A Place In Time

A collaborative architectural video projection by Tiffany Carbonneau and Susanna Crum
InLightIn Festival, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2016

In August 2016, Bethel A.M.E., Indianapolis’ oldest African American church and vital social support structure from the Civil War onward, packed more than a century of history and moved to a new location, making way for a commercial enterprise that will replace, rather than repair, much of its historic architecture. For this collaborative work, artists Tiffany Carbonneau and Susanna Crum conducted research in Indianapolis and worked closely with church historian Olivia McGee-Lockhart to create a video that celebrated the people of Bethel A.M.E. and their impact on the city’s social landscape. A Place in Time illuminated the outer walls of the church with a site specific projection that combines archival, found, and interview-based imagery to explore the complexity of influences that have led to the current state of the building and congregation, highlight the historic architecture that will soon be lost, and celebrate the significant roles of the 147 year-old church within local and national history.

This exhibit was supported by The Indianapolis Community Foundation.