Big Car

Sofar Sounds at SPARK
2023-10-14 20:00 - 22:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | 1 Monument Circle, South Facing Steps, United States
WHAT’S A SOFAR SOUNDS SHOW?
Sofar transforms everyday spaces – like a rooftop or art gallery – and turns them into captivating, intimate venues for secret, live music performances, creating an immersive experience that brings guests and artists closer together. Each Sofar is small, and typically features three diverse acts, with no headliner.

SPARK is a partnership with Downtown Indy, the City of Indianapolis, 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.

Amulet Making with Rachel Leah Cohen
2023-10-18 16:00 - 18:00 | 1 Monument Circle, South Facing Steps, United States
Throughout the Jewish diaspora, people have created small pouch amulets to hold anything with protective energy and value. These are often made with everyday materials already on hand: medicinal plants, salt, metal, stones, and symbolic objects. The recipes and the names for these amulets vary by place. In Ladino-speaking Sephardic communities, they are called “bulsika” and in Yiddish-speaking Ashkenazi communities, “baytelech.” The ingredients connect us to our ancestors, the environment, and the places we live. The pouch can be worn on the body, kept in a pocket, or hung up in the home. Come make an amulet for yourself or as a gift for someone else, as an embodied ritual of care, connection, and protection.
About: Rachel Leah Cohn is a visual artist and educator based in Indianapolis. Her muliti-disciplinary practice is concerned with themes of communication, mythology and rituals. She exhibits her work internationally and teaches at Ball State University in Muncie, IN.
SPARK is a partnership with Downtown Indy, the City of Indianapolis, 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.

Graffiti Knitting with Mary Jo Bayliss
2023-10-25 16:00 - 18:00
A gathering where knitting and graffiti collide! Simultaneously inspired by traditional knitting and graffiti, this ever-evolving piece combines fiber adjacent activities, coloring sheets derived from graffiti and knitting motifs, and opportunities for participants to share their creative path stories.
You are invited to come join the fun, because without YOU, Boo, this project can’t happen.
About the artist:
Mary Jo Bayliss specializes in creating environments that help people feel at ease using space, light and color to achieve these goals.
SPARK is a partnership with Downtown Indy, the City of Indianapolis, 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.

Circle SPARK Fest
2023-10-29 11:00 - 18:00 | 1 Monument Circle, South Facing Steps, United States
Have yourself a Pumpkin carving, pottery making, face painting, UBE Fest loving good time at Circle SPARK Fest!
This two-day fall festival features live music by an amazing array of local musicians, delicious food, artisan vendors, and hands-on creative activities led by Indianapolis artists. The festival, which runs from 11 am until 6 pm each day, is free to attend. And it takes place at the pop-up park on the southwest quadrant of Monument Circle that has been closed to traffic this summer.
Music Line-Up
Tennah Host MC
10/29 Sun
11-11:45 – Fred Miller
12-12:45 – Tinikling Cultural Dance
1-2 – The Roundups
2:15-3:15 -Tubbles the Band
3:30-4:30 – Forgotten Tribe
5-6 – Exceso Rock Band
10/29 Sun
12-5pm Henna with Pam
12-5pm Face Painting with Stephanie Zki
11-6pm Derek Tudor Selfie 360 and Mini VanGo
11-6pm Ceramics with Stephanie Williams
11-6pm Pumpkin Carving
New this year: SPARK Fest’s organizers at Big Car Collaborative and Downtown Indy are teaming up with UbeFest — an event that’s all about the tasty purple yam often used in desserts in Filipino cuisine called ube. UbeFest brings more than 30 food, artist, and unique retail vendors to the Circle for the festival. Many will showcase, among their offerings, a variety of tasty ube-based treats.

Indy Gay Market
2024-06-01 11:00 - 15:00, 2024-06-02 11:00 - 15:00 | Monument Circle, 50 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, 46204, United States
To celebrate Pride, Indy Gay Market has been invited to launch Big Car Collaborative’s Spark on the Circle event series. We want to recognize the historic meaning behind setting up our grassroots pop-up market in this space especially due to its unique history for the Indianapolis community.
Some history:
“In 1984, police harassment and surveillance of gay men in Indianapolis spurred hundreds to gather at Monument Circle in a show of solidarity against discrimination. It was the first large public gathering of queer individuals in the state that some dubbed ‘The Gay Knights on the Circle.’”
This year marks the 40th anniversary of this first pride gathering and we are so proud to have Indy Gay Market occupy this space.
Event details:
We will be hosting 50 unique vendors each day the first weekend in June.
June 1st, 11:00am-3:00pm
June 2nd, 11:00am-3:00pm
1 Monument Circle
Indianapolis, IN
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.

