First Friday Porch Party Kick-Off w/ IMS

Date and Time

• Friday, May 1, 2026  6pm - 9pm

Location

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Details

Also featured will be Open Studio Night, food trucks, and a variety of dance and aerial performances.

Pick up your free porch party decor and yard signs while they last!

Enjoy these openings:

In the Harrison Gallery, Urushi Odyssey by Nhat Tran. This collection of urushi artworks showcases a centuries-old art form on diverse supports like wood, ceramic, and plexiglass, creating an immersive experience that both delights and educates visitors about its rich history. The “Odyssey” is tied to both the epic journey Tran has undertaken over years of artistic risk-taking and exploration, and to the viewers' own inner odysseys as they contemplate and interact with these unique pieces.

In the Gallery Annex, If Only… by Dan Thompson. Thompson creates mixed-media paintings and drawings that delve into various themes, such as robots, photography, text, and abstract concepts. Despite the diversity of subject matter, a common thread runs through his work: a playful exploration of creativity. This overarching theme suggests a wishful notion of "if only every idea were good enough to be made."

In the Speck Gallery, Fast and Curious: Driven by Imagination by Tashema Davis & Emily Phillippe. Created by two artists with distinct yet complementary voices, this exhibition reimagines the culture of racing through a surreal and humorous lens. Tire tracks twist into patterns, mascots and machines blur together, and the familiar symbols of the Indy 500 take on new, peculiar lives.

In the City Gallery, No Turn on Red by Mary Mindiola. This unique collection of works employs magazine paper to depict various street intersections in Indianapolis. The title serves as a metaphor for the conflict between safety-focused regulations and efficiency, and the desire for personal freedom. Representing a forced pause at the corner, one side sees this as a necessary safety measure, while the other perceives it as stifling bureaucratic overreach.

In the Sky Gallery, IMMERSION by Jason Zickler. In his large-scale epoxy resin and acrylic paintings, Jason Zickler layers saturated neon color beneath glass-like resin, an invitation to step inside the surface. Exploring tension between control and spontaneity, these works transform painting from an object to observe into an atmosphere to experience.

In the Underground Gallery, Who is my Neighbor? presented by Religion, Spirituality, and the Arts (RSA), a program of IUPUI’s Arts and Humanities Institute. This year’s exhibit invites participants to explore themes of identity and otherness, inclusion and exclusion, and the challenges of ethical conviction in a complex world. Through dialogue and creative expression, the artists examine what it means to respond to others with care, courage, and empathy.

Guests can also enjoy:

Open Studio Night, engage with all 40+ Harrison Center artists as they open their studio doors to the public. This immersive experience allows patrons to see the artists' work up close and offers a unique chance to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of their art.

Free Porch Party Kits including yard signs, Indy 500 flags, and a variety of Porching and 500 swag while supplies last.

Aerial Performances by Suspended Animation Aerials next to the City Gallery porch.

Dance Performances featuring the Herron High School Spring Dance Showcase.

Early to Rise, an Iris show presented by the Indiana Day Lily Iris Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of daylilies and irises. This juried show featuring locally grown Irises will be open for public viewing throughout the night.

Hungry? Grab a bite across the courtyard from the Fiesta on the Go food truck.

All shows will open at 6:00 pm on Friday, May 1st, 2026.