First Friday Porch Party Kick-Off w/ IMS

Pick up your free porch party decor and yard signs while they last!

In the Harrison Gallery, Urushi Odyssey by Nhat Tran. This collection of urushi artworks showcases a centuries-old art form on diverse supports like wood, ceramic, and plexiglass, creating an immersive experience that both delights and educates visitors about its rich history. The “Odyssey” is tied to both the epic journey Tran has undertaken over years of artistic risk-taking and exploration, and to the viewers' own inner odysseys as they contemplate and interact with these unique pieces.

In the Gallery Annex, If Only… by Dan Thompson. Thompson creates mixed-media paintings and drawings that delve into various themes, such as robots, photography, text, and abstract concepts. Despite the diversity of subject matter, a common thread runs through his work: a playful exploration of creativity. This overarching theme suggests a wishful notion of "if only every idea were good enough to be made."

In the Speck Gallery, Fast and Curious: Driven by Imagination by Tashema Davis & Emily Phillippe. Created by two artists with distinct yet complementary voices, this exhibition reimagines the culture of racing through a surreal and humorous lens. Tire tracks twist into patterns, mascots and machines blur together, and the familiar symbols of the Indy 500 take on new, peculiar lives.

In the City Gallery, No Turn on Red by Mary Mindiola. This unique collection of works employs magazine paper to depict various street intersections in Indianapolis. The title serves as a metaphor for the conflict between safety-focused regulations and efficiency, and the desire for personal freedom. Representing a forced pause at the corner, one side sees this as a necessary safety measure, while the other perceives it as stifling bureaucratic overreach.

In the Sky Gallery, IMMERSION by Jason Zickler. In his large-scale epoxy resin and acrylic paintings, Jason Zickler layers saturated neon color beneath glass-like resin, an invitation to step inside the surface. Exploring tension between control and spontaneity, these works transform painting from an object to observe into an atmosphere to experience.

In the Underground Gallery, Who is my Neighbor? presented by Religion, Spirituality, and the Arts (RSA), a program of IUPUI’s Arts and Humanities Institute. This year’s exhibit invites participants to explore themes of identity and otherness, inclusion and exclusion, and the challenges of ethical conviction in a complex world. Through dialogue and creative expression, the artists examine what it means to respond to others with care, courage, and empathy.

Open Studio Night, engage with all 40+ Harrison Center artists as they open their studio doors to the public. This immersive experience allows patrons to see the artists' work up close and offers a unique chance to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of their art.

Free Porch Party Kits including yard signs, Indy 500 flags, and a variety of Porching and 500 swag while supplies last.

Aerial Performances by Suspended Animation Aerials next to the City Gallery porch. 

Dance Performances featuring the Herron High School Spring Dance Showcase. 

Early to Rise, an Iris show presented by the Indiana Day Lily Iris Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of daylilies and irises. This juried show featuring locally grown Irises will be open for public viewing throughout the night.

Hungry? Grab a bite across the courtyard from the Fiesta on the Go food truck.

All shows will open at 6:00 pm on Friday, May 1st, 2026.

Visitors can take in-person gallery tours Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. Online galleries will open on May 2nd. You can make an appointment or view the online galleries at harrisoncenter.org/buy-art.

Special Senior Hours are every Friday from 2:00pm - 4:00pm. No appointment is needed.

With support from Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indy Arts Council, City of Indianapolis, Indiana Arts Commission, Lilly Endowment Inc., and Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation.

About the Harrison Center

The Harrison Center is a community-based, nonprofit arts organization that seeks to be a catalyst for renewal in the city of Indianapolis. Founded in 2001, the organization's work is two-fold. The Harrison Center is for the Arts by hosting over 40 artists' studios and 8 galleries. It provides programming to foster the creation of new art, build community among artists and emerging patrons, and provide a forum for public conversation. The Harrison Center is for the City by connecting people to culture, community, and place, strengthening Indianapolis's core neighborhoods. For more information on the Harrison Center, call 317.396.3886 or visit www.harrisoncenter.org. Connect with the Harrison Center on social media at Facebook/@HarrisonCenterArts, Instagram/@harrisoncenterarts, Youtube/@hca4thearts, or Twitter/@HarrisonCtrArts.

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