New Report Maps 3,090 Artworks You Can See From Public Spaces

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New Report Maps 3,090 Artworks You Can See From Public Spaces In Marion County

Excerpt from an article by Domenica Bongiovanni, Indianapolis Star

For the first time ever, almost every single piece of public art in Marion County has been counted and mapped. Working block by block, a team scouted all of the artist-made work — including the most visible commissioned sculptures and smallest personal memorials — that someone can see from public streets and alleys.

The result is the 85-page report, called “Public Art for All: Marion County Public Art Inventory,” came out Thursday. It redefines public art, which has traditionally often been considered to be large commissioned sculptures and murals that are in highly visible areas. The Indy Arts Council and City of Indianapolis Bicentennial Commission joined with Rokh Research & Design Studio, which works on cultural equity as it fosters connections between people and places, to put together the report.

The total number of works? An astounding 3,090 as of August 2021. It’s a major departure from the Indy Arts Council’s Public Art Directory which had 616 county public art listings at the same time.

“When a lot of people are thinking about public art, sometimes it’s very narrow. But when we took on this study, some of the work we were finding didn’t fit into such a narrow category, but we recognize it as art. You know it when you see it,” author and lead researcher Danicia Monét Malone of Rokh said.

“So we had to broaden the definition so as to have that sense of equity in the study itself. There’s no way we could have a conversation about spatial justice or spatial equity if we were looking at it through such a limited lens.”

Read the full article and learn more about the report. 


Limestone Symposium Participants

Indiana Limestone Symposium participants pose with statues carved from limestone. Image Courtesy The Herald Times.


Limestone Month invites experienced and new artists to learn carving skills

Excerpt from an article by Luzane Draughon in The Herald Times

Carving something in stone makes it more permanent than other forms of media, something participants in the Indiana Limestone Symposium know well, since many travels to Ellettsville year after year to chip away at limestone to better learn the craft.

Sturgeon said Indiana limestone is the best building stone for three reasons: the amount of stone, its versatility and its uniformity. The beds of limestone are thick, meaning large pieces can be carved from one block. It’s durable enough to be on a building but soft enough to have intricate designs. Finally, its uniform texture is appealing and smooth.

“There’s really no other natural material from such a limited geographic area that’s made such a big impact,” she said. “So it’s really special to our community. It’s also impacted who we are as a community, our local heritage.”

Learn more about the Indiana Limestone Symposium here.


Classic Cars artists

Bob Buchanan, Arlon Bayliss, and Mark Buchanan look at designs for one of the RAB sculptures. Image Courtesy Carmel Monthly Magazine.


Arlon Bayliss and bo-mar Industries: Creating an Artistic Tribute to Classic Cars of Indiana

Excerpt from an article in Carmel Monthly Magazine

In the early 1900s there were more than 100 automobile manufacturers in Indiana. Many of them are recognized as iconic expressions of invention and ingenuity in the history of the American automobile.

The city of Carmel commissioned Bayliss and the bo-mar team to create four RAB sculptures that will celebrate Indiana’s classic cars in an unprecedented display along the 96th Street Corridor—each [unique] sculpture will feature artistic interpretations of the classic cars Marmon, Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg (ACD), Stutz and Studebaker – each of which were designed and built in Indiana during the first half of the 20th century when America first began its affinity with automobiles.

“Great public art is an important part of our mission in Carmel to create a city that stands apart for its beauty and quality of life,” said Mayor Jim Brainard. “As this corridor is home to so many automobile dealerships, we felt it would be appropriate to celebrate the beauty and genius of Indiana’s classic cars and the remarkable contributions they made to the industry.”

Learn more and see the sculpture designs here.


Dates and opportunities to keep an eye on:

Job Opportunities:


Stay creative and awesome,

Stephanie HainesArts Education & Accessibility ManagerIndiana Arts Commission

shaines@iac.in.gov

Stephanie Haines