INDIANAPOLIS (August 25, 2023) – For its 2023 edition, BUTTER Fine Art Fair centers Black visual artists and celebrates creatives of all kinds with four days of fine art, live music, DJs, industry talks, history tours, and free student access. Performances by artists including KINFOLK and Django Knight will occur throughout the weekend, alongside a series of creative conversations on the Indiana Humanities Conversation Stage.
Now in its third year, BUTTER is North America’s equitable fine art fair. Anchored in Indianapolis and organized by GANGGANG, BUTTER is open to the public Thursday, August 31 – Sunday, September 3, with the immersive experience taking place in The Stutz building in Indianapolis.
“We are extremely mindful of the content that people experience at BUTTER,” says GANGGANG Co-Founder and BUTTER curator Mali Bacon. “That is why we are complimenting the artwork with three days of inspiring panelists, performances, and artistic experiences. Every inch and hour of the fair will highlight creative entrepreneurs as the heroes of it all.”
The 2023 fair will present work from 11 performance artists, 19 conversation panelists, and 50 DJs from across the country all with ties to Indianapolis. The I Made Rock ‘N’ Roll Performance Stage (Car Museum) will include music by KINFOLK, Django Knight, Mr. Kinetik & Rusty Redenbacher, Briah Golder, Sandy Lomax, Austin Dean Ashford, and Psywrn Simone.
I Made Rock ‘N’ Roll Performance Stage Highlights:
THURSDAY, 8/31: PREVIEW NIGHT
4pm DJ Slick Vic
4:30pm Program
5pm KINFOLK
6:15pm Django Knight
FRIDAY, 9/1: BUTTER DAY 1
5pm Mr. Kinetik & Rusty Redenbacher
6:00pm DJ Lady Shay
7pm Briah Golder
7:45 DJ Topspeed
9pm DJ Cash
SATURDAY, 9/2: BUTTER DAY 2
5pm Austin Dean Ashford
5:45pm DJ Solo
8pm DJ Lady Locs
9pm DJ Boogie Bang
SUNDAY, 9/3: BUTTER DAY 3
12pm Psywrn Simone
2pm Testimony Service
3pm Church Bump feat. GANGGANG House Band
4pm DJ Prince
5pm DJ MetroGnome
BUTTER will also host panelists from Indiana and across the country on the Indiana Humanities Conversation Stage, hosted by Joshua Thompson with Stage Manager Temara Payton. Artist Q+A’s will happen on the hour. Guests include Raquel Horn; Keepers of Culture Legends Le’Deana Brown, Mariah Ivey, Antonio Maxie, and Ms. Deborah Asante; Scott Terry from Mahogany Gallery; Maurice Broaddus; Jon Gray of Ghetto Gastro; Kia Davis; John Moore; Wildstyle; Indiana Pacers; DJ Kyle Long; 18 Art Collective; Greg Rose; Ayanna Tibbs; Matthew Cooper, Julian Jones, and Will Watson; Chuck Styles and Alan Henderson.
Indiana Humanities Conversation Stage Highlights:
FRIDAY, 9/1: BUTTER DAY 1
10am Dusko Goes To Space! – Author Raquel Horn (kids under 12)
12pm Cultivating the Creative Economy – Keepers of Culture Mural Legends
2pm Scott Terry, Mahogany Gallery, Racine
4pm Boldly Going: The Future of Afrofuturism – Maurice Broaddus
6pm Food and the Visual Arts with Bronx Pastry God, Jon Gray and Alan Bacon
SATURDAY, 9/2: BUTTER DAY 2
10am Level Up Your Hustle: Artist Contracts 101 – Kia Davis Workshop open to artists
12pm Spirits and the Visual Arts with Chuck Styles and Alan Henderson
1pm What’s The Deal with NFTs? – Artist John Moore on present + future of NFT’s
4pm Road to NBA All-Star Weekend 2024 – Indiana Pacers on leading with the Arts
6pm The Truth Will Set You Free – Wildstyle on the history of Indiana Avenue with DJ Kyle Long and Sampson Levingston
SUNDAY, 9/3: BUTTER DAY 3
12pm Curating BUTTER with Braydee Eullis and Mali Bacon
1pm Catching Up w/ The 18 Art Collective
3pm Care + Equity in Emerging Art Markets with BUTTER Curatorial Fellow Greg Rose
4pm To Stay or Not to Stay: Choosing Indianapolis with BUTTER Alumni, Matthew Cooper, Julian Jones, Will Watson
5pm Sports, the Arts, and Humanities – Indiana Humanities’ Marisol Gouveia
As a special nod to hop-hip’s 50th anniversary, BUTTER will host 50 DJs to perform, including live sets by: 5LAPHOUSE, ACTION JACKSON, AMIR, B.A.E., BOOGIE BANG, BROOKE BILLIONS, BROTHA2DAKNIGHT, CASH, CHROMATIC, COOLEY ROCK, DEUCE DECKA, DEZZY DEZZ, DJ BK, DRAFT PICK, DUCK, FERRIS BOOLER, FONTAINE, FRENCH CONNXTN, GABBY LOVE, IRON LION, JAY DIFF, JohnEBEA, KENNY KIXX, KNAGS, LADY LOCS, LADY SHAY, LAST NIGHT, LEXX LUTHER, STEVEN & THE MOON, LITTLE TOWN, LOBYN, LONGGREEN, METROGNOME, MIKEY G, MR KINETIK, NICK NICE, NIKO FLORES, POOK, PRINCE, QUE VEE, RUSTY REDENBACHER, SD1, SLICK VIC, SOLO, SOUNDSBYCAM, SOUNDSBYTODD, SPACE BUNZ, STYLISTIC, SULLIE, and TOPSPEED.
BUTTER, made possible by top sponsors like AES Indiana, Newfields, and JPMorgan Chase, will take place September 1-3, with Preview Night on August 31 at The Stutz in Indianapolis.
“JPMorgan Chase is proud to sponsor BUTTER for a second consecutive year. JPMorgan Chase understands the importance of putting culture and equity at the forefront and applaud your dedication and commitment to improving equity in the arts,” said Phylicia Manley, Vice President of Global Philanthropy at JPMorgan Chase.
“Newfields is honored to support the flourishing and growing cultural ecosystem in Indianapolis as a sponsor of BUTTER. This enriching experience showcases the immensely talented artists of our community,” said Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette, Newfields President and CEO. “These are renaissance moments that solidify Indianapolis as an arts and culture destination.”
Tickets are on sale at www.butterartfair.com as are details on the program of events. General Admission tickets are $40, which includes unlimited access to all three days. Preview Night tickets are $175 and include General Admission weekend return access. Students 18 and under are free.
About GANGGANG
GANGGANG is a creative advocacy agency based in Indianapolis working to center culture, equity, and beauty in cities through major initiatives like BUTTER: A Fine Art Fair. For more information on the founding organization, visit www.ganggangculture.com or follow on social media @ganggangculture. For more information on BUTTER, visit www.butterartfair.com or follow on social @butterartfair.
FOR MEDIA:
Media inquiries, including artist interview requests, advance tours, and photography:
Keri Kirschner, [email protected], (646) 717-2848
BUTTER Press Credentials will be issued to journalists with advance notice. To get on the press pass list, please email: Keri Kirschner, [email protected]
For BUTTER video footage, visit: https://vimeo.com/user/38369570/folder/15519165
For Official BUTTER media kit, visit: https://butterartfair.com/2023-media-kit/
