The City of Carmel honored the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday at the Tarkington Theater, exploring the theme “Antidotes for Fear” with live music, dance and spoken word interpretations of the lessons Dr. King taught about overcoming fear.
The fourth annual MLK Day program was a joint effort by the Mayor’s Advisory Commission on Human Relations, the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Carmel and the Carmel Interfaith Alliance.
Artist Israel Solomon (left) finished this piece live onstage during Monday’s event. The painting was donated to Allissa Impink of UNCF Indiana (right) who will auction off the painting at an upcoming fundraising event. (Photo provided by City of Carmel)
Highlighting the program was an original artistic work created for this event by the artist Israel Solomon, who began the piece in advance and then finished it live on the Tarkington Theater stage. The painting of Dr. King was donated to Allissa Impink of UNCF Indiana, who will auction off the painting at an upcoming fundraising event to support minority education and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In the summer of 2021, Solomon created a mural on the side of a Carmel Arts & Design District building featuring Black heroes and heroines who hail from or have had an impact in the state of Indiana.
Dee Thornton, who represented the Human Relations Commission and served as emcee for the event, was joined by Dr. Shaune Shelby, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church and a board member of the Carmel Interfaith Alliance in planning the event. Thornton delivered passionate remarks concerning today’s civil rights challenges in America while Shelby presented the “spoken word” passages of Dr. King’s “Antidotes for Fear” sermons.
Carmel musician and voice teacher Blair Clark sang the National Anthem and music was provided throughout the program by the Ebenezer Baptist Church Praise Team and Band. A Dance Medley was choreographed and performed by the Company Dancers from Indy Dance Academy including; Sydney Adler, Janie Akers, Logan Baker, Gabi Bradley (primary choreographer), Clair Comer, Kira Goins, Drew Hunt and Maya Wilkinson.
Carmel Interfaith Alliance president Lori Bievenour, Senior Pastor at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, joined Rabbi Justin Kerber of Congregation Beth Shalom to deliver closing remarks. City Councilor Jeff Worrell read the official proclamation for Tuesday’s National Day of Racial Healing from Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard.
The program was held live at the Tarkington Theater but was also live-streamed on various social media channels. Click here to watch a video of the event.