While driving along Lincolnway, my wife pointed out a large, stainless steel sculpture at the…read moreintersection with Hill St. I pulled over and checked it out. Turns out that this is a fairly new addition to Mishawaka's fine collection of public art. Standing about 20' tall and weighing in at a ton, the stainless steel sculpture is meant to "illustrate the free flowing beauty of form to create an uplifting emotion of the soul." I guess that was the intent. I happen to like that swirling structure and how the reflective steel catches the light and shadows. I also like that the City of Mishawaka has done such a good job adding plaques to their installations. Review #3087

Anyone who has followed my search for Public Art knows I am partial to big, shiny objects. So when…read moreI found River Shards by Hoosier artist Jan Martin (2004), I liked it immediately. This piece is the centerpiece of the park and the system of terraced waterfalls (weirs) downstream. There are actually three supports to this collection of stainless steel coated "crystals". Two are at the water's edge while a third rises out of the water and helps support a fallen crystal that bridges over the water to one of the other two supports. A third crystal stand on the other side of the water's entrance into the park. The sculpture maxes out at 22' in height and weighs 4 tons in total! And though it is bright and shiny, the highly reflective surface marries the surroundings with the water and sky, or between the park and nature. According to the plaque, the crystals represent the "re-birth of the historic heart of the City and stand in stark contrast to the abandoned industrial buildings that formerly occupied this site." The blending of art and park, man made and natural is something special. This is a must visit place in Mishawaka! Review #3090

Wherever I travel, I like to find public art. In most cases, it is free so it doesn't add any cost…read moreto my visit. So whenever I find a collection, I put together a walking tour for myself. Here is the artwork I was able to find on the IU-South Bend campus. Starting near the Admin Building on the northwest side of campus, an 8' bronze sculpture by John Pontius (former student here) can be found on the west lawn of the Admin Building. Created in 1987, (a) Reaching (also called Freedom) portrays a male figure reaching towards the sky with arms thrown up and back as if in celebration, embracing all that is good. Pontius was a student of Harold Tuck Langland, a celebrated art instructor/sculptor who has several sculptures on campus. Crossing to the east of the Admin Building to the central commons area, Langland's (b) Memory was created in 1999. This small sculpture shows a life size bust of a woman with a drape covering the head and bust in bronze. The plaque reads "Though they are gone, their impressions remain" as a dedication to the those affiliated with the university that have passed away. Just south of there is another Langland piece, (c) Crossroads. This two piece sculpture depicts a man and woman standing upon their own pedestals with a ribbon flowing between them. The sculpture was created in 2003 and is the centerpiece of a fountain which has caused the male figure to accumulate some build up on the back of his leg. Heading further south is a third Langland piece. This one is a rare abstract done by the sculptor. (d) Ring Ribbons II is the oldest sculpture on campus created in 1973. This appears to be made of steel since it is showing signs of rust upon the column and sculpture alike. Near the entrance to the library, an untitled sculpture (e) is found. Although I couldn't find any information about the piece, it is interesting with its bright red pained steel abstract form that rests on four support legs as it rises like a column. I'm not sure it isn't something created by an engineering student since there appears to be many forms jutting out from the central column. One of the newest pieces of public art on campus is the beautiful bronze sculpture by one of the art instructors Dora Natella. Located outside the music hall of Northside Hall is (f) Euterpe's Gift which was created in 2016 and dedicated in 2017. This bronze of a woman holds a lyre with both hands above her head. She is garbed in a green full length gown and the lyre appears to be made of gold. Euturpe is one of Zeus' daughters who are known as the seven muses. Euturpe is known as the "giver of delight" and is the muse of lyric poetry. And finally, to the south end of Northside Hall is another of Natella's sculptures, (g) Gaia. This bronze stands nearly 11' in height and was created in 2000 for display at Navy Pier in Chicago. The sculpture shows two female figures splitting from one with reeds rising from around the legs and up between the two halves. The artist wanted the sculpture to be a tribute to the Earth Mother goddess and as a symbol of the current state of the planet. Although the campus has chosen to use only a few artists in its collection, the quality of the pieces is both interesting and beautiful. If you are in the area, this is a beautiful self-guided tour of campus that you can enjoy. Review #3102

Some art just captures me with its beauty. Other pieces, with their relevance. This sculpture is…read moreone of those pieces that is as relevant today as it was when "The Immigrants" was installed in 1993. California artist Kathryn Field constructed this two part installation that sits in a small park area south of the Main Street bridge. The main part of the sculpture is a series of painted steel poles that support waving banners at the top and segmented profiles of a family reaching up toward the banners, symbolizing their seeking a better life with a new start in America. Because of the 2-Dimensional aspect of the piece and the open space between the segments, the installation visually expands and contracts as you walk around the perimeter. To the north is a smaller portion of the installation. A grandmother sits on a park bench with a little girl facing her. Maybe the girl is hearing stories of the "old country" and why they came here. In a time when immigration seems to be a daily discussion, this installation is a reminder that nearly all of us have family who have immigrated to this land of opportunity. And that is what makes our Country great: Opportunity to make something better for yourself, your family, and your community. Review #3091

