When the SADs or the mehs, or even the WHY GOD OH WHYs hit, it’s natural to want to find a silver lining. A hope to grab onto until we reach the shallow end in the pool of life.
For some, that’s what art is for — making art can help us feel better. But it’s also okay to simply enjoy it. I personally find that art is a good source for dopamine and serotonin (the “happy” hormones).
Besides pleasure, arts and culture can help us build community and discover common ground. We’re all sacks of meat walking this earth, after all. When we celebrate the expressions of our fellow humans, what we are really saying is, “This human thing is not as bad as I thought.”
Here are five things for when you are feeling the harrumphs taking over.
The Japan-America Society of Indiana’s restaurant videos
“Oishii Indiana” are short videos that explore Japanese restaurants around the state, and include interviews with chefs and owners as well as lots of eye candy that will leave you hungry. You will get ideas for where to eat next.
Catching a jazz combo
Musicians playing at the Chatterbox Jazz Club, 435 Massachusetts Ave. Left to right: Richard “Sleepy” Floyd, Brandon Meeks, Rob Dixon and Christopher Pitts.
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20211207_020810936.NIGHT_-scaled-e1737062646510.jpg?fit=300%2C208&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20211207_020810936.NIGHT_-scaled-e1737062646510.jpg?fit=780%2C542&ssl=1″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20211207_020810936.NIGHT_-scaled-e1737062646510-1024×711.jpg?resize=780%2C542&ssl=1″ alt=”Musicians playing jazz instruments inside a bar.” class=”wp-image-43903″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20211207_020810936.NIGHT_-scaled-e1737062646510.jpg?resize=1024%2C711&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20211207_020810936.NIGHT_-scaled-e1737062646510.jpg?resize=300%2C208&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20211207_020810936.NIGHT_-scaled-e1737062646510.jpg?resize=768%2C534&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20211207_020810936.NIGHT_-scaled-e1737062646510.jpg?resize=1536%2C1067&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20211207_020810936.NIGHT_-scaled-e1737062646510.jpg?resize=1200%2C834&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20211207_020810936.NIGHT_-scaled-e1737062646510.jpg?resize=1568%2C1089&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20211207_020810936.NIGHT_-scaled-e1737062646510.jpg?resize=2000%2C1389&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20211207_020810936.NIGHT_-scaled-e1737062646510.jpg?resize=400%2C278&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20211207_020810936.NIGHT_-scaled-e1737062646510.jpg?resize=706%2C490&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20211207_020810936.NIGHT_-scaled-e1737062646510.jpg?w=2044&ssl=1 2044w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20211207_020810936.NIGHT_-scaled-e1737062646510-1024×711.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w” sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px”>
Listen at the Chatterbox or at the Jazz Kitchen, but also at home. This hour of local jazz from the album “Deluxe” — Rob Dixon’s and Richard “Sleepy” Floyd’s project, From the 317 — is one solid choice. The 12 songs are a collection of sounds that could only happen in Indy, and feature Steve Weakley, Charlie Ballantine, Rusty Redenbacher and many others.
“Dreaming of You(th),” a short film
In the film by Mike Woodall, an older woman is drawing on her sketchpad with a pencil. She’s imagining a man sitting on the bench across from her, at the Indianapolis Canal Walk. The man comes to life, and he and the woman dance together, symbolizing hope and the power of imagination.
“Dreaming of You(th)” was featured as part of the Indy Dance Council’s Indy Dance Film Night last year. This year’s film night will screen nine new films at the Kan-Kan Cinema and Restaurant on Jan. 22. Maybe you’ll find a favorite there, too.
Visiting the Global Village Welcome Center
A statue of the Third Prince of Taiwan welcomes visitors to the Asia exhibit at Indy’s Global Village on the northwest side on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024.
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GVillage32-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C206&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GVillage32-scaled.jpg?fit=780%2C536&ssl=1″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GVillage32.jpg?resize=780%2C536&ssl=1″ alt=”A statue of the Third Prince of Taiwan at the entrance to the Asia exhibit.” class=”wp-image-10676″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GVillage32-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C704&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GVillage32-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C206&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GVillage32-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C528&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GVillage32-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1057&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GVillage32-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1409&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GVillage32-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C825&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GVillage32-scaled.jpg?resize=1568%2C1079&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GVillage32-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C275&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GVillage32-scaled.jpg?resize=706%2C486&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GVillage32-scaled.jpg?w=2340&ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GVillage32-1024×704.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w” sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px”>
Indy’s Global Village is a neighborhood cultural center that celebrates the city’s international population. They have all-ages programming: from summer classes for children, to celebrations like the Lunar New Year Celebration happening on Feb. 1, and even a foodie program where attendees get to learn about international foods by visiting neighboring restaurants together.
Best of all, if you are an immigrant living in Indianapolis and visit their exhibition hall, chances are you’ll find familiar objects to take you back home, even if for just a moment.
Art books at the Central Library
The fifth floor of the Indianapolis Public Library’s Central Library is where you can find books on painting, music, photo arts and printmaking. Lots to see, and the city views are not bad either.
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20250115_213245813-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C226&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20250115_213245813-scaled.jpg?fit=780%2C587&ssl=1″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20250115_213245813.jpg?resize=780%2C587&ssl=1″ alt=”Large art books on the shelves of the Indianapolis Public Library’s Central Library with city views.” class=”wp-image-43900″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20250115_213245813-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C771&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20250115_213245813-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C226&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20250115_213245813-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C578&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20250115_213245813-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1157&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20250115_213245813-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1542&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20250115_213245813-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C301&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20250115_213245813-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C150&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20250115_213245813-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C904&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20250115_213245813-scaled.jpg?resize=1568%2C1181&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20250115_213245813-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1506&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20250115_213245813-scaled.jpg?resize=706%2C532&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20250115_213245813-scaled.jpg?w=2340&ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PXL_20250115_213245813-1024×771.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w” sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px”>
That’s right. It’s okay to not read a book cover-to-cover and just enjoy seeing images. On the fifth floor of the Indianapolis Public Library’s Central Library (or your nearest branch) you’ll find rows and rows of books filled with beautiful images. You can get lost in a book of quilt photographs or a big tome of paintings of the American West. Jean-Michel Basquiat, Frida Kahlo, T.C. Steele — they’re all there in those shelves.
But also, don’t sleep on the library’s events calendar, it’s seriously a treasure. Take a chair yoga class, attend storytime with your baby, watch a puppet show with your boss, discuss the book you read in Spanish at a book club. It’s all free and potentially life-changing.
If you want to share the arts and culture things in Indy that are balm to your soul, send me a message to [email protected].
