Indianapolis, IN
When the Spotlight Hits the Game, Black Artists Take Center Stage – Indianapolis Recorder
When the lights come up on a championship court, most eyes are fixed on the game. The buzzer. The movement. The moment.
But behind every major sporting event — behind the spectacle that draws thousands into arenas and millions to their screens, there is another story unfolding. One that doesn’t always get the same visibility, but carries just as much cultural weight. It is the story of the artists.
In cities like Indianapolis, where sports are woven into the community’s identity, art often works quietly in the background — shaping how those moments are experienced, remembered, and understood. Murals, performances, visual storytelling, and cultural programming all help define what a moment means, not just what it looks like.
And for Black artists, that work carries an additional responsibility. Because too often, the cultural contributions of Black communities are present in the experience but absent from the narrative.
Black artists don’t just capture moments. We contextualize them. We connect them to history, to struggle, to joy, to resilience. We tell the fuller story, one that reflects the communities that have long shaped the culture surrounding the game itself. And the impact of that work is not just cultural — it is economic.
The arts and cultural sector contributes more than $1 trillion to the U.S. economy and supports millions of jobs. Cities that invest in their creative ecosystems are not simply supporting the arts; they are strengthening a major driver of growth, talent attraction, and community vitality. Research also shows that diverse creative environments lead to stronger innovation and more meaningful engagement, reinforcing what many communities already experience firsthand.
When Black artists are included, the work does not just become more representative; it becomes more relevant, more connected, and more complete.
Indianapolis has a deep and often underrecognized legacy of Black artistic expression. From visual arts to performance, from community-centered storytelling to intergenerational creative practice, Black artists in this city have consistently created work that reflects both who we are and where we are going. But visibility has not always kept pace with contribution.
Across the country, studies have shown that artists of color remain significantly underrepresented in major cultural institutions and platforms. That gap is not a reflection of talent—it is a reflection of access, investment, and whose stories have historically been prioritized.
Major events bring energy, investment, and attention to a city. They also create a rare opportunity: a chance to be intentional about whose stories are elevated alongside the main stage.
When Black artists are included — not as an afterthought, but as a central part of the cultural experience — the impact is different. The city feels more complete. The story becomes more honest. The moment becomes more connected to the people who live here every day. This is not just about representation. It is about accuracy.
Because culture is not created in isolation. It is built through community. And when we fail to include the voices of those who have helped shape that culture, we present an incomplete picture — not just to visitors, but to ourselves.
At the Asante Art Institute of Indianapolis, our work is grounded in that belief. We exist to create space for artists to explore identity, history, and creativity in ways that build confidence, deepen understanding, and strengthen community connection. Through arts-centered programming, we are not only developing artists; we are cultivating storytellers, leaders, and individuals who see themselves as active participants in shaping the world around them.
That work matters in moments like these.
Because when the spotlight turns to Indianapolis during championship season, the question is not just what the world will see, but what story we choose to tell.
Will it be surface-level, focused only on the game? Or will it reflect the depth, diversity, and creativity of the communities that make this city what it is? That answer depends on who we invite into the frame.
This championship weekend, that broader story will take shape through A Touch of Glory, a production that brings together art, history, and sport to honor legacy and connection across generations. It is a reminder that the game is only part of the story, and that the cultural narratives surrounding it deserve just as much attention.
When we make space for those narratives — when we invest in artists, elevate their voices, and recognize their role in shaping how moments are experienced — we don’t just enhance events. We strengthen the cultural fabric of our city. And long after the final buzzer sounds, that is the story that lasts.
Deborah Asante is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Asante Art Institute of Indianapolis, dedicated to advancing cultural storytelling, fostering creative expression, and empowering communities through the arts.
FISHERS, Ind. — Two Indianapolis teens were arrested after an alleged armed carjacking at a Fishers IHOP.
In a post on Facebook, the Fishers Police Department indicated that its officers were called to the IHOP restaurant located at 9750 North by Northeast Boulevard around 10:39 p.m. Monday to investigate a reported carjacking. After they arrived at the scene, which was located just north of East 96th Street, police determined two suspects had pointed a firearm at a food delivery driver and demanded that they hand over the keys to their car.
After the victim gave up the keys to their car, the suspects fled the scene. FPD reported that the victim was not harmed during their encounter with the suspects.
Police told FOX59/CBS4 that the alleged carjacking appeared to be a crime of opportunity. Investigators believe the suspects saw the delivery driver picking up food at IHOP and took advantage of the opportunity to steal a car.
During their investigation of the alleged carjacking, police reviewed Flock camera data and determined the suspects had driven toward Binford Boulevard after they fled the IHOP. Investigators ultimately tracked the suspects to an apartment complex in Indianapolis.
Law enforcement found the victim’s vehicle in the parking lot of the apartment complex in question. The car was unoccupied when police located it.
FPD ultimately arrested the suspects after receiving a search warrant. Fishers police received assistance with the arrest from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s violent crimes task force and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s K-9 and special weapons and tactics (SWAT) units.
Investigators determined the two individuals they arrested in Indianapolis were the suspects implicated in the carjacking via surveillance video. Per FPD, the video confirmed that the suspects were wearing the same clothes during both their arrests and the alleged carjacking.
