Creative Escape | Circle City Industrial Complex

Have you ever played a fowling match? Would your kids enjoy visiting a chocolate factory and tasting a flight of chocolate? From dance class to blowing glass to fowling matches, the Circle City Industrial Complex (CCIC) has engaging experiences for kids and adults alike.

Things to Do at the Circle City Industrial Complex

Housed in a renovated industrial building, the Circle City Industrial Complex is located between Massachusetts Avenue and Brookside Avenue. Free parking is easily accessible with a large 4-acre lot across the street from the building. Public restrooms are available in the complex.

Visiting the CCIC is a creative escape in itself. With over 100 artists, galleries, and businesses, it is a unique destination to visit. Studios are open to the public on the first Friday of the month and some studios and businesses are also open by appointment. The first Friday of each month is the best time to check out the CCIC, as most businesses and studios are open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. First Fridays allow visitors to explore all the art studios, enjoy beverages from one of the breweries (for purchase), treat themselves to a beverage or snacks, and listen to live music. It is free to attend and open to all ages.

Schwitzer Gallery

1125 Brookside Avenue – Second Floor

Built-in 1918, the CCIC was originally home to the Schwitzer Corporation, an automotive manufacturing facility. The Schwitzer Corporation’s founder, Louis Schwitzer was an automotive pioneer who is credited with significant improvements in cooling, hydraulics, and the development of the turbocharger. He was also a race car driver, famous for winning the first race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1909. Giving honor to the building’s history, the aptly named Schwitzer Gallery, is located on the second floor. It features 2,400 square feet to showcase rotating artists. Open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Dance Kaleidoscope

1125 E. Brookside Avenue, Suite D05

Dance Kaleidoscope has two large dance studios with sprung floors, a costume shop/storage space, and a multi-purpose room. They offer evening and weekend public dance classes for children and adults. Children can explore dance through ‘Try It!’ an introductory thirty-minute creative class for boys and girls ages three to five years. Dancers improve flexibility and coordination through fun movement and exercise. Classes are taught by professional dancers and include ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, and lyrical. Discounts are offered for families with multiple children or a single child taking more than one class. Zoom classes are also offered at a discount. The Dance Kaleidoscope website has information about summer camps, drop-in classes, and performances.

Fowling Warehouse Indy

1125 E Brookside Ave, Suite D09

A cross between football, bowling, and cornhole, fowling is a unique family game. If you are looking for a new activity for the family, add this destination to your weekend to-do list. Children must be 10 years of age or older to play. Kids are welcome to The Fowling Warehouse Indy on the weekends (12 p.m. to 6 p.m.)

Indy Fused Glass

1125 Brookside Avenue, Suite C05

Our first visit to the CCIC was for a class at Indy Fused Glass. We were looking for a glass experience that would accommodate kids under the age of 10 years and found fusing to be a fun option. During the class, Meredith Frey, the studio owner, gave hands-on demonstrations on how to use the tools and explained basic techniques. She also was available for questions and walked around the stations, providing assistance when needed. Fusing involves placing pieces of colored glass on a flat glass base. Unlike glass blowing, there was no heat involved during class. Instead, pieces are heated in a kiln after class and picked up at a later date.

Thanks to the instruction, we felt confident using the tools and experimenting with different types of glass. Classes are held throughout the week and on Saturdays. To book a class, register online, and select ‘pay there,’ for a discounted price. Classes start at $58.

Glass fusing is a great choice for kids ages 8+. My kids enjoyed designing their own artwork, using tools, being independent, and creating their first piece of glass art. The studio is filled with unique glass jewelry and artwork available for purchase as well.

Glass Arts Indiana

1125 Brookside Avenue, Suite C25

This glassblowing studio and gallery is home to a community of emerging and established glass artists. Glass Arts Indiana (GAI) is a non-profit that offers a variety of classes for ages 10+. Choices for the class include paperweights, sculpted flowers, and blown ornaments. We walked through the studio to meet the artists and see examples before deciding which class to select. The artists were wonderful with kids, answering their questions, and teaching about tools and techniques. During open studio hours, chairs are set up for visitors to watch the artists at work. Classes start at $58 and can be booked online.

Daily Epiphany Studio: Michele Burns and Kurt Kriese

1125 Brookside Avenue, Suite B17

Located in the South Studios, Daily Epiphany Studio features naturally luminous “Night Light Art” paintings. Artist Michele Burns’ work is inspired by pattern, color, texture, and the fun of a second, luminous, and sometimes different composition shown in the dark.

The glow comes from industrial-grade, OSHA-rated child-safe, bright photo-luminescent minerals in paints she makes herself. The paints shed light at different rates for each color, so compositions change throughout the night. In addition to beautiful paintings, these pieces of art work well as nightlights, glowing for 12 to 20 hours. My kids enjoyed seeing the difference of the art in light and dark, and appreciating the details in the work.

Kurt Kriese is currently working on abstract, colored, and layered multimedia paintings on wood. The pieces encourage viewers to look for complexity in what appears simple at first glance.

Restaurants

When it was time for lunch, we opted to visit The Garage Food Hall in the Bottleworks District a couple of blocks away. The Garage is a 30,000-square-foot local-focused food and market hall, located in the former Coca-Cola bottling plant’s garage buildings.

My family enjoyed the variety of food vendors which included Italian, Greek, Brazilian, British, Venezuelan, and American cuisines. For those looking for a snack, The Garage is home to Lick Ice Cream and Certain Feelings Coffee Company.

Know Before You Go

With more than a half million square feet, you will want to check out the suite number or building map on the CCIC website before you visit.

The CCIC’s art studios and galleries are located in the central portion of the building, between overhead doors G3 and G5. The majority of studios are located on the second floor, which is accessible through entrances 3 or 4. Check with individual businesses for specific hours.

Celebrate your creative kid’s birthday with a party any artist would love!

Book the babysitter for a date night in Indy.