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Brandon Meeks is bringing jazz home — one Sunday at a time. Brandon Meeks will tell you he's not a household name, although many jazz aficionados would likely disagree with that. "I've had a pretty successful career as a jazz artist," he says, "but I'm not like a celebrity jazz musician or anything." Household name or not, Meeks is something rarer — a full-time working artist who has spent more than 20 years building something real — performing and collaborating in Indianapolis and neighboring regions where great music gets made and mostly goes unnoticed. And this summer, he's bringing all of it to Arts for Lawrence on the Fort Ben Cultural Campus. Jazz Concert Series Starting in June, Meeks will curate and perform in the 3rd Sunday Jazz Concerts, a free monthly series hosted by Arts for Lawrence. Bring a lawn chair. Bring your kids. Bring your friends and neighbors. The first concert is on June 21, followed by performances on July 19 and August 16. "I want families and people who maybe can't get into a jazz club to be able to experience something cool," Meeks says. "No cover charge, no drink minimum, no babysitter required. Just a Sunday afternoon and something worth showing up for." The series runs three Sundays through the summer. The first concert will feature Meeks in a trio format alongside pianist William Menefield and drummer Cassius Goens. The remaining two shows will expand into a quintet, with original compositions and new work premiering throughout. A stew of different vibes Meeks has long been fascinated by what happens when musicians from different cities share a stage. It's not just geography. It's sound, he says. "Indianapolis has a laid-back, self-assured approach," he explains. "Chicago has this urgency, this rich history of avant-garde jazz. Cincinnati has its own thing. Louisville has something else entirely." Combine them, he says, and you get something that none of those scenes could produce alone. "It's like pulling flavors and seasoning from different sources. The combination is what makes it unique." His own sound reflects a similar kind of mixing. Raised in Gary, Indiana, Meeks grew up surrounded by gospel music, hip hop, and soul — a mother who had him in church four days a week, a DJ brother spinning hip hop, an older brother who introduced him to the deep roots of Black music. All of it lives in how he plays jazz today, even when the form is acoustic and straight-ahead. That upbringing also shaped his vision for what a jazz concert can feel like. "The kind of family gatherings we would have when I was a kid … we'd be out at the park, and there would be music in the air, and people just coming together," he says. "Really enjoying each other, as well as enjoying the music. And really just celebrating our culture as Black Americans." That's the atmosphere he's after at Fort Ben — what he describes as "the combination of an outdoor cookout and a scaled-down, more relaxed jazz festival vibe." The stories that don't get told In 2025, Meeks created Unsung Giants — a nationally touring performance project built around conversations with under-recognized jazz artists. The idea was to find the musicians who filled in the gaps of the national jazz narrative, capture their stories, and turn them into new music. "Indianapolis is known for Freddie Hubbard and Wes Montgomery," he says. "But I feel like that's just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many stories and so much history that don't get told on a national level but that I feel are equally important." He was also clear about what he didn't want the project to be. "The spirit of jazz was always moving forward. I didn't want this to be a nostalgia exercise. I wanted it to be something that fuels and pushes the music into the future by keeping it rooted in its history." The project also reflects something personal. Meeks spent nearly a decade as a graphic designer before making the leap to full-time musician — a decision born less from confidence than from necessity. He'd been laid off from ad agencies multiple times, each time because a firm was too dependent on a single client. Eventually the logic became unavoidable: if stability isn't what the nine-to-five is actually giving you, maybe it's worth betting on yourself. "I had built up a strong network, strong relationships, a well-rounded career," he says. "I just hadn't made the leap yet." He made it. And because he did, he talks to other artists now — honestly, without the usual cheerleading — about the hard work and networking it actually takes. Carrying Indiana Avenue forward The 3rd Sunday Jazz Concerts are rooted in something older than Meeks himself. Indiana Avenue — once the cultural and musical heart of Black Indianapolis — shaped the musicians who shaped him. Mentors like Clifford Ratliff and Melvin Rhyne came from that world and passed parts of it on to younger musicians. "That history has to live in people," Meeks says, "because it doesn't physically live in the geographical location anymore." He's thinking about the next generation too. You never know, he points out, who's standing in that crowd on a Sunday afternoon — which kid will grow up to be a patron of the arts, an artist themselves, or someone who starts building their own cultural experiences. "You never know who may become your next patron of the arts because they were exposed to these experiences as a young child," he says. "Or who the next crop of artists will be. Or who will see what I'm doing and start creating other cultural experiences. "This was inspired by things I saw in my younger years," he adds. "I'm just trying to push that inspiration forward." 3rd Sunday Jazz Concerts Curated and performed by Brandon Meeks Fort Ben Cultural Campus | Free and open to the public. Bring a lawn chair. Food trucks on site. Visit Arts for Lawrence for dates and details.

