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Their aim is true
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Tonic Ball II to feed the hungry
Feeding the hungry of Indianapolis is the goal behind two ambitious events being planned for Friday in Fountain Square. More than 60 visual and musical artists are donating their time, energy and work to the second annual Tonic Ball, a benefit concert and visual art sale to benefit Second Helpings, the food rescue, job training and hunger relief program serving greater Indianapolis. The musical phase of the evening begins at 9 p.m. Friday at Radio Radio, 1119 E. Prospect St. Sixteen acts are currently scheduled to take the stage in a musical tribute to Elvis Costello. From 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, approximately 50 of the city’s most prominent visual artists will be displaying work at the Mavris Cultural Center, 121 S. East St. Each work will be sold at just $100, but attendance is free. Last year, Tonic Ball raised more than $4,600 with just the benefit concert. With the addition of top visual art, organizers are hoping to raise much more this year. “We thought that was wonderful for the first year’s event,” Tonic Ball chairman Ken Honeywell said. “We’re hoping to do double that or better for this year.” The theme of last year’s show was the music of Gram Parsons. Honeywell said the choice for this year’s event came because of the wide variety of music composed and played by Costello. “We tried to extend or break genre boundaries,” Honeywell said. “Costello gives us a pretty wide palette to play with. We thought it would be cool to get a string quartet to play something from the Juliet Letters, and we have some folks from Butler who are going to do that.” Performing this year will be Bigger Than Elvis, Blackberry Jam, Bluenote Trio, Matt Boyer, Butler String Quartet, Deano and the Distractions, Jennie DeVoe, danny flanigan and the rain chorus, Otis Gibbs, Joel Henderson, Ann McWilliams, The Pieces, The Retreads and Saraswati. David “Tufty” Clough serves double duty as owner of Radio Radio and as a member of Bigger Than Elvis. He has fond memories of last year’s event. “It was fun to get a bunch of people all on the same page of doing a cover by another artist,” he says. And with a club named after one of Costello’s best-known songs, it’s a natural for the event. Clough said that the last time Costello was in Indy, some of the singer’s representatives came to the club. “They kind of wanted to know what was up with this club named after one of the boss’ songs. I told them, well, we like the song, and they gave us these passes to go meet him and hang out with him.” In fact, Costello signed his trademark instrument, a Fender jazzmaster guitar, and it will be auctioned off Friday night. As a performer, Clough said he’s excited about Tim Brickley joining the band for the night, although he’s still unsure exactly which Elvis song he’ll be performing. Says Matt Chandler of Saraswati, “Music fans can feel good about attending, not only because they are generating much-needed funds for Second Helpings, but they will also be exposed to a wide variety of talent they may not ordinarily check out.” He said, “Tonic Ball exemplifies the philosophy of ‘Think globally, act locally,’ and furthers the notion that everyone can make a difference, everyone is an active participant in society.” Participants in the art event comprise a virtual who’s who of Indianapolis visual artists. They’ve distinguished themselves across a range of media, including painting, drawing, illustration, graphic design and sculpture. Among the artists to look for will be Cindy Wingo, John Domont, Emily Kennerk, Walter Kanabe, Lois Main Templeton, Rob Day, David Lesh and David Young. Despite all of the great music, great art and fun, Honeywell said the focus remains on the good done by Second Helpings. “Remember,” he said, “a lot of the people helped by Second Helpings are kids. Second Helpings does about 1,500 meals a day, six days a week, and over 600 of the people who receive them are kids who wouldn’t have a meal otherwise. “Twenty-seven percent of the food that’s prepared in America gets thrown away. And Second Helpings rescues that food from restaurants, grocery stores and caterers. They use it to train people in the food service industry, so they’re also providing job training. And they’re making meals. It’s an amazing organization.” For more information on Tonic Ball, visit www.tonicball.org. For more information on the work of Second Helpings, see ,a href="http://www.secondhelpings.org">www.secondhelpings.org. WHAT: Tonic Ball II, a benefit evening for Second Helpings WHEN: Friday, Nov. 21 WHERE: Art exhibit and sale: Mavris Cultural Center, 121 S. East St., from 4 to 9 p.m. Music beginning at 8 p.m. at Radio Radio, 1119 E. Prospect St. TICKETS: For the show, $15 in advance and $18 at the door PERFORMING: More than 60 visual and musical artists will be participating.
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