As part of the 2023 Spirit & Place Festival, Ivy Tech Indianapolis is hosting “Buzz and Flutter: How Does Your Garden Grow?” at the Garfield Park Arts Center (GPAC) on Saturday, Nov. 4, from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Spirit & Place Festival is an annual multi-day festival that unites art, religion, and humanities to explore a common theme, and this year’s theme is “Nourish.” 

When Stephanie Robertson, the program chair for Ivy Tech Indianapolis Fine Arts department, learned of the 2023 festival theme in February, she was eager to bring together many of our campus department heads. In a meeting with faculty from the Fine Arts department, Culinary Arts, the Early Childhood Education program, and Teach-2-Grow English 111, they collaborated and came up with Buzz & Flutter. 

“A big part of Buzz & Flutter is about caring for gardens and caring for the pollinators. The big takeaway here is that we need to take care of the bees and butterflies, and we need to take care of the land. It’s so important,” Robertson said. “But at the same time, I also want people and families to have fun, be engaged, and come away saying, ‘That was so great!’”

The campus’ Fine Arts department has been participating in the Spirit & Place Festival for nearly 15 years, and every year, Robertson and the cohort she forms make sure there is an assortment of family-friendly activities for the community to participate in. 

This year, there will be over five tables of activities open to the public in addition to the artwork showcase at GPAC, including:

  • DIY flower crowns
  • Gardening tips
  • Honey tasting 
  • Flower pens
  • Wearable art
  • And more

“Spirit & Place is a festival that I really believe in. What they're looking for is community engagement. And we're a community college full of people who love humanities, art, music, theater, and education. Our Ivy Tech faculty loves to put together fun, interactive projects for the whole family. And if we can engage families – even if it’s only 20 families or just 20 kids – it means something,” Robertson said.  

If you’re interested in submitting artwork to be part of the Buzz & Flutter exhibit, you have until Tuesday, October 24. The exhibition runs at GPAC, located at 2432 Conservatory Drive, from November 4-29. The community art showcase will be on opening day, Saturday, Nov. 4, from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

About Ivy Tech Community College

Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.