Public memorial for Milton Lindgren and Eric Hendricks

Public memorial for Milton Lindgren and Eric Hendricks

Thursday, November 20, 2008, 5:30 p.m.

Indianapolis Art Center, Churchman-Fehsenfeld Gallery
820 E. 67th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46220

The Indianapolis Art Center and Indiana Equality invite the public to an evening of remembrance for Milton Lindgren and Eric Hendricks.

Painting of Milton Lingren by Ellie Siskind.*

The community is invited to a memorial for Milton Lindgren and Eric Hendricks who were murdered in their home October 20, 2008. Lindgren was 70; Hendricks, confined to a wheelchair, was 73. They had been subject to vandalism and anti gay statements prior to their violent deaths.

Lindgren, considered a member of the Art Center family, had been a student since 1993 and a model. He and Hendricks are missed by hundreds of students, faculty and staff, in addition to friends and family. Artworks created by faculty and students of Lindgren will be displayed for one night only for the memorial service.

Annie Beck, the Art Center’s Associate Director of Education, announced Lindgren’s passing to the staff with these words, “Milt was a gentle kind person and a highly sought-after model for our classes. Knowing that such a sweet and giving person died such a violent death makes this even more senseless.”

Jon Keep, President of Indiana Equality, authored an editorial titled, “Now more than ever, we need to pass hate crimes law,” that appeared in the Indianapolis Star on Tuesday, November 4, 2008, about the murders. He points out that, “Forty-five states have hate crimes legislation on the books, and the majority of those states cover anti-gay hate crimes.” Indiana is among those states without. “When the state of Indiana doesn’t take bias-motivated crimes seriously, it only encourages violent individuals to brutally murder others.”

Speakers at the memorial will include:

Pastor Dave Dehnke, Harvest Lutheran Church, Mooresville, IN

Erin Rosenberg, from Congressman André Carson's office

Joyce Sommers, Executive Director, Indianapolis Art Center

Douglas S. Hairston, City of Indianapolis

Ellie Siskind, Indianapolis Art Center painting instructor for 25 years

Jon Keep, President of Indiana Equality

Tentative agenda:
5:30 p.m.
Indy Men’s Chorus will sing “Blow Ye the Trumpet” to begin the memorial
Speakers for approx. 25 minutes.
6 p.m.
Indy Men’s Chorus ends the memorial with “Walk Hand in Hand.”
6:05 p.m.
Attendees are invited to view artworks created by faculty and staff of Milton Lindgren in the Churchman-Fehsenfeld Gallery. Artworks will be displayed this one night only.

*This painting was recently exhibited (prior to Lindgren’s passing) in a solo exhibition by Siskind at the Art Center titled, “A Cup in Time,” August 29 – October 5, 2008. Siskind is a regionally recognized artist with work in the permanent collections of four Indiana art museums, in addition to being a recipient of the 2002-03 Creative Renewal Grant from the Arts Council of Indianapolis.

About the Indianapolis Art Center

Indianapolis Art Center is a not-for-profit community arts organization that makes art accessible to all people and enhances people's lives through art. Located in the Broad Ripple Village Cultural District and along the White River, the Indianapolis Art Center is the place to make art, see art and talk about art. For more information visit www.IndplsArtCenter.org or call (317) 255-2464.

About Indiana Equality

The mission of Indiana Equality is to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Indiana. IE seeks such equality by facilitating and coordinating the efforts of the LGBT and allied community that are directed to research, education, and community mobilization. For more information, see our website at www.IndianaEquality.org.