Annual showcase for art and music keeps its flavor

One of the city's premier art events -- and the largest one catering to a young, avant crowd -- started off as a party.

In spring 2002, Adam Carr Crockett and Ryan Hickey, who became friends at Indiana University, looked at their options for a weekend night.

There was the Broad Ripple scene (which, by the way, they enjoy) and then there were more staid art events (which they also enjoy). But there wasn't a night quite like what they envisioned.

"We started going out to do things outside of the box that maybe our peer groups weren't doing," Hickey said. "We found that things going on in the arts community were somewhat traditional. And it's not that they're bad, they just catered to a different audience."

But they wanted a night that would be all-encompassing and decidedly young.

"(Oranje) actually started out as an idea for a party at my house to bring together contemporary artists and musicians," Crockett said. "It was just an idea for something different to do."

The pair had a lucky meeting with the owner of a 12,000-square-foot building on the Near Southside. The owner loved the idea of having an art-and-music part, and gave Hickey and Crockett the chance to use the space. The event was under way; the name came next.

Their market plan, Hickey said, was printed on orange paper. The Dutch soccer team is called Oranje, and the first event was held at the corner of Madison and Orange.

"Orange, as we saw it, represents a taste, a food, a color, a smell," Crockett said. "It's multidimensional. Oranje, the art event, is also multidimensional."

Then they began selling their idea.

"We were so blown away. Once we secured that space, we literally made a Word document about it," Hickey said. "We went around and slid the piece of paper across tables. We had such an overwhelming response."

"We thought, if we get 200 people it would be a big success," Crockett said. "We had 700 people come."

Since the first show, the pair has expanded on the event.

This year's Oranje features 25 performers, different "enviro-lounges" including fashion and film, along with an arts-heavy lineup of visual and performance artists.

But the event continues to stay true to the roots the duo grew back in 2002. Oranje is a big party in a large building, with plenty of artists selling their wares and musicians of all types playing in various locations throughout.

Oranje 2007 drew 2,500 attendees to the building at 2323 N. Illinois St. And the 2008 event celebrates a first for Oranje -- it's going to be held at the same venue as the previous year.

Hickey and Crockett now have a staff of 10 paid and unpaid workers, and there's little resting on laurels.

"One thing we've learned over the past seven years is we can't let Oranje sit six months," Crockett said. "Really, we started (organizing) back in November."

But the day after, they'll switch off their cell phones and head to a lake house for a few days of relaxation.

"We put literally thousands of hours in developing this event, all with the hope that we will present a wonderful showcase, a wonderful event of art and music to show people what is going on in this city, and hopefully broaden people's horizons," Crockett said.

Oranje

Where: 2323 N. Illinois St.

When: 8 p.m. Sept. 20 to 2 a.m. Sept. 21.

Cost: $20.

Info: www.Oranjeindy.com