Indigo Arts Alliance

Indigo Arts Alliance is honored to unveil two powerful new sculptures by our artists-in-residence, Anna Tsouhlarakis and Shane Perley-Dutcher. These public artworks were unveiled during the "Deconstructing the Boundaries: The Land Fights Back" symposium this July at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. In an exemplary act of inclusivity and respect, the extraordinary team at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens welcomed Indigo Arts Alliance and the #Wabanaki community to curate and direct these site-specific works, aligning with our mission to support Black and Brown artists. This marks a significant moment in our three-year collaboration with the Gardens, creating a unique platform for social and environmental justice that centers #BIPOC experiences and relationships with the land. We are excited to share this insightful article by Annabel Keenan in The Art Newspaper. Her piece captures the essence of our collaboration and highlights these impactful art installations: 🌿 The Native Guide Project by Anna Tsouhlarakis 🌿 Eci-Mahsosiyil/Fiddleheads by Shane Perley-Dutcher At the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, these sculptures by Anna Tsouhlarakis and Shane Perley-Dutcher are part of a push to advocate for environmental and social justice. Link to article: (7/24): ‘You’re right! This is Native land’: New site-specific sculptures in Maine center Indigenous experiences and relationships with the land: https://lnkd.in/gg6GGUBv  #IndigoArtsAlliance #CoastalMaineBotanicalGardens #IndigenousArt #EnvironmentalJustice #PublicArt #Wabanaki #AnnaTsouhlarakis #ShanePerleyDutcher

We are honored and grateful to have been recognized by the Center for Maine Contemporary Art (CMCA). This recognition from our community empowers us to amplify Indigo Arts Alliance's mission of uplifting Black and Brown artists and transforming our community through the power of art. Thank you to everyone who supports and believes in our vision. Together, we continue to create impactful and meaningful change. The Indigo Arts Alliance team was celebrated at the annual CMCA Art Party, where our founders, Marcia Minter, Daniel Minter, along with their IAA team, Jordia Benjamin, CNP, Ashley Page, Veronica Perez and Mia Del Bene, received this year's CMCA Art Honors. ⁠ "First and foremost, we are an artist in residency program. Our core belief is that artists are the key to creating a multiracial democracy" – Marcia Minter⁠, co-founder and Chief Officer of Strategic Growth.⁠ ⁠ By the end of this year, we will have hosted 66 artists in residence through our #Mentorship Residency and the David C. Driskell Fellowship, representing cultural heritages from 21 countries. We are filled with gratitude for this recognition by our community, which empowers us to further amplify our mission. Stay tuned for more exciting programs that celebrate this significant year for us! Photos credit: Eli Kao⁠ ⁠ #IndigoArtsAlliance #ArtAndActivism #CulturalEmpowerment #EmpoweringArtists #ArtisticResilience

We are honored and grateful to have been recognized by the Center for Maine Contemporary Art (CMCA). This recognition from our community empowers us to amplify Indigo Arts Alliance's mission of uplifting Black and Brown artists and transforming our community through the power of art. Thank you to everyone who supports and believes in our vision. Together, we continue to create impactful and meaningful change. The Indigo Arts Alliance team was celebrated at the annual CMCA Art Party, where our founders, Marcia Minter, Daniel Minter, along with their IAA team, Jordia Benjamin, CNP, Ashley Page, Veronica Perez and Mia Del Bene, received this year's CMCA Art Honors. ⁠ "First and foremost, we are an artist in residency program. Our core belief is that artists are the key to creating a multiracial democracy" – Marcia Minter⁠, co-founder and Chief Officer of Strategic Growth.⁠ ⁠ By the end of this year, we will have hosted 66 artists in residence through our #Mentorship Residency and the David C. Driskell Fellowship, representing cultural heritages from 21 countries. We are filled with gratitude for this recognition by our community, which empowers us to further amplify our mission. Stay tuned for more exciting programs that celebrate this significant year for us! Photos credit: Eli Kao⁠ ⁠ #IndigoArtsAlliance #ArtAndActivism #CulturalEmpowerment #EmpoweringArtists #ArtisticResilience