Eleven artists. One resilient vision. An open invitation to create. There's a plant called the thistle that blooms under extraordinary conditions. It grows where it isn't expected to. It thrives in environments that weren't designed for it. And yet … it flowers. That's the spirit behind THSSL: A Juneteenth Jubilee Art Exhibition of Creative Resiliency, and it's the lens through which Arts for Lawrence artist-in-residence Andre Parnell sees the Black artists who create and exhibit here in Indiana. Artist Andre Parnell will lead an exhibition and self-portrait experience during THSSL, an art exhibition during Juneteenth celebrations at Arts for Lawrence. "They're making an impact in an environment that wasn't really set up for us," says Parnell, who also is a community activist, mentor, muralist, youth arts educator, and designer. "I compare them to the thistle in their resiliency." The Event On Saturday, June 13, from 4–8 p.m., Arts for Lawrence invites the community inside the campus at 8920 Otis Ave. to experience THSSL — an intimate art exhibition featuring eleven artists whose work reflects the depth, beauty, and endurance of the Black creative tradition. The exhibition runs alongside the Juneteenth Jubilee Celebration at the Fort Ben Cultural Campus, offering a quieter counterpoint to the outdoor festivities. Think of it as a place to step out of the heat, slow down, and spend real time with exceptional art. In addition to Parnell, featured artists include Rhonda Greene, Gary Gee, Ess McKee, Johnson Simon, Amber Jointer, Senequa Curbelo, Onye Obama-Ndika, Sharon Bonner, Cierra Johnson, and LaNiah Reed. THSSL is co-presented by Arts for Lawrence, Artists At Work, and Lawrence Speaks. Come In. Create Something. This isn't just a viewing experience — it's an invitation to participate. Parnell will be upstairs in the studio throughout the event, leading an ongoing community self-portrait class as a part of his Lawrence Speaks project, a larger community portrait developed during his time with the Artists At Work program. No art experience required. The idea is simple: you show up, and he helps you figure out who you are on paper. "I often do these exercises without mirrors," he says. "I ask questions that get to the I am of a person — to help them visualize who they are." Sometimes that looks like a face. Sometimes it's a gradient of color. Sometimes it's something abstract that just says, this is me — and that, Parnell says, is completely valid. Arts for Lawrence volunteers will circulate during the outdoor celebration, inviting people to come upstairs and take part. Groups will rotate through the studio in sessions throughout the afternoon and evening. It's free, it's open, and it might surprise you. More Than an Exhibition For Parnell, this event is about connection — between artists, between communities, and between the arts ecosystem in Lawrence and the wider public who may not yet know it exists. His hope is that someone who walks through the door on June 13 sees a path, not just into the gallery, but into the creative life of this community. "I enjoy connecting the greater art community to the ecosystem of Lawrence," he says. "The art space here." Join Us THSSL: A Juneteenth Jubilee Art Exhibition of Creative Resiliency Date: Saturday, June 13 | 4–8 p.m. Location: Fort Ben Cultural Campus | 8920 Otis Ave. | Lawrence, Indiana Co-presented by Arts for Lawrence, Artists At Work, and Lawrence Speaks

Some artists don't arrive at their craft through a straight line. Brian Atkinson is one of them. And that winding path may be exactly what makes his work worth seeing. Growing up, Atkinson was already the kid skipping class to disappear into the art room. But he came from a family where college wasn't part of the conversation, so when the time came, he did what everyone around him did: He went to work as a laborer. Although he didn’t stop exploring art, Atkinson considered it more of a hobby than a potential career path. It wasn't until his mid-20s that he walked through the doors of the Herron School of Art. He was 26. Most of his