# Event Details - **Event Name**: The Monument Knows: Public Conversation No. 1 - **Event Start and End Date**: Wed, 01 Jul, 2026 at 05:00 pm – Wed, 01 Jul, 2026 at 06:00 pm - **Event Description**: Monumental Gestures presents The Monument KnowsAbout this EventThe Monument Knows Public Conversation No. 1 with Salamishah Tillet and Jordan RyanWednesday, July 1, 2026Doors open at 4:30 p.m.Program begins at 5:00 p.m.Christ Church Cathedral, 125 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, IN 46204Free and open to the public. Advance registration encouraged.Join Monumental Gestures for the first public conversation of The Monument Knows, a new public humanities and civic research project exploring the histories, meanings, and future possibilities of Monument Circle and the Soldiers & Sailors Monument in downtown Indianapolis.This inaugural conversation features Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, cultural critic, and scholar alongside Indianapolis-based cultural researcher and public historian . Together, they will explore how monuments shape civic identity, collective memory, and public life. Tillet will discuss the role monuments play in American culture and public discourse, while Ryan will offer historical insights into Monument Circle’s evolving significance in Indianapolis. The conversation will be moderated by (Director of the J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program).Developed by Monumental Gestures in partnership with Merritt Chase, with support from the Mellon Foundation, The Monument Knows invites residents to engage with one of Indianapolis’ most iconic public spaces through conversation, research, and storytelling. The project asks a simple but deep question: What does the monument know?Following the conversation, attendees are invited to join a group walk around Monument Circle and the Soldiers & Sailors Monument, led by expert guides from Indiana Landmarks, and then enjoy the evening at SPARK on the Circle.This event is part of a four-part public conversation series and an opportunity to reconsider Monument Circle as a living civic space where history, memory, and the future remain in active conversation. Learn more at askthemonument.org.Special Guest Biographies https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events4/banners/42882130-74e0-11f1-b452-0f2e0e513fce-rimg-w582-h740-dcd4d3df-gmir.jpg Salamishah Tillet is a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, cultural critic, and scholar whose work explores race, gender, social justice, and public memory in American culture. She is a contributing critic-at-large for The New York Times and co-founder of the nonprofit A Long Walk Home. Tillet is the Henry Rutgers Professor of African American and African Studies and Creative Writing at Rutgers University-Newark. Her writing and commentary have appeared in numerous national publications and media outlets, and her work frequently examines how monuments, public space, art, and cultural narratives shape civic identity and collective memory. https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events1/banners/42d026b0-74e0-11f1-b452-0f2e0e513fce-rimg-w1110-h740-dc171613-gmir.jpg Jordan Ryan is a cultural researcher, strategist, and Indianapolis-based civic practitioner whose work focuses on public memory, cultural identity, and community storytelling. As a research collaborator with Monumental Gestures, Ryan contributes to projects that examine how public spaces reflect histories, belonging, and collective civic experience. Her work bridges research, public engagement, and cultural strategy to help communities navigate complex conversations around place and identity. https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events6/banners/43125fd0-74e0-11f1-b452-0f2e0e513fce-rimg-w740-h740-dcd7d6d4-gmir.jpg Daniel Luis Martinez (moderator) is an architectural designer, educator, and co-founder of LAA Office, a multidisciplinary design studio exploring the intersection of landscape, art, and architecture. He is Program Director, Director of Graduate Studies, and Associate Professor at Indiana University’s J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program. Martinez’s research and creative work focus on transforming undervalued sites through public art and public space design, examining how design can shape community experience and civic life. His work bridges architecture, landscape, and cultural practice to create meaningful connections between people and place. He has worked with leading architecture firms, including Allied Works and Weiss/Manfredi, and his writing has appeared in publications such as MAS Context, San Rocco, Clog, and Drawing Matter. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/indianapolis/the-monument-knows-public-conversation-no-1/100001990875978645 - **Event Categories**: art, literary-art, sports, fine-arts, nonprofit, storytelling - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 - **Event Highlights**: - Duration: 1 hour - Location: Christ Church Cathedral - Languages: English ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 0, currency: USD ## Event venue details - **city**: Indianapolis - **state**: IN - **country**: United States - **location**: Christ Church Cathedral - **lat**: 39.7693732 - **long**: -86.15761119999999 - **full address**: Christ Church Cathedral, 125 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: The Monument Knows: Public Conversation No. 1 - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events3/banners/ce40ae38352c75b6509a68b7303e9d193f2ec463ecf99c3f82c57280f9d0d8bf-rimg-w1200-h600-dcc0c0c2-gmir.jpg?v=1781063472 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is The Monument Knows: Public Conversation No. 1 being held? - **A:** The Monument Knows: Public Conversation No. 1 takes place on Wed, 01 Jul, 2026 at 05:00 pm to Wed, 01 Jul, 2026 at 06:00 pm at Christ Church Cathedral, 125 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, United States. - **Q**: Who is organizing The Monument Knows: Public Conversation No. 1? - **A:** The Monument Knows: Public Conversation No. 1 is organized by Monumental Gestures. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** The Monument Knows: Public Conversation No. 1 is ideal for curious learners, students, and skill-builders looking to gain hands-on knowledge and practical expertise in a focused, interactive setting. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Indianapolis, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If The Monument Knows: Public Conversation No. 1 sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "The Monument Knows: Public Conversation No. 1", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events3/banners/ce40ae38352c75b6509a68b7303e9d193f2ec463ecf99c3f82c57280f9d0d8bf-rimg-w1200-h600-dcc0c0c2-gmir.jpg?v=1781063472", "startDate": "2026-07-01", "endDate": "2026-07-01", "url": "https://allevents.in/indianapolis/the-monument-knows-public-conversation-no-1/100001990875978645", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Christ Church Cathedral", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "125 Monument Circle", "postalCode": "46204", "addressLocality": "Indianapolis", "addressRegion": "IN", "addressCountry": "US" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "39.7693732", "longitude": "-86.15761119999999" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "Monumental Gestures presents The Monument Knows", "offers": [ { "@type": "AggregateOffer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "USD", "availabilityStarts": "2026-09-02", "availabilityEnds": "2026-07-01", "validFrom": "2026-09-02", "lowPrice": "0.00", "highPrice": "0.00", "price": "0.00", "url": "https://allevents.in/indianapolis/the-monument-knows-public-conversation-no-1/100001990875978645" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "USD", "availabilityStarts": "2026-09-02", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-09-02", "url": "https://allevents.in/indianapolis/the-monument-knows-public-conversation-no-1/100001990875978645", "price": 0, "name": "Registration" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "USD", "availabilityStarts": "2026-09-02", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-09-02", "url": "https://allevents.in/indianapolis/the-monument-knows-public-conversation-no-1/100001990875978645", "price": 0, "name": "Support Monumental Gestures" } ], "organizer": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Monumental Gestures", "url": "https://allevents.in/org/monumental-gestures/27897212", "description": "Monumental Gestures transforms public spaces through bold art and design experiences that invite conversation, amplify voices, and celebrate histories." } ] } ] ```