Please join us in celebrating and welcoming our next cohort of 2024-2025 David C. Driskell Fellows: Rikiesha Metzger, Esper Gaspardi, and Lokotah Sanborn. A foundational aspect of Indigo Arts Alliance’s mission is to amplify and empower Black and Brown artists who bring a unique perspective and enrich our local community. These fellows exemplify that mission: 🌟 #RikieshaMetzger is a multifaceted, interdisciplinary International Community Artist-Philosopher exploring themes of race, identity, and spirituality. (May 13th - Aug 14th, 2024) 🌟 #EsperGaspardi is a queer Indigenous farmer and emerging mixed-media artist from Southern Maine. Known for their beadwork and creative writing, Esper has expanded into painting, sculpting, and collage at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. (Sept. 16th - Dec 9th, 2024) 🌟 #LokotahSanborn is a Penobscot interdisciplinary artist from the Penobscot Nation reservation. His art, encompassing film, music, graphic design, and photography, celebrates the perseverance and power of the Wabanaki people amid ongoing resistance. (Jan 13th - April 7th, 2025) ⁠ Our David C. Driskell Fellowship provides these artists with 3 months of rent-free studio space and a stipend to support their artistic development. Fellows will receive personalized mentorship and participate in studio visits with diverse artists, curators, cultural workers, and scholars. Learn more about our Driskell Fellows and IAA Black Seed Residency: https://lnkd.in/g3Z8jp4A 👏🏾 Join us in welcoming these incredible artists! ⁠ #IndigoPoppin #BlackSeedStudio #PortlandME #ArtistResidency #BlackAndBrownArtists #DavidDriskell #Apply #MaineArtists⁠

In honor of Juneteenth, Indigo Arts Alliance is excited to bring back one of our founding programs, The Welcome Table. This event signifies an ethic of hospitality and a space where everyone is welcome, and the abundance of life is shared and enjoyed by all. This free intergenerational symposium not only celebrates the cultural and culinary traditions that have nurtured social justice movements around the world but also embodies the foundational spiritual value from southern African-American culture. 📅 Date: Saturday, June 15th, 2024 🕙 Time: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM 📍 Location: Indigo Arts Alliance, 60 Cove Street, Portland, ME 04101 Join us for a day of art workshops, movement and meditation sessions, cross-cultural history discussions, community-building activities, and cooking demonstrations led by local and national activists and cultural workers. Our Featured Speakers include: • Patricia Powell, Award-Winning Novelist & Professor • Yasmine Jameelah, Journalist & Wellness Expert • Victoria Rutledge, Yoga Instructor • Valnízia Bianchi (Mãe Val), Author & Community Organizer • Dr. Rachel Elizabeth Harding, Associate Professor • Nyamuon Nguany-Machar (Moon) Nguany Machar, Spoken Word Poet • Abigail DeVille, Sculpture/Installation Artist • Minoo Emami, Multidisciplinary Artist • Dr. Scott Barton, Chef & Culinary Educator • The Haus of Glitter, Dance Activist Company • Diedra Harris-Kelley, Artist & Co-Director of the Romare Bearden Foundation As we celebrate our fifth anniversary, we look forward to revisiting this special gathering first held in 2019. Reflect on our impact and envision the future of our community through an Afro + Indigenous multicultural and multigenerational lens. We look forward to seeing you there! 🔗 RSVP Now: https://lnkd.in/gNvHyKzf #IndigoArtsAlliance #TheWelcomeTable #Juneteenth #CulturalExchange #SocialJustice #CommunityBuilding #PortlandME #ArtActivism

Introducing our Spring Artists-in-Residence at Indigo Arts Alliance 🌿✨💙 As we move through May, we’re thrilled to spotlight the exceptional contributions of our Artists-in-Residence, Thania Petersen and Krina Patel, Ed.D. Thania Petersen is a multi-disciplinary dynamo from South Africa. Through her evocative work in photography, performance, and installation, Thania weaves together the threads of her Cape Malay heritage and Sufi Islamic practices. Her art boldly addresses the complexities of identity, the residues of colonialism, and challenges contemporary Islamophobia. 🌟 Joining Thania is Krina Patel, our local artist for these two months. A multimedia artist informed by her doctoral research at Harvard University, Krina collaborates on inclusive community arts projects that intersect education, healthcare, and well-being. Her current project, ‘Our Health, Our Memories, Our Stories,’ highlights the importance of arts in understanding mental health across diverse cultures. We are immensely grateful to have both Thania and Krina with us. Their unique perspectives enrich our community and foster meaningful dialogues around art and identity. As their residencies progress, we invite you to join us in celebrating their creativity and insights. Don’t miss the upcoming public event that will showcase their impactful work. We will celebrate their residencies with an Open Table Party, an Artist Talk, and a cultural feast...so stay tuned. 🙏🏾🌟 #ArtistInResidence #IndigoArtsAlliance #ArtAndIdentity #CommunityEngagement #Mentorship

