This mural is not a traditional mural. It is made of 53 individual panels and not painted directly…read moreon them. It is the work of Will Watson, who based the image off of the nearby Fall Creek. Watson's original print was scanned at high resolution and the turned into a series of adhesive vinyl sheets that were attached to the 53 custom-made aluminum panels. The mural feature a blue heron frolicking in the lake, along with a lady bug, jumping fish, butterfly and native lake vegetation. It was partially funded by a grant from Reconnecting To Our Waterways. I find this mural interesting, but boring, if that makes sense. It attracts your attention because of the colors and it being on panels, but does not keep it. The colorful mural is 28 feet tall and 40 feet high. It is prominently placed on the side of the Overlook at the Fairgrounds, an apartment complex. It was installed in 2016 and is a great addition to the building. The building is one block away from the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The location listed on Yelp is incorrect and will take you to the Fairgrounds. There is free street parking available and a private lot across the street that I pulled into to get a closer look of the mural. So, parking here is not difficult. As with most murals that I have reviewed, this is probably not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other wonderful murals in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

About a block east of the Fairgrounds on 38th Street, a very cool mural has been placed on the side…read moreof a building. The mural was created by artist Will Watson in 2016. It shows images of wildlife that can be found along the adjacent Fall Creek River. The 40' x 28' mural was made from vinyl images applied to aluminum squares and attached to the upper floors of the building. The images include a variety of plants and wildlife like birds and bugs with a bright yellow background for the upper squares. Review #1526

This is an abstract piece that is located in White River State Park, between the Indiana State…read moreMuseum and the NCAA Hall of Champions, overlooking the canal. You cannot miss it. It is the brightest yellow you will find. It is the work of James Haven and this simple nature based piece is founded on Haven's mantra, less is more. It is a simple piece, that he intended to not need any explanation. The sculpture is in excellent shape and is constructed of painted yellow steel. If you view the sculpture from the cultural Trail near the Indiana State museum side, you can really see the bright butterfly the best. But don't worry, if you are viewing from the canal, you can see the butterfly form as well. In my opinion, it is just better viewed from the other side. Even though it is a simple piece, I like it. It is a great addition to the White River Park art collection. There is limited street parking within walking distance of the sculpture and there is the White River Park parking lot and garage that are available to park so you can get out and take a closer look. You can not see this sculpture from your vehicle. As with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is probably not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other wonderful pieces of public art on campus, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. You may want to make it a stop during your visit to White River Park or one of the resident 3 museums in the vicinity.

One of the public art additions to the Cultural Trail along the west side of the State Museum is…read morecalled Yellow Butterfly. The ten feet high sculpture was created by Ohio sculptor James Haven from painted metal. The sculpture is simple in that there are three triangular panels angled to form a body and two wings. Even with so few parts, the artist is able to communicate his idea with minimal explanation. Review #1626

This mural is massive. It not only covers Big Hoffas BBQ's main building, front, back, and sides,…read morebut it bleeds over to the building next door. It uses every inch of the building and incorporates flag masts on the buildings roof. It was painted in 2019 by Jackie McCracken and Robert Schaefer. The mural wall is not flat or smooth. It has ridged, kind of like a tin roof, and overlooks Big Hoffas' parking lot. The mural theme continues on into the restaurant. I am not sure of the tie in with Barbecue and pirates, but Big Hoffas is all in and seems to make it work. The mural is very colorful and has a lot going on. In the center you will find a couple of pirate ships sailing off the coast. The front door of the restaurant is used in the larger of the ships. The left side of the mural (as you are facing it), is very interesting. It is actually kind of 3D and has cutouts of a pirate scene with a swashbuckler bursting out of a window of a building and and 4 more pirates down below sitting by a campfire. There are also a set of white angel wings in between those pirates that are like those that are starting to pop up all over the place and where people can takes pictures in front of and make look like they are wearing them. They seem kind of out of place to me, but no big deal. The rest of the mural is mostly a coastal image. I love the artistry and use of color and can only imagine how long it took to paint it. You can not help but be "wow'ed" by this mural. You probably wont spend too much time checking this mural out. It is a lot to look at a digest. I was there about 10 minutes. So, I recommend coupling it with a visit to Big Hoff's to eat some of their delicious "Q". Since it overlooks their parking lot, parking here is easy. I would also recommend checking out that entire mural that includes the patio area and a whole other building next door.

