The Scoop
About Us
Know No Stranger is a collective of artists and friends who work and play to uplift, engage, and entertain our fun-loving fellow denizens of Indianapolis and abroad.
Since 2009, KNS has pursued a more vibrant, creative, welcoming Indy. Friends know us for inexpensive, innovative projects and live performances. Common ingredients include cardboard, glue, music, pixels, puns, puppets, and positivity.
Our focus may shift. Our interests may evolve. But our mainstay event is the annual anything-goes extravaganza OPTICAL POPSICLE. Plus, Know No Stranger contributes to the Indianapolis arts community in tons of ways: We do pop-up shows, performances at charitable events, and video commissions. We create immersive galleries and online films. Past partners include the Indianapolis Public Library, LillyX, Newfields Indianapolis Museum of Art, WFYI, Eskenazi Health Network, and the Eiteljorg Museum.
Do you like Indianapolis, smiling, and inclusivity, too? Reach out and let’s talk collaboration!
Notable Past Projects
2019
Optical Popsicle X, Cyrus Place (formerly Earth House)
2018
The Great Cherry Tree Caper!, Drosselmeyer’s All-American Freedom Festival Cabaret
The Life and Times of Aimée Crocker, LillyX
Everyday Superheroes, Indianapolis Public Library
Wallace Wimbley Officiates Sophia & Brett’s Wedding, actual wedding, Indianapolis
2017
DJ Rude-Dolph, Drosselmeyer’s XXX-Mas Cabaret
Optical Popsicle Zero, Grove Haus
Wimbley & Fuselmann’s Light Show, White Rabbit Cabaret
Heck Above Deck Original Cast Recording, Bandcamp
2016
Performing Artists in Residence at the Indianapolis Museum of Art
Canal Pirates, Indy Ultimate Adventure Race
International Puppetry Festival Parade, Nashville, TN
Dads, TEDx Lilly
Heck Above Deck, Indianapolis Museum of Art
2015
Performing Artists in Residence at the Indianapolis Museum of Art
MLK: Speaking of Love, Indianapolis Museum of Art
Cerebrum: Memories Re-Animated, Indianapolis Museum of Art
The Ballad of Casey’s Billy-Goat, Oxford Kinetic Festival
CreativeMornings Indianapolis, Indiana State Museum
Directions Get You There, WFYI PBS Kids in the Park
SLICE, Fountain Square Music Festival
Optical Popsicle Infinity, Indianapolis Museum of Art
The Christmas That Never Was, Indiana Historical Society
2014
Be Your Selfie, IIDA Fashion Show
Pigeon Friends, Oxford Kinetic Festival
Optical Popsicle 7, Indianapolis Museum of Art
Monster Workshop, Eiteljorg Museum
New Years Eve, Indianapolis Museum of Art
2013
The ROW Show, Reconnecting to our Waterways
Wildwood, Clowes Hall
The Hunt, City Market
Tony Rex, WFYI PBS Kids in the Park
White River Arts & Music Festival
Optical Popsicle Hi-5 Live, The Athenaeum
2012
Paparazzi, Superbowl XLVI
Wallter, Indiana Landmarks
Optical Popsicle 4 Ever, Madame Walker Theater
GAMEspot, Indiana Humanities
The Story of Indianapolis, TEDx
2011
Dub And Dubber, IndyFringe
Optical Popsicle III, Earth House
2010
The Interweb, Earth House
Mundanities, Indianapolis Central Library
Optical Popsicle II, The Athenaeum
2009
Optical Popsicle, Earth House