We remain deeply moved and thankful for the opportunity to host, 'Seeds in the SOIL,' our inaugural bi-coastal exhibition at SOIL Gallery in Seattle. A heartfelt thanks to SOIL Gallery for this opportunity and to the wider arts community in the Pacific Northwest that extended such a warm welcome to Indigo Arts Alliance curators Ashley Page and Jordia Benjamin, CNP. This experience has truly been a milestone for us! Many thanks to the featured artists and IAA Driskell Fellows: Rachel Adams, Rosalba Breazeale, Heather Flor Cron, Brian J. Evans, Hector Nevarez Magaña, Raquel Miller, Veronica Perez, Benjamin Spalding, and Kevin Xiques for entrusting us with their work. 🙏🏾 🙏🏾 🙏🏾  Alongside launching the #SOILGallery exhibition, the IAA curatorial team immersed themselves in the PNW's rich cultural landscape. Their journey included visits to Dr. James & Janie Washington Cultural Center, Wa Na Wari, Frye Art Museum, #PassableArt and #BlackLoveArts. The experience was further enriched by a tour of Lisa Goodman and Josef Vascovitz's contemporary art collection and a studio visit with IAA friend and artist Barbara Earl Thomas, which allowed a sneak peek into her coinciding exhibit “The Illuminated Body” on view now at the University of Pennsylvania. 💥 🙏🏾 🙏🏾 🙏🏾 Much gratitude to the Seattle-based sponsors of our collaborative efforts SOIL Gallery, 4Culture, ArtsFund Shunpike, The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and City of Seattle Arts & Culture and to all those who supported the exhibition in person and virtually. We look forward to nurturing these seeds of collaboration and are excited to watch them grow! 🌱

🌸 "Spring is in the AiR" at Indigo Arts Alliance!!! Join us for our 5th Annual Spring Fundraiser at #MaineStudioWorks, Portland, ME, on Thursday, April 11th from 6 to 8 pm. 🥳✨⁠5 Years of Impact: We're marking a significant milestone – our 5th Anniversary! You can expect an eve of electrifying entertainment ✨⁠...with live music by Jennifer Rachele & Stu Davis of Kouchera, an Indigo Poppin' Dance Party with DJ Mosart212, surprise performances by Alumni AiRs, and more! Enjoy delectable dishes from Black Betty’s Bistro, featuring crispy black-eyed pea fritters, lamb with onion and jalapeno marmalade, Cuban-style jumbo shrimp, and other culinary delights. Tickets are NOW available on Givebutter (link below), with options for single entry or VIP experiences. A raffle will also take place featuring special studio tours, limited-edition swag, and more. Can’t attend? Support us through our online donation options or join our IAA Auction (stay tuned for more details!) ⁠ Support from our fundraiser goes directly to our Artist Residency programs. Get your Tickets Now: https://lnkd.in/gFg5ZwtS #IndigoPoppin #IndigoArtsAlliance #SpringInTheAiR #SupportBlackAndBrownArtists #IAATurns5

Indigo Arts Alliance is excited to announce the appointment of Courtney Lee McCracken (Coco) as our new Marketing and Communications Manager! 💙 We warmly welcome her to the team. In her new role, Coco will manage IAA's marketing strategies, public relations, and visual communications. She will also lead our social media efforts to spotlight events, artist achievements, and programs. Additionally, she will serve as a mentor to our Marketing and Communications Administration Interns. A Chinese-Canadian writer from Toronto, Coco is an Ashley Bryan Fellow with the MAINE WRITERS AND PUBLISHERS ALLIANCE (MWPA). Her work "The Rabbit" won the 2021 Maine Chapbook Series, selected by Melissa Febos. She's a Community Advisory Board member for MWPA and a 2022 Maine Lit Fest Fellow. ⁠ #IndigoPoppin #CocoMcCracken #IndigoFamily⁠ #marketing ⁠

As we wrap up Black History Month, it's a privilege to celebrate a remarkable Indigo Arts Alliance partnership that bridges the worlds of art and sports. 🏀Co-founders Marcia Minter and Daniel Minter were honored with the Boston Celtics' Heroes Among Us Award, presented to individuals who, through their unique commitment and humanitarian spirit, have made exceptional and lasting contributions to the community. ⁠This prestigious recognition, received amidst a standing ovation from a sold-out crowd, celebrates their unwavering commitment to uplifting Black and Brown artists. Earlier this month, the #MaineCeltics ☘️ unveiled a new, limited-edition jersey highlighting Black Maine's history, designed by our IAA Artist in Residence (AiR) Alum Eamon White (‘21). These collaborations underscore our mission to lift the voices of Black and Brown artists globally. From all of us at Indigo Arts Alliance...🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 Thank You to #MaineCeltics, Boston Celtics, and game sponsor Unum Benefits, for your support and recognition of our mission. Photos courtesy of IAA, Boston Celtics, and the Maine Celtics⁠ #MaineCeltics #EamonWhite #Celtics ⁠#BostonCeltics #HeroesAmongUs #IndigoPoppin #BlackBrilliance #BlackHistoryMonth