Police recovered more of the victim’s personal items from their car once they located it. Officers also found the firearm that the suspects allegedly used during the incident. FPD reported that the gun the suspects used during the alleged carjacking had an extended magazine.
Investigators identified one of the suspects as 18-year-old Khalil Glover. The other suspect is a 17-year-old male. FPD did not publicly release the juvenile suspect’s name.
Glover faces the following formal charges:
- Armed robbery — A Level 3 Felony
- Pointing a firearm at another — a Level 6 Felony
- Auto theft — a Level 6 Felony
- Theft where the value of the property stolen is between $750 and $50,000
It is currently unclear if the juvenile implicated in the alleged carjacking will be officially charged as an adult. FPD arrested him on the following preliminary charges:
- Armed robbery — a Level 3 Felony
- Pointing a firearm — a Level 6 Felony
- Auto theft — a Level 6 Felony
- Theft — a Level 6 Felony
- Unlawful carrying of a handgun — a Class A Misdemeanor
Glover and the juvenile suspect were both transported to the Hamilton County jail following their arrests. FPD indicated that, during its interview with Glover, he admitted that he and the juvenile had participated in a robbery. Police have not clarified whether it was Glover or the juvenile who pointed the gun at the victim during the alleged carjacking.
“When someone in our city, whether a resident or someone visiting is victimized, we take it personal,” Fishers Police Chief Ed Gebhart said via release. “We will use all our resources, all our people, and all our partnerships to find criminals and hold them accountable. Technology helps us, but it’s just a tool for good, old-fashioned police work to take place. I’m extremely proud of our team and our ability to work with our law enforcement partners.”
In recent years, the Indianapolis Colts have taken pride in their offensive line. It only took derailing Andrew Luck’s career for general manager Chris Ballard to realize that he needed to bolster the trenches to protect the quarterback.
Despite some minor turnaround between seasons, the Colts’ line has held its ground for the most part. That has helped Jonathan Taylor establish himself as one of the most underrated players in the game.
Considering that, Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski chose center Tanor Bartolini as the Colts’ best-kept secret. In his latest column, he gushed about how he was a seamless replacement for Ryan Kelly and how crucial he’ll be for Shane Steichen’s team.
The Indianapolis Colts need Tanor Bartolini to take another step in 2026
“After one full season as a starter, the Indianapolis Colts’ Tanor Bortolini has established himself as one of the game’s best centers already,” Sobleski wrote. “The Colts eased Bortolini into the lineup as a rookie, because Ryan Kelly was still on the team. With Kelly leaving last offseason, Bortolini was asked to take over the spot and excelled.”
Standing at 6’4″ and 310 pounds, Bartolini has the prototypical body of an NFL center. However, he’s light on his feet and much more athletic than the average center, though his shorter arms limited as a pass-blocker. He has a strong technique and has the potential to be one of the best run zone-blockers in the game.
Pro Football Focus (subscription required) gave him an 82.6 overall grade, which ranked 3rd among 40 eligible players at the position; not so bad for a 23-year-old in his first full season as a starter. He was slightly above average in pass protection (66.2, 16th), but he was absolutely elite for the running game (88.2, 3rd).
Bartolini allowed just 17 pressures, including five hits, in 937 total snaps played. He didn’t allow a single sack, though he was called for four penalties, which is something he’ll clean up with more reps under his belt.
The Colts enter this season with more questions than answers on offense. They have fewer weapons for the passing game now that Michael Pittman Jr. is gone, and with Daniel Jones coming off a major injury, keeping a clean pocket will be paramount for Shane Steichen’s team.
Likewise, this team will have a better shot at success the more they get Jonathan Taylor involved. Bartolini’s ability to climb and move in open space will come in handy in 2026, and having him play at the same level — if not better — than he did last season could be the difference between a playoff spot and watching the postseason from home again.
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INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce has experienced what it’s like to ride in an IndyCar two-seater.
He took a ride in the Fastest Seat in Sports ahead of the 2025 Sonsio Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.
This past Sunday, he rode in the Fastest Seat in Sports again. But this time, the two-seater reached higher speeds as it screamed around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval ahead of the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500.
“Incredible experience,” Pierce said. “I’ll never forget that. So cool… At the end there, with the helicopters, that was pretty cool.”
Pierce added that when he was in the car going around the track, he was able to truly realize just how many people were inside IMS. Keep in mind, Sunday’s race was a grandstand sellout and more than 350,000 fans were thought to have been inside the facility.
“You really can see how many… hundreds of thousands of people of people out here,” Pierce said.
Andrew Chernoff, WISH-TV and WRTV 6 weekend sports anchor/reporter, asked Pierce how the Indy 500 ride in the two-seater compared to the once Pierce took ahead of the Sonsio Grand Prix.
“The Grand Prix I didn’t know what I was signing up for,” Pierce said. “That was a little bit more like the racing itself. The driving in the car was crazy because it was all those turns and this was cool. This was we were just going super fast. This was more just cool to see everybody out there and just be on the track and be a part of such a special event.”
Pierce just wrapped up his fourth season in the NFL.
This past year was arguably the best year of his career. He finished with 47 receptions for 1,003 yards. Pierce also hauled in six touchdowns.
He signed a new, four-year contract with the Colts back in March.
Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and 2022 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Jimmie Johnson drove the two-seater that Pierce experienced this weekend.
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