Wednesday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m. free: Jeffrey Meldrum, a prominent researcher on Sasquatch and professor of anatomy and anthropology at Idaho State University presents a talk and book signing. Books and plaster casts of big foot prints will be available for purchase before and after his talk.

Indianapolis Central Library
Clowes Auditorium
40 E. Saint Clair St.

Meldrum's interest in Bigfoot grew after being shown 15-inch footprints in a plowed field near Walla Walla, Washington. Although initially believing the tracks to be forgeries, upon further examination he noticed what he believes is evidence of a high degree of flexibility in the print and a mid-tarsal break, traits he has come to believe belong to Bigfoot. Meldrum has published several academic papers ranging from vertebrate evolutionary morphology, the emergence of bipedal locomotion in modern humans and Sasquatch and is a co-editor of a series of books on paleontology. Meldrum is the author of the 2006 book Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science, a companion volume to the Discovery Channel documentary of the same name.

This is also a preview of Big Car Gallery's Bigfoot-themed art show opening Friday, Oct. 2 in conjunction with a show on the same theme featuring Nat Russell and Matt Kalasky in Studio 214 in the Murphy Art Center and also in a show featuring Lori Miles and Casey Roberts at iMOCA on Oct. 9.

The series, presented by Big Car Collective and the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library, and supported by The Efroymson Family Fund, is linked to the library's fall adult reading program and shows at Big Car and at iMOCA later this month.

The Oct. 2 First Friday show will feature hundreds of drawings of what people think big foot looks like. 6-11 p.m. at Big Car.

More about the Big Curiosities Series:

Oct. 28, 7 p.m. at Central Library, free: Big Car Collective assembles an unusual orchestra of experimental musicians to create a spooky and spontaneous soundtrack to the 1920 silent version of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde -- just in time for Halloween. Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel about the dark side of human nature comes to life with silent-era heartthrob John Barrymore as upright Dr. Jekyll and demonic Mr. Hyde. A dinner conversation on the topic of human duality at a dinner party prompts Jekyll to concoct a potion to divide the human psyche's two sides: good and evil. Soon, the dark side takes over to deadly results. All will be accompanied by a live soundtrack featuring a Tonos Triad, Shiny Black Shirt and others.

Nov. 5, 7 p.m. at Central Library, free: UFO expert Stanton Friedman presents a talk. Friedman became interested in UFOs in 1958, and since 1967 has lectured about them at more than 600 colleges and 100 professional groups in 50 U.S. states, nine Canadian provinces and 16 other countries in addition to various nuclear consulting efforts. He has published more than 90 UFO papers and has appeared on hundreds of radio and TV programs including on Larry King in 2007 and twice in 2008, and many documentaries. He is the original civilian investigator of the Roswell Incident and co-authored "Crash at Corona: The Definitive Study of the Roswell Incident." "TOP SECRET/MAJIC," his controversial book about the Majestic 12 group, established in 1947 to deal with alien technology, was published in 1996 and went through six printings.

Other October events:

Saturday, Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. Accordions, Sea Krowns and others at Corporate Rock Off, a fundraising battle of the bands for Second Story at Radio Radio in Fountain Square. $10, $5 for students.

Monday, Oct. 12 at 7:30 p.m. poets Micah Ling, Andrew Scott, and Nathan Graziano will read with Mitchell Douglas at 7:30 p.m. at Big Car.

Wednesday, Oct. 14: Art21 preview screening and discussion, at Herron in partnership with Big Car and iMOCA. Download a guide to the Transformation episode we're screening here

Sunday, Oct. 18: Music show featuring touring bands Gasoline Heart and Adam & Dave's Bloodline, and locals My Hidden Track at 8 p.m. $5

Friday, Oct. 30: Dead Zone Boys group art show and Jookabox CD release show, opening at 6 p.m., music at 8 p.m. $5 with Normanoak and others TBA.

Asthmatic Kitty Records recording artist Jookabox has teamed up with Big Car Gallery and 11 artists from Indianapolis and Bloomington to create an art show that renders each one of the songs on his new album, Dead Zone Boys, as a work of art. Dead Zone Boys, the third album from Jookabox (Indianapolis-born David "Moose" Adamson and Co.), is love story meets psychedelic zombie-musical. The zombie part came easy: Moose grew up on the east side of Indianapolis in the 90s, an area plagued by constant recession, pandemic homicide, and racial tension. A few strong tribes chose to stay in the area despite constant warnings from fleeing acquaintances. It was this frantic energy and violence that infused itself into the Jookabox experience. Since then, the area struggles to revitalize and Adamson’s musical interests and excursions have crystallized into a startlingly singular and eclectic songwriting strategy. One thing is certain here: if vacant strip malls occupied only by shitdragged liquor stores and fluorescent check cashing joints are foreign to you, then Dead Zone Boys will be your guidebook, Jookabox your tour guide. This is more evident now than ever on what is sure to become a cult classic.

Artists in the show: Jessica Sowls, Jim Walker, Ben Tousley, Liz Janes, John Clark, Erin Drew, DM STITH, Ryan Irvin, Craig McCormick, Casey Roberts and Tom Streit. Dead Zone Boys stays open as Big Car's First Friday show on Nov. 6, 6-11 p.m. and throughout November.

Video from Big Car