The Monument Knows: What is Missing from the Monument?

Rasul Mowatt and Tiffany Tolbert are taking the stage at the Hilbert Circle Theatre on Monday, November 2, for a conversation about public art and the monuments we live around. The evening is part of The Monument Knows: Public Conversation series, which asks what histories the Monument holds and which it leaves out. Mowatt and Tolbert will be in conversation, with Kyle Long moderating a short discussion before opening it up for questions from the audience.

The conversation centers on how race, memory, and power are written into public space, and what it means to care for a landmark as living heritage rather than as a finished object. It's a look at the power of public art in public spaces—the kind of stuff we walk past every day without thinking much about, but that actually shapes how we understand the city. The floor opens to the audience for questions at the end, so it's as much a conversation with the room as it is between the speakers.

If you've spent any time around Monument Circle, you know the landmark is hard to miss, and this session puts it right at the center of the frame. Mowatt and Tolbert bring their perspectives to the table, and Long keeps the conversation moving. It's a chance to hear two people work through these ideas out loud rather than just reading about them.

Doors open at 4:30 PM, and the program begins at 5:00 PM. The event is free and open to everyone, though advance registration is recommended because space is limited. You can find the details and sign up at indyarts.org.