classmates were 18 or 19. He went full time, then had to stop, then worked, then went part time, then finally finished … earning his degree in art education. Finding the Lane Ask Atkinson how he developed his style and he doesn't hesitate. He found it early, and he's never really left it. "I've always just been really attracted to things that have high contrast," he says. "Really dark, dark areas and really light, light areas." Add to that an eye for organic shapes — such as the skeletal reach of leafless trees, the way branches move across negative space — and bold, arresting color, and you start to understand what you're walking into when you see his work. He does take commissions, but selectively. If it doesn't fit his vision, he turns it down. "I want to enjoy doing it," he says simply. The Teacher Who Stayed an Artist Atkinson spent 30 years at Lawrence North High School — 22 as an art teacher, eight as an administrator. But he never abandoned his studio. Early on, a mentor helped him see that teaching and making didn't have to be separate lives. That mentor, sculptor and fellow Lawrence North art educator Brad Holmes, modeled what it looked like to do both. When Atkinson eventually became department chair at Lawrence North, he carried that conviction into every hire he made. "Show me what you're working on right now," he recalls telling candidates. "Don't show me what you did in college." With an assist from then new hire, Nichole Cooper, he also launched a faculty art show — an annual reminder, to students and staff alike, that the people teaching art were actually making it. But the part of teaching that mattered most to him wasn't about technique. It was about belonging. "There are a lot of kids who don't have a place in a big high school," he says. "The art department is that place." He and Holmes used to chuckle about some of the grade cards — rows of D's and F's, and then an A in art, with a note that said “a pleasure to have in class.” Those weren't charity grades. Those were kids who showed up because someone saw them. Atkinson says he still hears from many of them, who often express gratitude for their time in his class. Retirement, and Getting Back to It With the blessing and the support of his wife, Liz, Atkinson retired in June 2025. Since then, he's been painting. A lot. That dedication has resulted in a growing collection of new pieces. Most mornings, he walks his dogs, then heads to the studio. Sessions run five hours sometimes — time disappearing the way it only does when you're fully inside something. "I don't ever want it to feel like a job," he says. That's why the commissions with too many directions — combine this element, this color, this concept — don't interest him. "That feels like work to me." \He started painting exclusively in oils during COVID, after years of moving through acrylics, chalk drawings, oil pastels, clay, and even digital fine art made with Photoshop and Illustrator. Seven years into oils, he hasn't looked back. What to Expect June 2–11 When you walk into the Arts for Lawrence gallery this month, you'll see bold colors and strong contrast in works ranging from landscapes to florals and abstracts. Atkinson describes his work as something he was chasing — a feeling, a direction, a few months of inspiration gathered and put on canvas. He's thought about what art does for people, especially now. "People need an outlet," he says. "Sometimes you need to look at something and just think, I really love that. I'd love to have that in my house." Brian Atkinson's work is on display June 2–11 at Arts for Lawrence, 8920 Otis Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46216