Wow! What a statement piece mural has been added to Westfield. On the east walls (and wrapping…read morearound three other walls) of the Big Hoffa's BBQ and the Main Street Shoppes is one of the largest murals I've seen. The entire length of wall has been turned into a Pirate's Cove with multiple sailing ships, pirates, and even a few skeletons. The north ends of the buildings continue the mural to add images of an island paradise and a cloud covered sea. The mural was created by Rob Schaefer and Jackie McCracken in 2019. There is so much detail to see, I will pick just a few to highlight here. Ship's masts - Not only is there a giant mural, but some construction was done to turn the largest ship's masts into actual wooden structures with crow's nests that stick up above the wall of the mural. As you approach from the east, it makes you think it is a real sailing ship! Pirate theme - For anyone who has dined inside Big Hoffa's, there already existed a pirate theme, so kudos to the artists for taking that and making the entire building a not so subtle advertisement. Insta-worthy - If you can get here when there isn't a crowd, there is a section of the wall with a pair of angel wings where you can take a selfie while surrounded by pirates. This is one of those pieces you have to see for yourself to appreciate how much skill and effort went into creating the mural. The surfaces aren't smooth, but unless you look carefully, you can't tell that there are raised ridges that run vertically which add even more challenge. Although I am rarely a fan of other murals being painted over, (the space used to have a giant village painted in a somewhat primitive style), I can't deny that the visual appeal of this new mural is much greater to me. The next time you are in Westfield, make a point to stop by these shops! Review #3360

One of Indianapolis' oldest art installations was created in 1893. This bronze tribute has been…read morelocated several places and has undergone a major restoration to bring it to the condition it now has on the north side elevation over the Library entrance. Created by artist Richard Bock, the piece has three central figures as well as side images. On the left is Literature. A small bust of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is at her feet. In the center is the statue for Science with enlightenment and achievement represented. On the right is Art with a bust of Michelangelo at her side. Finally, an eagle appears ready to take flight behind the three figures. Review #1719

The sculpture was designed by Dick Lutin in conjunction with the Southeast Neighborhood Development…read moreCorporation (SEND). The base was designed and the site was prepared by Eric Etchison and Smock Fansler. It is a simple design that would be much better if it was not vandalized. The sculpture is intended to pay homage to the area's past. It has displays on two of its 3 panels with content about Fountain Square's history and culture. One of the panels has been busted out and has not been repaired. All the panels have a blue neon light that comes on at night and is supposed to represent moving water. The sculpture costed about $85,000 and was funded by the Indianapolis Cultural Development Commission, the Southeast Umbrella Organization and the Fountain Square Merchants Association. This is a decent piece, but definitely not worthy of a special trip to see. If you happen to be in the area then so be it. There is free street parking right across the street from this sculpture. As with most murals that I have reviewed, though, this is probably not a very long stop. I was there less than 3 minutes. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the wonderful murals in the area to maximize your time and trip.

As you head southeast on Virginia Avenue over the I-65/I-70 interstates, you may notice a three…read moresided construct on the south side of the road. "Wishful Thinking" is the name of the installation and it is a cultural welcome to the Fountain Square district. Created by artist Dick Lutin in 2005 in cooperation with SEND (Southeast Neighborhood Development Corporation), the steel and stone piece is meant to be an abstract of a spraying fountain. Each of the tree panels is covered with images of Fountain Squares' history. At night, the built-in lighting shines through the panel fronts in shades of blue. Review #1887

This mural had the distinction of being the longest continuous mural at the time. It spans over…read more1,230 feet, and was designed by Art Institute of Indianapolis student Patrick Viles for Eli Lily's 1st annual Global Day of Service, in conjunction with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc, an organization who mission is to unite people to beautify the city, improve the environment, and foster pride in the community. The mural depicts about 30 individual scenes including some popular Indianapolis landmarks like the Indianapolis Zoo, the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, the State Fair, and the city's south side. There is also murals of dolphins, a dinosaur, and football. It was a painted by volunteers from Lily, most of which had little or no formal art experience. It was a paint by number type of thing. It is eye catching and very colorful. The wall that the mural is painted on has lots of pitting and the mural is not in the best area. There is also a lot of litter along the road the mural is on. Surprisingly, it has not been the victim of any graffiti attacks, as far as I know. The mural is near other nice murals and graffiti This is a mural that is difficult to get a good look at. There is really no parking nearby and it is located off of a very busy street.I recommend doing a safe and strategic slow rolling drive by on this one. That is one of the few times that I would recommend that. Lily has done some great volunteer work around the city through the years and this is no exception.

