There is a new public art mural across the street on the north side of the courthouse in Marion…read more Created by local artist/art teacher Andrew Luttrull in 2018, the mural spans the entire length of the alley! The artist wanted to create a mural that would focus on the possibilities of what could be and then working towards making that change happen, i.e., a mural that would be positive and encourage being proactive. The mural is painted on a light blue background and from left to right, shows a young male preparing to launch a paper airplane which then changes in a frame by frame style, into a white bird. I found the story of the mural easy to follow and imaginative. And the bright colors seem to soften the emotional effect of walking passed a long, otherwise dark alley. I wish more communities would invest in transforming their old downtowns into canvases and thereby create points of interest for visitors to see. I hope that Marion and the rest of Grant County can take steps to revitalize their towns like I am seeing throughout central Indiana. Review #2258

A very beautiful mural with a positive message. Brings life and color into downtown Marion.read more

Grant County has honored the creator of the cartoon character, Garfield, with a trail tour through…read morethe County. Garfield's creator, Jim Davis, was born and raised in Grant County. Giant figures of the iconic feline are scattered throughout different communities. A cell phone tour describes attractions along the route. I visited several of the figures during my recent visit to Grant County. The first stop is at the Community Foundation of Grant County. The people at the Foundation provided us with a map and information of the Trail. The Garfield behind the Foundation is on a pedestal with a description plaque. This cat is called "Marion - Paws for Thought". Garfield (a little faded) stands with his arms folded showing a little attitude. Our second stop was at the Marion Public Library. Inside, "Bookworm Garfield" is surrounded by books. He is also decorated for the holidays. There are fourteen figures throughout the County. The Trail is a fun way to learn about Grant County. I didn't know about the Trail until my visit. I recommend picking up the map and hooking into the mobile phone guided tour. I found nearby parking at each of our stops, though accessibility was variable.

This is one of the Garfield statues on the Grant County Garfield Trail. Unfortunately, you can't…read moreget close to it, because it's in a garden that's fenced off and locked. So everyone in my party oohed and aahed from a good distance away. There's a plaque inside the gate but close enough to read that outlines what the Garfield Trail is and a little about the statue at this stop. Basically, Grant County has placed Garfield statues all around in different cities in honor of cartoonist Jim Davis, who is from the area. You can drive around and check out each one. It's a nice way to explore Grant County and learn more about a famous Hoosier. There were also some brochures for the Garfield trail inside a little plastic container, which tell you where each statue is located. There's a little parking lot just around the corner from the statue, or you can park on the street.

In Marion, Indiana, there is a stretch of State Road 9 that runs through the town that has been…read moredesignated as "Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial Way". On each end of the memorial road, a marker was installed to honor Dr King. Hoosier artist Kenneth Ryden created a bronze bust/deep relief (circa 2000) of Dr King to be attached to the markers on each side of town. The marker has a quote from Dr King that reads: "I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality." The quote is from his acceptance speech for winning the Nobel Peace Prize. Review #2236

I mean, how are you not going to love a mural that features a cute panda trying to lick a green ice…read morecream cone off of its head? Come on! This is an adorable mural in downtown Fort Wayne, and you need to see it. This mural is titled "Panda Oops," and it is located on a wall that houses the STAR Financial Group on west Berry Street. It was created by Tammy Davis in 2018. I don't know much about this mural beyond those facts, but it's one of the many street art pieces that you need to see in the alleys of downtown Fort Wayne.

One of the rising stars in the metro Indy public art scene is Nekoda (Koda) Witsken who is from the…read morearea and has returned home after extensive travel and education to brighten the lives of people in the area, exposing them to art without the confines of having to visit a museum by placing her murals inside restaurants and other businesses as well as on the side of a building or on the supports of an underpass. Her murals seem to have a vibrant color to them and sometimes have larger than life images. Sometimes they seem abstract and other times, timeless landscapes or portraits, but what ever she paints, it is a pleasant surprise to enjoy. This mural located inside the El Lago Mexican Restaurant dining room covers the entire east wall (over 25 feet!) There are two parts to the mural which you can check out in the photos attached to this review. If you want to take time to enjoy looking at the mural, just order a fine meal and sit and look at the mural while you dine. Do yourself a favor and check out this mural the next time you are in the Geist area! Review #3879

Just outside the Gas City Public Library is a statue of Grant County's own Garfield the cat. This…read morestatue is seen blowing glass with a book about the history of Gas City between his feet. Gas City has a history of glass production (like much of the area including Kokomo). So, it makes sense that if someone wanted to learn about glass blowing in Gas City, the library would be a good place to start. This is one of fourteen statues of the cat in various poses, dressed in different clothing, scattered throughout the county. The path to connect these sites is called the Garfield Trail and is a fun way to get out and explore, maybe finding a new place to eat, or something interesting to check out. Review #2568

This place made my heart so happy. I was walking around and felt like after seeing so many things I…read morewas saying "omg I love this, wow, this is amazing" the employees were so nice and helpful. Such a wonderful community.

I love this museum as it has one of the nicest glass exhibits. Going from different decades and…read morestyles. Every year I come i see new glass exhibits. When they have the day of the deaths exhibit, they give away the traditional bread! Yummy!

While touring Indiana, international artist/muralist Jules Muck (MuckRock) stopped in Kokomo to…read morecreate an Inspirational Heroes wall just a block south east of the courthouse. In an alley, faces were painted along the west wall of the alley of people who inspired others. Some were political. Some were entertainment. Others were just regular people who rose in the occasion to become inspirational to others. The alley includes Barack Obama, Bruce Lee, Ryan White, Maya Angelou, Rosa Parks, MLK Jr, Freddie Mercury, Mr Rogers, and Ceasar Chavez. Although some of the artwork is more detailed (recognizable) than others, once given the names available, I was easily able to identify the individuals. And even though some may seem more inspirational than others to me, the fact is that each inspired some people, showing that inspirational heroes come in all races, genders, and walks of life. Review #3065