Arts for Lawrence is a 501(c)(3) arts organization in Lawrence, Indiana, East of Indianapolis, at the former Fort Benjamin Harrison. We provide performing and visual arts programming as well as events for the community. Our mission is to connect arts and the community to inspire everyone, every day! Our Mission Our Goals, Vision & Commitment Our Events Register & Purchase Tickets Support Us Volunteer, Become A Member, Purchase a Brick PERFORMING + LITERARY ARTS Theater, Dance, and Comedy Performances, Poetry Meetings, and Classes. VISUAL ARTS Visual and Digital Art Classes, Crafts, Gallery Shows, and Art Fairs. FESTIVALS Summer Concert Series, Cultural Festivals and the Fort Ben Cultural Campus. YOUTH PROGRAMS Summer Art Camp, Performances, Theater Festival, and Classes. FORT BEN CULTURAL CAMPUS Come visit the hottest Arts and Cultural destination in Central Indiana! Learn More Hours for the Musical Swings: 9 AM - 10 PM, Everyday * * Outdoor events may affect these hours AFL News The Music Was Always There AFL Social

Arts for Lawrence is made up of great people, volunteers, funders, donors, and sponsors working to bring the best performing and visual arts experiences and opportunities to the Eastside of Indianapolis. Find out how you can get involved! About Us Arts for Lawrence connects arts and community to inspire everyone every day. Founded in 2006, Arts for Lawrence (AFL) is the largest performing and visual arts nonprofit organization in Lawrence and the northeast quadrant of Indianapolis. AFL offers a diverse blend of affordable quality art programs at the Theater at the Fort, the Visual Art Center, and the Fort Ben Cultural Campus. Programs include festivals, theater performances, outdoor concert series, art classes, art exhibitions, poetry readings, and more. Many of these events are free to the public. Click Here For Images Mission Arts for Lawrence connect arts & community to inspire everyone, every day. Vision Lawrence is a vibrant Cultural District as designated by the State of Indiana. Core Values Relentless commitment to the vision. Continuous improvement defines our future. Breaking barriers to serve all. Giving our best in every interaction. Be kind. As stewards of the historic Theater at the Fort, AFL builds strong partnerships to bring a diverse blend of performances to the stage in drama, music, dance, storytelling, and more. AFL launched the Fort Ben Cultural Campus in June 2021. The former Fort Harrison Communications building was moved to the Cultural Campus and was repurposed as a Visual Art Center offering a gallery with monthly exhibitions, a ceramics studio offering classes for all ages and abilities, and an upstairs classroom offering classes in many other art mediums including painting, digital art, and needle felting. The Fort Ben Cultural Campus is also home to the Musical Swings, open to the public with music playing from 9 am – 10 pm daily. Meet the Staff & Board View Staff & Board View Financial & Annual Report View Financial Info The arts can do great things with your help! Donate Now!

AFL Rental & Private Events A Historic Space for A Lasting Memory Arts for Lawrence has multiple facilities available to leave an impression on your audience! We have spaces for meetings, creative classes, rehearsals, company parties, weddings, and so much more. Combining classic military style, artistic curation, and modern technology, you can be sure your event will be a success! Tell us about your event and email AFL for a quote: info@artsforlawrence.org Available Spaces Theater at the Fort Board Room: 25 capacity (Meetings, Small Classes) Small Stage/Rehearsal Space: 40 to 60 capacity (Medium Meetings, Small Public Speaking, Performance Rehearsal) Main Stage & Theater: 211 seating, including 8 ADA seats, 50 on-stage (Medium Performances, Weddings, Conferences) Visual Arts Center Main Gallery: 20 to 30 capacity (Small Gallery Exhibit, Small Meeting) 2nd Floor Classroom: 10 to 15 capacity (Small Class, Small Meeting) Fort Ben Cultural Campus & Amphitheater Outdoor Space: 1000+ capacity (Outdoor Concerts, Festivals, Cultural Events, Company Party) Email AFL for a quote: info@artsforlawrence.org Amenities Dressing Rooms (2) 4 Vanities in each room Running water and restroom in each Clothing racks Kitchenette/Laundry Microwave Coffee maker Washer/Dryer Combo Small Refrigerator Light & Sound Booth (Managed by AFL Staff or Certified Contractor) Up-to-date technology to enhance any event Email AFL for a quote: info@artsforlawrence.org