The Indianapolis Star

Butter ’24 at the Stutz to include 60 artists’ work

Now in its fourth year, Butter has become both a staple fine art fair in Indianapol­is and a mainstay event of Labor Day weekend. Works by 60 artists will be the centerpiec­e of a multiday event that incorporat­es live music, dance performanc­es, poetry, DJ sets, custom merchandis­e, food trucks and discussion­s.

Alan Bacon and Malina Simone Bacon, the co-founders of creative advocacy agency Ganggang, launched Butter in 2021 to build equity and cultural reparation­s for Black artists into a high-profile event that feeds Indianapol­is’ creative economy. The fair aims to sell all of the art it shows and return all proceeds to artists.

Butter has grown with each iteration, and this year is no different. Former profession­al baseball player Micah Johnson and author and activist Kimberly Drew will be among the artists and curators giving talks in the Conversati­on Cove in the pink main exhibition hall. The new outdoor Kids’ Zone, a partnershi­p between the fair and The Children’s Museum, will have interactiv­e activities.

And the Stutz Car Museum will show a temporary popup exhibit of autos by Hoosier makers and an IndyCar from Indianapol­is Motor Speedway.

Butter runs Thursday through Sunday in and around the Stutz at 1060 N. Capitol Ave. Here’s the schedule and what to know.

Artists and curators

This year’s Butter curators are Alan Bacon, Malina Simone Bacon; Indianapol­is artist Deonna Craig; Colette

Pierce Burnette, former Newfields CEO and president and member of Martin University’s Board of Trustees; Nakeyta Moore, performanc­e artist and creative director of ARTLOUDLA; and visual artist manager Kendall Hurns.

The roster of internatio­nal, national and local artists includes Autumn Breon, Barry Yusufu, Amiah Mims, Faith Blackwell, Gary Gee, Justin A. Carney and Tasha Beckwith.

Butter schedule

6 p.m.-8 p.m. Thursday: Preview night

11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday: Performanc­es on the stage, hosted by Rusty Redenbache­r; Walk and Talk tours by Sampson Levingston; and art talks are among the activities.

9 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday: Melt dance party at the Vogue, 6259 N. College Ave.

Find the full schedule at butterartf­air.com.

Tickets start at $40 and can be purchased through butterartf­air.com.