Area Musicians Pitch In to help Indianapolis Art Center
The Indianapolis Star, August 23, 2002
by S.L. Berry

It's a cliché, but sometimes it's also true: When it rains, it pours. At least it did back on May 12 when daylong storms forced the Indianapolis Art Center to cancel the second day of the 2002 Broad Ripple Art Fair.

That was the first time in the fair's 32-year history that it has ever closed before its scheduled end. More painful that setting such a precedent, however, was the fact that the closure cost the art center about $90,000 in expected revenue.

Because the fair is the art center's primary fund-raising event each year, accounting for about one-eighth of its annual budget, that shortfall is a serious blow to the organization's finances. Hence the development of Art-Aid: A Benefit Concert for the Broad Ripple Art Fair, which will be from 4pm-9pm Sunday on the grounds of the art center.

Featuring such local musicians as Middletown, Dog Talk, Cathy Morris, and the Jennie DeVoe Band, Art-Aid is intended to help recoup some of the lost income.

"After the fair was rained out, our staff members put their heads together and came up with several ideas for recovering the lost income," says Kathy Pataluch, the art center's director of marketing. "This concert was one way we thought we could not only do that, but also do something that the community would enjoy as well."

To help the art center achieve the maximum return from Art-Aid, all of the bands are donating their services. No one hesitated when asked to do so, says Michael Beck, who booked the bands for Sunday's event.

"It shows how much the local bands support the art center," says Beck, one of the founding members of Dog Talk. "In addition to focusing on visual arts, it does a lot with music. That's why the musicians were so willing to help out."

Several of the art fair's food vendors feel the same way. Returning to cater the event are Armando's Cuisine, Broad Ripple Brew Pub, Kettle Korn, Fig Leaf Natural Café, Stop and Much, and Uncle Artie's BBQ.

That's indicative of the level of support the art center has received in the months since the fair, says Pataluch. "The community has really helped out."

That includes several artists who took part in a private art sale earlier this summer, raising $5,000 for the center. Additional donations from the Indianapolis Foundation and Ruth Lilly have also helped, says Joyce Sommers, the art center's executive director.

"The economy has made it especially hard to raise money this year," says Sommers. Hopefully, this event will help out."

That is, if the weather cooperates. Sommers, who has been involved with the art fair for more than two decades, says it was extraordinary circumstances that led to the decision to close it early this year.

"We've had rain in the past, and we just kept going," says Sommers, "but this time there were electrical storms in the area. We felt that we would be endangering people if we didn't close down."

She hopes no problem arises Sunday.

"Art-Aid will go on rain or shine," Sommers says with a laugh. "It should be a great family event."