When the new YMCA opened on the west side, it included a fully staffed Veterans Administration…read moreclinic. So, when it came time to select an art installation, it made sense to include something that would pay tribute to the Pike Township veterans who had served their country. The sculpture shows all five branches of the service represented by saluting busts: three on one wall, two on the other. The busts are made of aluminum and are part of a concrete wall that forms the rest of their body in abstract form. The space on the wall along the figures is covered with name tags and branch of service of the local veterans. Denver artist Clay Enoch created this memorial piece in 2018. Review #2225

I pass by Indiana Avenue Jazz Masters every single day on my way home from work. Appropriately…read morelocated on the south wall of the simple but iconic Musicians' Repair & Sales building in downtown Indy, this mural is created in the area of Indiana Avenue - home to many of Indiana's jazz greats including those depicted here - trombonist JJ Johnson, trombonist David Baker, sax player Jimmy Coe, sax player David Young, bassist Larry Ridley, trombonist Slide Hampton, trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, and guitarist Wes Montgomery. Pamela Bliss completed the mural as part of the Superbowl celebration "46 for XLVI" based upon photos from jazz documentarian Duncan Scheidt. Most of these musicians were noteworthy during Indy's jazz heyday of the 50's and 60's. They grew here. While many/most have passed, many of them still have family here. I love the color of this mural. I love the shading and the way it beautifully captures the essence of jazz. The mural takes the entire side of the building and really transports you through Indy's jazz history. For the way it captures Indiana music history and for its uniqueness in terms of mural design, I have to give this beautiful piece of public art a 5-star.

We were out exploring and we came across the Indiana Ave., Jazzmasters mural we thought it was…read morereally cool, looking at a lot of detail, and was easily to find

Advance Epoch by Indianapolis artist Jared Cru Smith features three 8-foot curved forms rising from…read morea landscaped island at Post & Hawkins. Installed in 2011, the piece and nearby benches and boardwalk bring a calm, reflective moment to the Fort Ben neighborhood. Smith--an artist, fabricator, and educator at the Herron School of Art + Design--often combines found objects and varied processes to create abstract forms that feel alive through balance and motion. The sculpture was commissioned by the Fort Harrison Reuse Authority.

This abstract sculpture is located on an island off of small park in Lawrence, IN. It was made in…read more2011 by Jared Cru Smith and commissioned by the Fort Harrison Reuse Authority. Smith is the Sculpture Shop Manager at Herron School of Art + Design. There is free parking right next to the sculpture on both sides of the street. It is featured in between two roads and is very intriguing. It consists of 3 curved/wavy limestone pillars with iron attached to it. It sits upon a well-maintained garden that only enhances it. The 3 pieces of the sculpture are about 8 to 10 feet tall and are in great shape. It is a simple but beautiful and interesting piece. If you are in the area, this sculpture is hard to miss. As with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other murals such as the Fort Ben Mural and sculptures, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

Along the pathway between Pennsylvania and Delaware Streets on the south side of downtown Indy,…read moreMerrill Street is home to a collection of Murals that are part of the Lilly Oncology on Canvas (LOOC) program. LOOC is a program that encourages people affected by cancer, those of loved ones, or in this case, someone who treats them, to help manage their feelings by expression through art. Lilly has commissioned artists to recreate those paintings as murals throughout downtown. Dancing in the Rain was done in 2012 based upon the work provided by a Californian Health Care Professional who saw cancer as being that sudden storm that surprises you and catches you when you aren't prepared. The mural shows a woman drenched from rain, but once she regains her belief and hope, she is able to dance again. Review #1504