Wake Up Wednesday
2024-06-05 09:00 - 11:00, 2024-06-12 09:00 - 11:00, 2024-06-19 09:00 - 11:00, 2024-06-26 09:00 - 11:00 | 1 Monument Circle, South Facing Steps, United States

Lunch Break Live Scrapper and Skelton
2024-06-05 12:00 - 13:00 | Monument Circle, 50 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, 46204, United States
Scrapper and Skelton Description: Guitarist/Singer/Songwriter Steve “Scrapper” Brown has over 55 years as a solo musician and bandleader. Blessed with a smooth baritone voice steeped in Blues/Jazz, Gospel and Funk, Brown brings a wealth of experience and versatility to the stage. He has appeared on 6 CDs including songwriting and production credits.
Blues Harmonica/Vocals Ken Skelton is a Blues enthusiast with a love for classic acoustic Blues. Skelton has received local recognition for his performances in the genre in which he hopes “not only entertains, but produces thought in the listener.
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.

Artist Workshop: Henna with Pam
2024-06-07 17:00 - 19:00 | Monument Circle, 50 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, 46204, United States
Join us today to step into the world of intricate patterns and cultural celebration with Pam, who has been doing henna for around 25 years now. Henna has been around for many centuries as a way to temporarily dye the skin for cosmetic purposes and to color the hair. At first, henna was smeared on to individuals and did not create the intricate designs made today. There are many steps needed to properly apply henna to an individual. After the henna paste is created, the henna artist transfers the paste to a narrow piping bag. The henna is then applied depending on the design. After drying, the cotton ball with lemon juice should be applied to the henna tattoo. The color that will result depends on the time the henna is kept on the skin: the longer you keep it on, the darker the color will be. After removing, the henna tattoo will remain for 7-14 days depending on personal skin and daily lifestyles.
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.

American Heart Association 100th Anniversary
2024-06-10 11:00 - 13:00 | 1 Monument Circle, South Facing Steps, United States

Lunch Break Live Peyton Womock
2024-06-12 12:00 - 13:00 | Monument Circle, 50 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, 46204, United States
Peyton Womock is an artist known for his skills as a saxophonist. His music incorporates his sax playing to innovatively allow him to cross over multiple genres from Smooth Jazz, Funk, R&B, Hip-Hop/Rap, to Pop. He is known for performing popular covers loved and cherished by many while also performing original pieces of his very own. You are truly in for a unique experience due to his performance energy being second to none when it comes to hitting the stage.
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.

Strawberry Fest
2024-06-13 09:00 - 16:00 | 1 Monument Circle, South Facing Steps, United States

Drum Circles with Rob Funkhouser
2024-06-14 12:00 - 13:00 | Monument Circle, 50 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, 46204, United States
Come join Rob Funkhouser from @rhythmdiscovery for a drum circle on the circle!
For this activity, participants will get the opportunity to learn how to express themselves on hand drums and explore the basics of playing with other people. Working with Rob, participants will begin making sounds on the instruments and learn some basic rhythms inspired by traditional music.
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.

Artist Workshop: Tarot Card Reading with Brooklyn
2024-06-14 17:00 - 19:00 | Monument Circle, 50 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, 46204, United States
My name in 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.

From the Ukrainian Frontline with Thanks : Music Tour of Gratitude to America
2024-06-20 12:00 - 14:00 | 1 Monument Circle, South Facing Steps, United States

Aurora Cyanotype Workshop
2024-06-21 11:00 - 15:00 | Monument Circle, 50 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, 46204, United States
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!
This activity is best suited for artists 7+ years old; minors must be accompanied by an adult.
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.

Make Music Indy ISO
2024-06-21 12:00 - 14:00 | Monument Circle, 50 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, 46204, United States
On Make Music Day, musicians of all ages and skill levels share their love of music with communities around the world through free music performances and events on June 21.
Make Music Day began in France in 1982 as the Fête de la Musique and is now celebrated on the same day in more than 1,000 cities in 120 countries. Make Music Day made its American debut 19 years ago in New York. Since then, over 100 cities throughout the country have established city-wide celebrations providing free music listening and music-making opportunities for the community.
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.

