Mesgana Waiss
banner
theavgjourn.bsky.social
Mesgana Waiss
@theavgjourn.bsky.social
arts and culture reporter at Mirror Indy
✍🏾keeping tabs on the cool stuff in Indy
✉️ mesgana.waiss@mirrorindy.org| https://mirrorindy.org/author/mesgana-waiss/
For over 8 years, historian Deedee Davis has been researching the lost photographs of Osbert Sumner. He captured former President Benjamin Harrison’s funeral, the first annual Fall Carnival downtown and city residents.

Read my latest for Mirror Indy: mirrorindy.org/historic-pho...
The lost photographs of Osbert Sumner
Historian Deedee Davis’ research began seven years ago to tell a different story of life in Indianapolis from 1898-1903.
mirrorindy.org
October 23, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Two years ago, Grassroot Projects started offering free art classes to children from immigrant families. I spent time with some of the cutest kids as they made textiles. I also talked with co-founder Priya Gangwani about the class being way for them to “not hide.”

mirrorindy.org/immigrants-s...
An art class designed for immigrant children to ‘not hide’
Two years ago, Grassroot Projects started offering free six-week art classes to immigrant families in Indianapolis.
mirrorindy.org
October 17, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Hip-hop found a home in Fountain Square in 2015. Over the past 10 years, the Chreece hip-hop festival has displayed all elements of the genre.

Live music events come and go, but the “little festival that could” somehow remains.

My latest story for Mirror Indy: mirrorindy.org/history-of-t...
Chreece turns 10
How Indy’s ‘Rap Christmas’ was born, its growing pains and what comes next.
mirrorindy.org
August 26, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Heading to BUTTER this year? Here’s another reason to go: Ju’s Juke Joint. You’ll delve deeper into Black musical heritage over art, food, drinks + live music. I got a chance to talk to headliner Buddy Redd, T.I.’s son, about his idol Wes Montgomery and rock n’ roll.
mirrorindy.org/ganggang-to-...
Buddy Red to headline new ‘juke joint’ party for BUTTER 5
See art from Black artists and get a side of sweat and rhythm and blues from Buddy Red and local musicians.
mirrorindy.org
August 14, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Reposted by Mesgana Waiss
Our arts and culture reporter @theavgjourn.bsky.social is here! Give her a follow. #Indianapolis
July 26, 2025 at 7:08 PM