If you didn't see it in the Oct. 12, 2008, edition of the Indianapolis Star (in the Indy Sunday pre-printed feature section), our neighbor Michael Rogers was among community museum and art center docents saluted in a story written by Star reporter Christopher Lloyd. A picture was included with the segment on Michael, who was cited for his work as a docent at the Garfield Park Arts Center. I can vouch for Michael's fine service at the center; on more than one occasion, he's walked me through an exhibit that I've gone there to check out.
Here's the text of the published article on the segment featuring Michael:
Michael Rogers, City of Indianapolis
You wouldn't think the city of Indianapolis would need docents, but Michael Rogers would beg to differ.
Rogers, 62, is a retired architect with a strong relationship to Garfield Park -- very strong.
"I'm a lifelong neighbor of the park. I'm one of those rare ones who has lived in the same house all my life. It was my grandfather's, so there's very much a heritage situation," he said.
His grandfather was involved in constructing the park's amphitheater in the early 1920s. "My family used the park extensively over the generations . . . I, like many others, learned to swim at Garfield Park."
Established in 1881, the city's oldest park has seen glory days and bad times. It has been revitalized with recent renovations, including an art center. Rogers was on the advisory council overseeing the renovations, and that segued into becoming a docent more than two years ago. He also serves on the board of Friends of Garfield Park.
At the art center, which hosts concerts and other events during the summer, "I basically greet people . . . to not only talk to them but show them the art exhibits," Rogers said.
The center has both exhibits and art classes, and Rogers is there most every Saturday and Sunday.