As part of the original Lilly Day of Service in 2008, a Guinness World Record for the longest…read morecontinuous mural was painted on the east retaining wall of Madison Avenue north of Raymond Street. Individual color blocked panels show activities and fun places to go in Indianapolis. The mural reaches 1230 feet (just under a quarter of a mile!) In addition to the long mural, there is another mural farther north that has a music theme painted on a blue background. Across Madison Avenue on the west retaining wall (near Pleasant Run Pkwy) along the baseball diamond for Manual HS is another mural. This mural has portraits of famous Hoosiers in monochromatic colors surrounded by brightly colored butterflies. Review #1707

Located adjacent to the Newfields parking lot in a small mall. These pieces can be viewed as…read moreindivdual pieces or as one rather large art piece. Others have already written about the creator Roy Lichtenstein and the history. Let me just add that during nice weather you can relax on one of the many benches along the mall and enjoy these art pieces as well as the flowers along each side of this large lawn. A great thing to do before or after a visit to the gardens or the museum.

This piece, which i guess is considered pop art, is by Roy Lichtenstein and is located in a…read morecourtyard area right outside of the Indianapolis Museum of Art. It was made in 2012 and purchased by by the Museum in 2013. However, the sculpture was actually conceived by Lichtenstein between 1983 to 1984. He developed sketches and created small-scale copies. The piece's enormity kept it from become a reality before the he passes away in 1997 though. The Roy Lichtenstein foundation funded the fabrication of the sculpture that we see today.. It is simple, but eye catching, consisting of 5 large painted aluminum pieces of different sizes and orientations, that resemble strokes from a paint brush. They really do resemble brush strokes too. It does help to know the context and having the title before seeing it though. They used red, black, yellow and white to color the pieces and is double sided, so it can be viewed from either direction The courtyard that the sculpture is located is well maintained and very nice. There are benches to sit. The good thing about this sculpture is that you can view it even when the museum is closed and that there is free parking right by it. It is very easy to get to. This piece is not very complicated, but catches you attention and is perfectly placed in the IMA courtyard. As with most public art that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 10 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other wonderful art in the IMA, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

This is one of Jules "MuckRock" Muck's many murals that she painted while in Indianapolis in 2019…read more This mural overlooks a vacant lot and is highly disrespected. There are two pile of mulch dumped right in front of the mural and there is an abandoned bus on the lot as well. The mural is showing a little bit of wear. The mural depicts two rabbits getting it on. The bottom rabbit is smoking a cigaret and they are both crossed with caution tape. The artists signature MuckRock tag appears a a cloud coming from one of the rabbit's rear and reads "MuckRock "hearts" Indy" This mural is actually a redo an original one that was painted on the side of an Eastside restaurant. It was the same setting, minus the caution tape. It was removed in less than 24 hours after receiving numerous complaints. The mural did have its share of reporters through. It was eventually replaced by another MuckRock mural of Bambi and Thumper. I like the bold statement that MuckRock takes with this mural and that she was able to do it over, be it in a different location. It is basic to intermediate artistically and outside of the obvious, is kind of boring. It is not my favorite MuckRock work, by far. For the record, I am not offended by the mural, nor was I offended by the original, but respect the opinions of those who are/were. I do not totally agree with the original being removed, but I do understand. Being that it overlooks and empty field, parking to get a closer look is very easy. As with most murals that I have reviewed, this is probably not a very long stop. I was there less than 3 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other cool murals in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

They're back. One of the most talked about art installations in recent local history has found a…read morenew home on the side of an art gallery...but with a twist. The artist, international muralist Jules "MuckRock" Muck, was invited to paint her Muck Bunnies on the east wall of the building in August 2019. But this time, the artist painted proportionally sized yellow caution tape across the mural to stay away. If you have been living under a rock, the image originally was painted on the exterior wall of Beholder Restaurant on 10th. The owner of the building objected (even though the chef/restaurant approved) and painted over the mural the very next day. That caused even further uproar as some people remained offended even after the mural was removed and others were offended that the art was destroyed. Talk about controversy. And it was meaningless because the mural was already gone and all the talk was just that..talk. It couldn't change the past, either in the creation or destruction of the art. So what was the point of the outrage? So, now we have a self-censored version in a different area of town and we will see if this one causes a stir. What is sad is that this isn't the artist's most detailed or amazing art work. It is a rather simple image of two rabbits making more rabbits while one of the rabbits is smoking a cigarette. It's not even meant to appear lifelike. The artist can do incredibly detailed art when she wants to. It's just a cartoon style image of two rabbits doing something that everyone thinks of or has thought of doing, but as a society, we can't seem to talk about without offense. Sure, we can have rampant killings and drug abuse and crime, but we just accept those. But anything with sex? It is offensive and people get on their soap box to publicly denounce it. But what do they do behind closed doors? Why so serious? I probably won't change anyone's opinion, but the mural got me to write about it. I find it a bit humorous and I admire that in one simple mural, the artist is able to express so much. In this case, a picture (or mural) is worth a thousand words. Review #2886