Patrons pose for a selfie with an artist and his eclectic pieces. Photo courtesy of WRTV. 

LAUREN OFFENBACKER | STAFF REPORTER | loffenbacker@butler.edu

Just five minutes from Butler University’s campus, Indianapolis is set to host the 58th Annual CBIZ Penrod Arts Fair, set to take place Saturday, Sept. 6, at Newfields. This beloved cultural event is not only an opportunity for local artists to showcase their work, but also a chance for Butler students to engage with the broader Indianapolis creative community.

The fair brings together more than 350 artists, featuring a diverse range of works including paintings, sculptures, photography, ceramic pieces, jewelry and more. Attendees can stroll through booths set up across the Newfields grounds, meet the artists and purchase unique pieces. Additionally, more than 50 nonprofit organizations participate, highlighting their cultural and educational contributions to Central Indiana. Food lovers can indulge in offerings from a variety of local vendors, making it an experience for all. 

Local artist Mike Meares, who has exhibited at Penrod for four years, discovered the fair about six years ago. Meares prepares extensively for the event, from printing and signing hundreds of prints to stretching canvases and ensuring a variety of price points to attract potential buyers. 

Unlike many other art fairs, Penrod allows vendors to set up the day before, providing artists with ample time to prepare and connect with attendees. For artists like Meares, the festival can be both rewarding and exhausting.

“Just for me personally, I’m stuck at my booth, and honestly, that’s the biggest challenge,” Meares said. “I’m always very jealous of those people [who have] a little bit more time to walk around and see some of the other art or … take a break and get a meal.”

For Meares, music drives his creative process. 

“All of my work revolves around music,” Meares said. “While I’m painting, I tend to steer more toward [music] that has a jazz element or psychedelic rock … I’m focusing in on all of the instruments, melodies and rhythm.”

While Meares approaches Penrod through a more rhythmic style, Robin Frost-Bess, an artist featured at the Center for Creative Arts, brings more of a colorful approach.

Frost-Bess is a paper artist whose colorful, layered works are inspired by her lifelong connection to creativity. Frost-Bess grew up surrounded by art. Her mother and both grandmothers were artists, meaning she began creating at an early age. 

As Penrod approaches, Frost-Bess channels that same playful energy into readying her booth, carefully curating pieces that reflect her vibrant style and inviting fairgoers to see the world through her lens.

“Most times, [people] really want to know the story behind the painting,” Frost-Bess said. “For me, personally, everything I create has a story.”

Beyond her own booth, Frost-Bess values the supportive community of artists at Penrod, describing the atmosphere as celebratory rather than competitive.

“The nice thing about our community [is that] we all respect each other, a lot of us know each other and I have a lot of friends who do Penrod,” Frost-Bess said. “Some people think, ‘Oh, somebody’s going into someone else’s tent and not mine.’ Most of us just say, ‘You sold something, that’s awesome.'”

Frost-Bess believes Penrod presents a valuable opportunity for Butler students to explore culture beyond campus. She suggested that a student discount could make the event more accessible. 

“$20 is a lot of money,” Frost-Bess said. “It would be an interesting thing to approach the Penrod society about making [the ticket] discounted [with] a college ID or a high school ID.”

Penrod extends well beyond an art marketplace — it stands as a cornerstone of Indianapolis’ cultural identity. Alongside the artists and nonprofits, the fair features five entertainment stages, including symphony, jazz, contemporary bands and dance troupes.

Sophomore health sciences major Reese Moore has attended Penrod multiple times with Curtain Call Performing Company. She went five times as a performer and once as an attendee.

“I remember a magician coming up to us while we were waiting to perform and interacting with us,” Moore said. “In the children’s area, there were a lot of other performances going on and other ballet companies that we would get to watch before we went on.”

Looking back, Moore sees Penrod as a chance for Butler students to break out of the campus bubble.

“When you have such a big event that’s five minutes away from your campus, you [should] show up and support [fellow students],” Moore said. “It is a great experience to end out the summer, and since the school year just started, you’re making your new friends and you’re building your community pretty early. It can become a tradition.”

The weekend begins with Evening with Penrod, an adults-only preview gala offering food, drinks and early access to artists’ booths. Admission is $20 for adults, but college students can save with discounted Newfields memberships, which also provide access to other museum events.

With the fair nearby, Newfields is an easy walk or bike ride from campus. Whether browsing booths, enjoying music or spending time outdoors with friends, the Penrod Arts Fair offers an accessible and affordable way to experience Indianapolis’s creative scene.