INDIANAPOLIS — Standing at 30 feet tall, it's hard to miss the strong gaze and pink cardigan that make up the mural of Mari Evans on Mass Ave near the Murat Theater.
The mural honors Evans' contributions to Indianapolis — the city she called home — and the era known as the Black Arts Movement.
Evans was a poet, educator and activist who was a prominent voice in the Black Arts Movement in the 1960s and 70.
Michael "Alkemi" Jordan created the mural of a woman he says loved to create and help others be creative. Jordan has been an artist for five decades.
"She was an artist and she believed in art being the power to make changes," Jordan said. "You have to read her poetry. She had a lot of wisdom and she influenced a lot of people."
Jordan was one of those people. Decades before he would be commissioned to paint the portrait, Jordan served time in prison, where he learned how to use oil paints to express himself. During his time in prison, he also read the works of Mari Evans.
Evans' books, poems and essays are now available at the Indianapolis Public Library, where she often volunteered.
"Poets that were part of the Black Arts Movement spoke to what we were going through in the community and really, kind of, distilled our feelings in a literary format," Nichelle M. Hayes said.
Hayes is the founding director of the Center for Black Literature and Culture. She says Evans was also a songwriter, playwright and civil rights activist.
"She's a woman of the people. She was not set apart. She was among us. She was with us. She was one of us," Hayes said.
Hayes' favorite piece from Evans is 'I Am a Black Woman.' It says in part:
I am a black woman. tall as a cypress..strong
beyond all definition. still defying place and time. and circumstance. assailed impervious indestructible. Look on me and be renewed.
Months before her death, Evans got to look up and see Alkemi painting part of the mural.
"She was standing right there and looking up at me. They said 'Miss Evans is down here.' And I looked down and I said 'OH I gotta come down.' The guys whispered in my ear and said 'Man, today's her birthday.' And it brought me tears," Alkemi said.
Evans' legacy continues with the Zora-Neal Hurston/Mari Evans Scholarship for IUPUI students.
-
Bloomington hopes small lots in new neighborhood can counter housing crisis
The future Hopewell neighborhood is Bloomington's largest housing development plan. The city hopes to keep Hopewell affordable by thinking small.
How Purdue's 'Asthma Herd' horses could breathe new life into asthma research
What comes to mind when you think about asthma? For Dr. Laurent Couetil, horses are top of mind. His focus is to learn more about asthma in horses - what causes it and how to treat it.
Residents shaken after gunfire damages homes and cars in Fishers' neighborhood
Homes and cars were damaged by gunfire early Sunday morning in Sunblest, one of Fishers' largest subdivisions, leaving longtime residents concerned about safety in their typically quiet neighborhood.
INDOT and lawmakers aware of issue impacting roads and bridges
WRTV Investigates has uncovered problems with concrete pavement in roads and bridges across the state of Indiana.
