Rest in Power, Mari Evans (1919–2017)

IndyStar reports that Indianapolis poet Mari Evans has died at the age of 93. Evans was an influential figure throughout the state of Indiana, ever since the Black Arts Movement of the 60s and 70s. Last year, the community honored her with a mural in the city's downtown, painted by Michael "Alkemi" Jordan. From IndyStar:

Shauta Marsh, curator at the Big Car Collective and the organizer of the Mari Evans mural project, said she was inspired by Evans when she first learned about her a decade ago.

She recently worked with another artist, Carl Pope, on a wall installation — including photos of Evans and quotes from some of her writings — from November through mid-January at the Tube Factory Artspace on the city's south side.

"There's no one who can compare to her and replace her," Marsh said. "I believe she has, to this day, continued to influence people. ... I felt like she did more for me than I did for her."

Mike Mather, pastor of Broadway United Methodist Church, where Evans liked to attend services for the past 15 years or so, would see her once a week on Tuesdays and remembered his close friend as being spirited and engaging — with a sharp sense of humor — up until the end of her life. She was a member of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church for years.

"She was always feisty and smart," Mather said. "She was insightful and interesting. … She wasn't afraid to share her opinion, and, like most thoughtful people, she chose her words very carefully."

Mather said Evans also loved working with and being around young people, and participated often as a judge in a national literary competition for youth writers. When she was finished judging, she would give away those books to children in the neighborhood.

Read more of the city's remembrances at the IndyStar.