This mural is part of Jiffy Lube of Indiana mural project, in conjunction with the Arts Council of…read moreIndianapolis. It is the work of local artist Nekoda Witsken, who is also the owner of Hue Murals. She completed the mural in 2021 in about 2 weeks. This is a unique and interesting mural. It is in Witsken's signature "color explosion" style. And it also seamlessly incorporates a regaining wall that it in front of the primary wall. It has a 3D cutout flower panel on it. The mural itself is not painted directly on the Jiffy Lube wall because the wall is exposed brick. Witsken used large specially cut aluminum dibord to create a floated surface on which to paint. The mural depicts the colorful image of a black woman's face and a nonbinary person with their arms up above their head while they are standing in front of a sunflower. The retaining wall has a 3D flower and continues with the black woman's neck and top portion of her body. There is also a very close up image of the upper right side of a face. This piece grabs your attention. I like how Witsken uses colors. Witsken aimed to paint a mural that featured empowered, diverse people in terms of both gender and race. She hopes this mural inspires people to take a deep breath, grow their positivity, and be open to those around them. Witsken is very talented and I am a fan of her work. You claims that this piece is her best work thus far. You should really check this mural out if you are in the area. As with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes.  You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. You could start with the Lincoln Mural (another of Witsken's pieces) or Lincoln Park.

When one of your favorite local artists proclaims that their latest work is their favorite, you…read moreshould make a point to see it in person. Even though I live southwest of Indy and this new mural is north west, I am so glad I went. She was still working on the mural so I got a brief moment to chat with her. Now I will have to make a return visit to capture the final version. Hopefully some other Yelpers will stop by who can add more photos until I get back to the area to share. As part of an ongoing series sponsored by Jiffy Lube of Indiana, the business wants to be a good neighbor and bring art to the community in unexpected places. In its fifth year at the time of this installation, the business coordinates with the Arts Council of Indianapolis to find local artists who would be willing to take on the opportunity to have their work seen by lots of folks who might not make it to galleries or art museums. One of the limitations is that the mural should have nothing to do with vehicles or that might be interpreted as simply advertising. The artists are given a great deal of freedom to be creative which is one reason this artist Koda Witsken enjoyed working on the project. All artists are paid for their work too! According to comments on the artist's website (Hue Murals), the mural was inspired by the chance to show gender and ethnic diversity as well as the native flowers of Indiana. One of the most impressive things about the mural (in addition to her amazing sense of color and talent) is that she hand paints with brushes (no spray cans for her) the entire 400 sq ft area! Imagine painting a 12 x12 room just over 8 ft tall with paint brushes, no roller? My hands ache just thinking about that task! Another challenge the artist had to deal with is that sometimes the mural may be replaced, so to preserve the art she paints on specially cut aluminum dibord which can be attached and then removed for another location later. In some of my photos you will notice the white dibord before she had a chance to finish the mural with painted jewelry. Personally, I love how the artist can see colors within color. Her work can be found all over the north side and she is adding more locations in the metro area. For more of her work check out my Collection of reviews and photos on Yelp. Review #3941

Carmel has a dang cute selfie station on Elm Street just east of the Monon. The mural looks like a…read more1960's postcard and stamps with scenes from around Carmel. There is even a mark on the sidewalk to tell you where to stand to take your selfie. This is one of several selfie spots that I saw in the area. I used to call the area downtown Carmel, but the City has rebranded as "Midtown" and Midtown Plaza. The colorful mural was the brainchild of Wilkinson Brothers Design and was unveiled in March 2021.

The mural is the work of Carmel-based Wilkinson Brothers Design and was placed in 2021. It faces…read moreElm Street and is opposite the side of the BIG SCREEN at Midtown Plaza. This mural gives the appearance of a vintage post card and reads "Greetings from Carmel, Midtown Plaza". There are scenes from the city in the cutout letters that include the Monon Trail, Sails, the Coxhall Gardens Clock Tower and City Hall. The card is against a colorful cityscape background cutout with other cityscape silhouettes on it. You will also see stamps of local attractions around the area on the mural including Hotel Carmichael and the Palladium. It is a gorgeous mural that is Instagram ready. The city intends it to be an interactive piece that affords visitors the opportunity to take a selfie. To make sure that visitors get the best possible selfie, there is a decal that tells you where to stand. It is located just outside Java House Coffee Bar and Penn & Beech Candle Co. I love interactive art. This mural is no exception. I was excited about seeing it and I am sure it will be a popular attraction in the area. I will say that it is off of a somewhat busy street, so use caution when approaching. There is free street parking and a garage available to park within a very short walk. I know that this is probably not going to be a long stop, but I still recommend checking it out. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip such as the Monon Trail or the Sails sculpture that is right down the street.

