Nashville has many murals, but the Nature Inspires mural is unique because it's painted on a…read morebridge! The mural is located at the end (or the beginning, depending on where you start) of the Salt Creek Trail, right near the CVS parking lot. Just park at the pharmacy and walk toward the huge concrete bridge under State Road 46. Nature Inspires was created by Kurt Eagleman, an artist who was born in Brown County. The mural depicts nature in some of its forms: spring peepers and Blue Herons and Great Horned Owls, all living in a splendidly colorful landscape. This mural was a nice surprise to see when I got to the end of the Salt Creek Trail. Or, I should say, I knew it was at the end of the Salt Creek Trail, so it was motivation for me to get to the end of Salt Creek Trail, so I could see this piece of public art. If you'd like to learn more about the mural, you can scan a QR code from a little sign that sits by the mural.

The State of Indiana has a long history with glass and many Hoosiers love looking at objects made…read morefrom glass. (There are several glass "trails" for visitors to travel along in the state.) Although Dale Chihuly isn't from Indiana, his work occupies a number of locations around the area. One of Columbus, Indiana's points of pride is the "Sun Garden" located within the Columbus Learning Center on the north end of town. Located in a room specifically designed for showcasing a Chihuly piece, the 32 panel circular installation acts as a colorful skylight. Back in 2007, Chihuly created this plexiglass work that has each panel dedicated to the series of works he had created by that time. Each of the panels is also hand signed by the artist. I won't say any single panel is beautiful, but when gathered into this circle, the backlit colors work well together and is a "must see" for Chihuly fans when in town. Review #2735

Me and my best buddy David known we're kicking at the other day in downtown Nashville, Indiana. He…read moreasked me to come over and hang out with him for a while until his wife got home. So we sat on the porch and had a few drinks had a few burgers and just kicked it. You should go check them out next time you're in brown county.

This mural is part of the 2017 Color the County Mural Program. I love that program. It brings the…read morecommunity together, under the direction of a local artist, to bring a mural to life. This mural's artist is Danny Causey. This mural covers three of the building's walls and fittingly is of the town's namesake Benjamin Franklin. The mural depicts an image of Franklin on one wall and and colorful flights on the walls on each side. The mural is not actually painted on the wall, but was painted on boards that were put together to form the completed mural. I really love that the image of Franklin is monochrome blue and has some green glasses on that just comes out at you. It is very detailed and has an uncanny resemblance to Franklin. The kites are pretty basic, but most community murals have to be, but the colors and design still works. I just wish that they could have made the sky stormy, to depict Franklin's famous discovery of electricity, but oh well. Getting a closer look at the mural is easy. There is free street parking located across the street (that is where I parked). There is also a little strip mall parking lot next door and a free parking lot within a reasonable walking distance. As with most murals that I visited, this is not a long stop. I was there maybe 5 minutes tops. I recommend visiting here on your way to somewhere else or making this part of a larger itinerary. Depot park, an antique store and an awesome candy/ice cream are very close by.

In 2017, one of the Color the County murals for Johnson County was added to east Jefferson Street…read morenear the railroad tracks in Franklin. Artist Danny Causey was responsible for the design and installation of the mural. After community members helped fill in the basic design, Causey had to come back to complete the finished work. There are two main components to the mural. The walls facing east on the ends of the mural are covered with multiple colored kites being flown over rolling hills in a partly cloudy sky. The image is simple, much like a child might draw, but large in scale and generally appealing due to its relatability. The center of the mural which is on a north facing wall features Ben Franklin's portrait done in a deep blue color over a black background. It takes on the look of someone standing under a blacklight. To add whimsy, Causey added florescent green glass frames to Franklin to further the effect. As the city's namesake, it seems fitting that the connection to Franklin is immediate between his image and the story of his flying a kite to determine that lightning was electricity (though no storm is painted on the wall.) Review #1263

A real-life Chihuly in Columbus, Indiana?! Heck yes! This famous glass artist with work seen in…read moreSeattle's Chihuly museum, Indy's Children Museum, and many other well-known spots across the globe, it's an honor to have such a large piece in a town's visitor's center. Columbus, Indiana may be small, but they're known for their world-class architecture and public sculptures. This chandelier is no exception to that. Make sure you stop in the visitor's center and look at this gorgeous glass, hanging from the ceiling in the stairwell. Enjoy!

