teaming up with Downtown Indy and the City of Indianapolis — with support from the Capital Improvement Board and the Indiana War Memorials Commission— to spark Monument Circle with human-scale activities like games, live music, artmaking, and socializing in a comfortable place.

Artist Workshop With John Clark
2024-10-11 17:00 - 19:00
Make Art and Write Poetry with John Clark!
Join Indianapolis-based visual artist, Big Car co-founder and writer John Clark to make drawings, poems, and short stories…or a combination of all three! And we’ll also show you how to make zines, too!
We at Big Car are teaming up with Downtown Indy and the City of Indianapolis — with support from the Capital Improvement Board and the Indiana War Memorials Commission— to spark Monument Circle with human-scale activities like games, live music, artmaking, and socializing in a comfortable place.
SPARK on the Circle is an ongoing partnership between Big Car Collaborative, Downtown Indy, City of Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development, the Capital Improvement Board, and the Indiana War Memorials Commission.

Live Music with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra!
2024-10-14 12:00 - 13:00
Join us at the SPARK every Monday in October and have lunch while Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra musicians serenade you for the hour! They will be performing a variety of repertoire, from standard classical repertoire to popular music. This week we will be joined by Tanavi Prabhu (oboe) and Dianne Seo (flute)! We hope to see you there!
We at Big Car are teaming up with Downtown Indy and the City of Indianapolis — with support from the Capital Improvement Board and the Indiana War Memorials Commission— to spark Monument Circle with human-scale activities like games, live music, artmaking, and socializing in a comfortable place.

Lunch Break Live! With Kara Cole Presented by Lake City Bank
2024-10-16 12:00 - 13:00
Come Join us at SPARK for a lunch time concert presented by Lake City Bank!
Kara Cole is a soulful, heart wrenching, story teller. The desire to connect experience with song is very important. Music is the 1 thing that bridges the gap in every avenue of life. Be kind xx
We at Big Car are teaming up with Downtown Indy and the City of Indianapolis — with support from the Capital Improvement Board and the Indiana War Memorials Commission— to spark Monument Circle with human-scale activities like games, live music, artmaking, and socializing in a comfortable place.

Artist Workshop: Pyrography with Nasreen Khan
2024-10-18 17:00 - 19:00
Pyrography, commonly known as wood burning, is the art of drawing and writing using a burning tool for etching designs onto different surfaces, usually wood. You can use pyrography to add drawings or writings to wood, gourds, leather, and any other material that wouldn’t be destroyed by the heat from the burning tool.
Khan will talk about the process, give examples and allow attendees to try it out (must sign a waiver).
Indianapolis-based artist Nasreen Khan grew up in West Africa and Indonesia and moved to the gritty American Midwest by way of New York City. She and her toddler son live in their bungalow on Indianapolis’ Near Westside. On a Friday night she can be found cooking various organ meats or chasing down a stellar mint julep. Her Indianapolis art is all a tribute to Haughville. Since moving to Indianapolis and putting down roots, walking the streets of Haughville and becoming part of the fabric here has kept her grounded. Haughville has been the tableau for building community, exploring her queer identity, motherhood, and teaching her son about race.
What’s This?
We at Big Car are teaming up with Downtown Indy and the City of Indianapolis — with support from the Capital Improvement Board and the Indiana War Memorials Commission— to spark Monument Circle with human-scale activities like games, live music, artmaking, and socializing in a comfortable place. We’re based from the southwest quadrant in front of the Emmis.
