Three powerful thinkers, who would not otherwise meet, will gather in Indianapolis on November 2, 2008 for a spontaneous, on-stage dialogue on the theme, Exploring Imagination. Conversationalists will consider a variety of questions:

• Where does imagination reside?
• Who or what is cultivating the practice of imagination and when are social, religious, and cultural boundaries appropriate?
• What is needed to unleash public imagination in ways that benefit our communities’ economic, social, and cultural health?

These are just a few of the thought-provoking questions that might emerge in this wide-ranging and always-lively conversation. Don't miss this chance to hear nationally-known voices in the arts, humanities and religion!

Ticket Information:

Admission is free, but tickets are required.

• Get up to four tickets per person by visiting the Clowes Memorial Hall box office on the Butler University campus, 4602 Sunset Ave., Indianapolis. Box office hours are 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Monday–Friday, and 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Saturday. For information only, call 317-940-6444 or 800-732-0804.
• Group tickets for 10 or more people are available by calling Spirit & Place at 317-278-3623.
• If supplies last, tickets might be available at Clowes Memorial Hall on the day of the event. Clowes will honor a line beginning at 1:00 p.m. Those in line will fill any vacant seats as of 1:45 p.m. Outside doors open at 1:00 p.m., and books will be on sale before and after the event.

Questions? Call 317-278-3623 or e-mail festival@iupui.edu.

2008 Conversationalists:

Julie Dash - Producer, writer, and director Julie Dash has received numerous awards since embarking on her film career. “Daughters of the Dust,” released in 1992, was the first full-length general theatrical release by an African American woman. The film was honored as one of the most important cinematic achievements in Black cinema at the 25th Annual Newark Black Film Festival in 1999 and is now in the National Film Registry of The Library of Congress. Dash has also directed several television movies, including CBS Network’s “The Rosa Parks Story” and MTV’s “Love Song,” as well as music videos for numerous musical artists, including Keb’ Mo’, Sweet Honey in the Rock,and Tracy Chapman, for whom she directed “Give Me One Reason."  -more-

Brian D. McLaren - Author, songwriter, and founding pastor of Cedar Ridge Community Church in Spencerville, Maryland, McLaren is a frequent guest on news media programs, including “Larry King Live,” “Religion and Ethics Newsweekly,” and “Nightline.” His innovative work and ideas have been covered in Time (where he was listed as one of America’s 25 most influential evangelicals), Christianity Today, The Washington Post, and many other print media. He has written 16 books including Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crisis, and Revolution of Hope (2007), A Generous Orthodoxy (2004), and A New Kind of Christian (2001), among others.  -more-

Richard Rodriguez - Essayist, journalist, and author who explores the continual interaction of cultures in American life, Rodriguez has authored several critically-acclaimed books, including the widely celebrated and criticized Hunger of Memory: The Education of Richard Rodriguez (1982); Days of Obligation: An Argument With My Mexican Father (1992); and Brown: The Last Discovery of America (2002), which is a series of essays concerned with topics as varied as cleaning the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, cubism, and Broadway musicals. His televised essays on American life (seen on “The News Hour with Jim Lehrer”) were honored with a George Peabody Award.  -more-