PAW (Indy Humane) W/ CONGA
2024-06-25 10:00 - 14:00 | 1 Monument Circle, South Facing Steps, United States

Lunch Break Live Bella Seo (violin) & Seula Lee (violin)
2024-06-26 12:00 - 13:00 | Monument Circle, 50 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, 46204, United States
Byul “Bella” Seo, originally from Daejeon, South Korea, secured a position in the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 2019, following the completion of her master’s degree at Indiana University.During her time at IU, Bella won the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Concerto Competition and subsequently performed the Brahms Violin Concerto with the Concert Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Thomas Wilkins.She received her bachelor’s degree from Seoul National University under the guidance of Prof. Kyung-Sun Lee and holds a master’s degree and performance diploma from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.
Seula Lee joins the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in its 2023-2024 season.An avid chamber musician, Seula was recognized at the Young Concert Artists International Auditions, Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, and Coleman Chamber Music Competition with Zora String Quartet. Seula was born in Seosan, South Korea and raised in the Dallas area, where she began playing the violin at age ten with Songyoung Kim. She studied at the Curtis Institute of Music, Indiana University, and University of North Texas with Ida Kavafian, Shmuel Ashkenasi, Steven Tenenbom, Grigory Kalinovsky, Philip Lewis respectively.
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.

Artist Workshop: Graffiti Knitting with Mary Jo
2024-06-28 17:00 - 19:00 | Monument Circle, 50 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, 46204, United States
A gathering where knitting and graffiti collide! Simultaneously inspired by traditional knitting and graffiti, this ever-evolving piece combines fiber adjacent activities, coloring sheets derived from graffiti and knitting motifs, and opportunities for participants to share their creative path stories.
You are invited to come join the fun, because without YOU, Boo, this project can’t happen.
About the artist:
Mary Jo Bayliss specializes in creating environments that help people feel at ease using space, light and color to achieve these goals.
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.

Wake Up Wednesday
2024-07-03 09:00 - 11:00, 2024-07-10 09:00 - 23:00 | Monument Circle, 50 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, 46204, United States
Join us at SPARK on the Circle at Wake Up Wednesday!
Pick up tinker coffee and Ohanalulu Donuts.
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 Keith Beatty Presented By Lake City Bank
2024-07-03 12:00 - 13:00 | Monument Circle, 50 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, 46204, United States
Hands down…Keith Beatty was born to sing. Growing up in Indianapolis and moving on to sing in the Indiana University Choral Ensemble, the crooner made his mark on teachers and students and was known as the man with the melodic voice.
Unleashing the music deep down, Beatty writes music for life, not hype. He sings with passion, emphasis, and with a way that will warm the coldest heart. He speaks truth to his listeners giving them a dose of reality a la his life experiences.
As a true talent that can draw you in with one stroke of his guitar, Beatty strongly believes music is life recorded, and those who love R&B and Soul will hear sweet sounds out of lips that only bring what’s real. Like the songs sang by Aretha Franklin and the Temptations, Keith Beatty’s songs will be added to the history books as songs from an artist with true talent.

Lunch Break Live! is 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 with John Clark
2024-07-05 17:00 - 19:00
Make Art and Write Poetry with John Clark!
Join Indianapolis-based visual artist, Big Car co-founder and writer John Clarke 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.

Meet the City- Office of Sustainability
2024-07-10 10:30 - 11:30 | 1 Monument Circle, South Facing Steps, United States
The Indianapolis Office of Sustainability administers Thrive Indianapolis, the first sustainability and resiliency action plan in Indy’s history. As a division of the Department of Public Works, the Office of Sustainability promotes an environmentally sustainable city through various programs and partnerships that address the root causes of the climate crisis.
Thrive prioritizes community collaboration to achieve equity in policy, planning, and project implementation and guides the path to citywide carbon neutrality by 2050.
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 Fred Miller Presented by Lake City Bank
2024-07-10 12:00 - 13:00 | 1 Monument Circle, South Facing Steps, United States
Fred Miller describes his music as, “the sound of sunlight through a dusty 70s rangefinder lens.” and will be joining SPARK for Lunch Break Live!
Presented by Lake City Bank

Learn more about his music and artwork on his Instagram: @mffred
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.

+ GOOGLE CALENDAR+ ICAL EXPORT

Drum Circles With The Percussive Arts Society And Rob Funkhouser
2024-07-12 12:00 - 13:00 | 1 Monument Circle, South Facing Steps, United States
Come join the Percussive Arts Society with Rob Funkhouser at SPARK !

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.