Some artists have such distinctive styles that you can recognize their main style anywhere. Such…read moreis the case with the work of Dale Chihuly. His glass sculpture "Yellow Neon Chandelier" is a familiar style for anyone who has visited the Children's Museum in Indianapolis. Inside the Visitors Center in Columbus, the west stairwell holds the 9' high (6' wide) chandelier of multiple bright yellow swirl pointed tubes. The collection of tubes are broadest near the top and then taper to a point at the bottom. Each of the tubes is blown glass. Chihuly isn't limited to one style of artwork though. Inside the Center, there are lithographs that were created by the artist. But there is no doubt that creating fascinating works of glass requires as much knowledge of engineering as it does talent. In addition to the chandelier, the Center has a collection of "Persians" that are displayed below it. According to Chihuly's website, "Persians are an exploration of form, shape and color--a celebration of wild asymmetry and swirling pattern. They have an ancient sensibility, and for Chihuly, conjure notions of Venice, and the Near and Far East." And if these pieces aren't enough, take a short trip up to the IUPUC campus (4555 Central Avenue) to see the "Sun Garden" (2007) which is a painted plexiglass disc suspended from the ceiling of the Columbus Learning Center. While at the Visitors Center, don't be afraid to ask the staff about the artist. I learned a lot about his process and his history from them. Review #1304

This is such a great example of surprise and delight community placemaking. This was our second…read morevisit to the alley and both times it filled our family with a sense of wonder and delight. The slow swinging lanterns in the breeze accompanied by the small red bridge and mural painting of Koi fish are such a lovely experience. Big kudos to the town of Franklin for making this magic happen. You will stumble upon this alley as you walk your way around the square. It's wedged between coffee shops and bakeries. Definitely worth a little pitstop.

I love this alley in downtown Franklin. Dedicated to the sister city in Kuji Japan, you will find…read moregorgeous koi fish murals on the walls of the buildings on either side, a new Japanese Cherry Tree installation, hanging lanterns and a bridge. Enjoy coffee or lunch at the tables and chairs in the alley and be sure to read the plaque with the information about the sister city and relationship with Japan. Location is between Benjamin's Coffeeshop and the City Hall.

Discovery is a kugel sculpture (German for "ball") that was created by Kusser Granitwerke. The…read moresphere is carved as a globe and is three feet in diameter, made from South African New Belfast black granite. The sphere weighs over 2,000 pounds and rides on the surface of 12 psi water pressure; when running, viewers can move the granite sphere. The sculpture was donated by Mike and Phyllis Ryan and installed in 2007. Discovery is a sculpture consisting of a granite Earth (2,000lbs) revolving on water atop a stack of three massive books (7,000lbs) made of Bavarian Forest's tittlinger granite, tittlinger grobkorn granite and furstensteiner granite. The piece, made by Kusser Granitwerke, was installed at IUPU-Columbus. It was made to reflect the college's commitment to helping their students compete in a global economy and become citizens, not just of Columbus or Indiana, but of the world. It also alludes to the balance of experience and education required to obtain knowledge. The viewers ability to physically touch and spin the globe symbolizes the ability of one single person to change the world. (Public art archive.org) This is a cool sculpture that I noticed when I was visiting IUC for work, someone told me that I could touch it as well since the water is clean, check this out if you are in the area, I've included the description from public art archive. Org as well.

As I have traveled around central Indiana, I have found several of this type of artwork. A…read morecombination of water sculpture and fine marble detail, this "Kugel" (German for ball) is 3 feet in diameter and weighs nearly 2300 pounds, yet freely spins on its base supported by a mere 12 psi of water. It is made from New Belfast black Granite from South Africa. The ball has the detail of a global map etched into the surface of the ball. The ball is one that visitors can easily touch the exposed surface to rotate the massive weight to view a specific location on the map. Beneath the ball are three over sized books also made from granite found in the Bavarian Forest of Germany and have a combined weight of 9400 pounds! The theme of Discovery fits the location on the IUPUC campus. The combination of education and experience lead to knowledge and is clearly represented by the piece. Review #1307

Enter Pumpkin Heaven. While in this autumnous heaven, I may or may not have spent $30+ on pumpkins…read more But, I'd like to say they made me... Well, more like they made it impossible not to want to leave with one of every one of their zillion varieties of orange, no green, no brown, no white, globes. You name it - they had it: edible, smooth, bumpy, enormous, tiny, rustic, vibrant and so on and so forth. Better yet, their prices were very practical - I wouldn't say dirt cheap, but fair. Not in the mood for fall yet? Hop in the car and take a little drive to Nashville, Indiana for a visit to Kelp's. If that doesn't do the trick - I don't know what will. Keep an eye out for their fall festival (first weekend of October). Take your camera!

Great selection. Worth the drive. We go every year. friendly people. They have a little bit of…read moreeverything. Bunnies, ponies, mums, maple syrup and other canned yummies, wreaths, gourds galore, Indian corn, sugar stalks and more pumpkins than you know what to do with. Prices are great and pumpkins are unique. Never seen the actual patch. We just buy everything in the front but I'm sure there's even more than that.