Photo by Cassie Mitchell

Photo by Cassie Mitchell

Reporter: Cassie Mitchell 

Date: 9/5/2024

 Over Labor Day weekend, GANGGANG returns with their fourth installment of BUTTER. The BUTTER Fine Art Fair is a multi-day event anchored in Indianapolis that allows for Black artists to display and sell their work to the public.

 Each year, BUTTER has gotten bigger and better. With over 32,000 visitors and $749,000 in artwork sales since 2021, the art fair is continuing to impact the Indianapolis community. 

They are a no-commission art fair. The fair does not take a percentage of the sales from the artworks. Artists who participate in BUTTER keep the full amount of the sales price of their work. The non-commission model is more equitable, particularly for Black artists, by allowing them to retain all the revenue from their sales rather than sharing a portion with the fair organizer.

The curators behind BUTTER allow artists to have full creative freedom in the works they create. This is done by withholding the theme from the artists they choose in the initial process. “When we pick artists, we don’t tell them the theme,” said Deonna Craig, the director of BUTTER. “We do not want them to make work that will confine them in any way. We want them to create whatever it is that they want to create.” 

Craig and the curator team organize the artwork by color and common themes. This process of piecing together the work creates a narrative that makes sense to the viewers. 

One of the goals of BUTTER this year was to cater towards younger audiences. “I saw that there were a lot more children at BUTTER this year than in the past years. That was definitely intentional,” Craig said. “We are getting older. So, we want to make sure that there are people who are going to take our place. The goal of BUTTER is to help the younger generation understand the importance of art, legacy, and to understand the importance of preserving and telling people’s story.” 

Initiatives like BUTTER and the efforts of organizations such as GANGGANG are introduced to nurture the next generation of Black artists. By highlighting diverse creative expressions and providing a platform for Black voices, they not only inspire but also validate the ambitions of emerging artists. This exposure helps to bridge the gap between aspiration and achievement, demonstrating that success in the arts is not just a possibility, but an attainable reality. As these young talents continue to engage with and contribute to the creative community, they will not only shape their own futures but also redefine the cultural landscape, ensuring a richer, more inclusive artistic dialogue for years to come.