The American Bison is one of several beautiful public art pieces located alongside White River…read moreState Park. In particular, this William Arnold sculpture is located on the west end of the Washington Street Bridge at the entrance to the Indianapolis Zoo. The American Bison is a life-sized male bison constructed of barbed wire. The barbed wire is densely coiled and woven. It stands on a limestone base - a common approach for so many Indiana public art pieces. William Arnold is a hoosier artist. He's from Wilkinson, Indiana. The sculpture was completed in 1989. It measurees 5'9" high, 7'2" long, and 2'2" wide. It weighs 17 tons. Interestingly, it was originally commissioned as a mascot for the former Indiana National Bank. It was relocated to its current home in 1993. The area where it's located is actually known as Bison Plaza - it's a stone-paved gathering area. If you've been to the zoo, you've likely noticed it but you may not have really paid attention. It's a lovely sculpture. I did a recent 5k along White River State Park, and I really stopped to look at some of the public art (which also means my 5k time really stunk). While I wouldn't say this is a destination piece, it's worth visiting the White River State Park to check out all of its public art displays.

This sculpture is temporarily located in the wonderful White River State Park, as part of its…read moreoutdoor art exhibit. There is a commercial parking lot available as well as a commercial garage to park your vehicle. This is an abstract piece by Ben Pierce. This etched steel sculpture was made in 2016 and measures 13ft tall x 5ft wide x 5ft deep. The artist intended the piece to resemble the growth of an uncurling young spout. It is located on the median of the White River Pedestrian Bridge leading to the Indianapolis Zoo, along with other sculptures. It is not an original piece. Pierce has an almost identical piece in Springfield, Missouri, with the exception of the Missouri one being painted yellow. Pierce is intrigued by the thought of plants from a flower to a tree, all starting from a small seedling. Anyway, as with most public art I have visited and reviewed, 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 other wonderful art in the area to maximize your time and trip. Luckily, there are a lot of other interesting pieces of art in the park to load your itinerary with, in addition to all that White River Park has to offer.

A center named after one of the most influential people in our country's history, the MLK Center…read moreaims to replicate the vision of Dr Martin Luther King Jr in today's world. On the city's east side, the community center has so much to offer the Tarkington, Meridian area. I received a tour today and it was so inspiring to see the work that's being accomplished here. A center of education-they offer after school programs for school aged children for nearby school #43. They also offer childcare services. They have an amazing opportunity for teens to learn about technology in their Best Buy sponsored work lab. They offer teens who are interested in music and opportunity to learn about producing their own music! Such an awesome gem right here in the city! I wish they could spread their impact beyond the Tarkington-Meridian area, because so many more children could benefit from the work this center is doing!

This is a basic, but very nice mural, especially considering it was not painted by a professional…read moremuralist. It was actually painted by Butler student volunteers as part of the 2018 Bulldogs in the Streets. They worked in conjunction with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful. The mural was painted on the side on the MLK Center in Indianapolis and wraps around the side. It is definitely an upgrade from the mural that was there before. It has become the Center's trademark and is used in a lot of the Center's advertisements and marketing. The mural consists of the Words "MLK Center" in huge white block lettering and there is a black & white image of MLK waving. That is all against a bright red background, which draws your eye. The colors used by the students really complement each other and it is rally hard to miss. There is no wonder why the mural has been adopted as the face of the Center. The mural has a small bench centered right in the front of it and overlooks an area that they have made into a peace garden. If you want to park to get out and take a closer look, you can either park at the Center, once the construction is done, or you can do what I ended up doing and park across the street at the Park's parking lot. You should have no problem parking here. As with most murals 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 murals in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.