Within the Japanese garden at Shiojiri Niwa park, a bronze sculpture of four children is located to…read morethe right of the entrance. The sculpture was created by Hidekazu Yokozawa back in 1987 and dedicated in 1993 as part of the relationship between the "sister cities" of Mishawaka, IN and Shiojiri, Nagano, Japan. The children have a boy and girl figure representing each country with three of the four seated facing each other (the American boy is standing facing the group.) The sculptures have taken on a light patina but otherwise are in great condition. The sculpture also has a dedication plaque that explains the relationship between the cities and the children are emblematic of that connection. Review #3100

Back in 2005, artist Robert Kuntz created this "Eagle in Flight" sculpture for the southern tip of…read morethe island created by the St Joe River and the Mill Race. Made from stainless steel, the eagle is supported by a column that creates the appearance of the eagle being airborne. The location is a bit remote, but if you park at Central Park and cross the river, the sculpture will be on your left. If you are on the west side of the river, you can get pretty close by heading to N Race St (find parking), and crossing the mill race dam to the sculpture. Kuntz has a number of art pieces around the South Bend/Mishawaka area. Watch for future reviews for more information. Review #3092

Near the entrance of Central Park is a commemorative statue of Christopher Columbus by local artist…read moreDavid Layman. "Cristoforo Columbo" is engraved on the plaque on the base that lifts the bronze statue. When the statue was installed and dedicated in 1992, it marked the 500th anniversary of Columbus' trip that changed the world, introducing "modern" Europe to the wilds of the New World. The statue is slightly larger than life and depicts Columbus lifting a small globe in his left hand as he gazes at it in wonder. The piece seems to have a slight patina, but otherwise, is in great condition. Review #3094

It's a really great public urinal, however it smells terrible, and it's really weird to have a…read morestatue of a disgrace to humankind staring at you while you pee, other than that I think this is a great restroom!

I really enjoy art in unexpected places. It seems like I must be living right because as I was…read moredriving north on US 31/Michigan Road in South Bend, a sculpture appeared in the middle of a roundabout at Chippewa Avenue. I found out today that the sculpture was just installed last weekend (the day before I saw it.) The bright red steel sculpture is not new to South Bend. Temple Carousel was created in 1998 by Rev Austin Collins who is also part of the art faculty of Notre Dame. It stands 16' high and has three main pieces joined by rods to complete the piece. The sculpture was originally installed at the local airport but was removed due to excessive weathering. A new program of the city rejuvenated the piece that had been in storage for five years before finding a new placement in this roundabout. I understand that two more of Collins' sculptures will be/have been placed in roundabouts just north of downtown also on Michigan Road. I will have to hunt those down on my next trip to the area. The pieces from Collins are scheduled to be placed in the roundabouts for at least one year, but that will be determined later. Review #3104

At the south end of Central Park, a complementary statue of three large birds in flight was erected…read moreby the same artist who sculpted the eagle in flight across the river. Artist Robert Kuntz designed this sculpture made from stainless steel with the fabrication by Rick Dombrowski in 2013. The birds, thought to represent either sandhill cranes or blue heron, are supported on Cor-Ten steel columns. The statue rises 19' in height and the wingspan on the largest of the three birds is 12' across! The abstract nature of the sculpture can suggest other images, but when viewed from the proper angle, the birds become more apparent. The title comes from the relationship of the birds to the river. The birds gain sustenance from the small fish (and insects) that are in the area while keeping the river from becoming overpopulated. The sculpture is in great condition and is supported by a stonework base for the steel. Review #3095

Theodore M. Hesburgh Library is an Architectural beauty to me. It's a landmark building that…read moreappears in lots of photos of the University of Notre Dame Campus. I'm one of the parents who enjoys visiting the library on any campus. For me the most significant thing about the library is the name. Hesburgh was the driving force that led the way in making Notre Dame a coeducational institution. Thank you Father Hesburgh! Five Stars it is.

I'd like to give the Hesburgh Library five stars just because of Touchdown Jesus, but I've got some…read moretheological problems with the mural. No, I don't have a problem with Jesus, but while The Word of Life (the mural's actual title) is interesting, there are no women depicted in it. Kind of strange considering the facts that more than half the people in the world are women, many of the most important figures in the Bible are women, human life isn't possible without women, and Notre Dame's name translates into the University of Our Lady of the Lake. The library itself is magnificent. I don't really like its blockishness, but then I don't like most of the architecture on Notre Dame's campus. But the collection of books is impressive, and it's really easy to find what you're looking for. I also love the fact that anyone can just walk into the library and use it. This isn't the case at most university libraries these days, even public ones, and that's a shame. When I was a grad student at Notre Dame, I loved the fact that I could check out an almost unlimited number of books indefinitely. (There might have literally been no time limit.) I always thought this was strange, as it seemed to be an easy way to steal books. When I asked a friend who worked at the library, she said that the stacks literally weren't large enough to hold all the books, so the university would rather that a large number were checked out at any one time. I know I had some books in my house for almost the entire time I was a student. There are also some really greats views from the top floors of the library. I used to love the basement, but when they renovated it, they took away all its old character. I realize that some people like shiny marble inlaid with university seals, but I'm a less flashy guy, and I loved how the old basement felt like a 1950s-era British train station, complete with banks of phone booths and vending machines that had old sandwiches. The library's grounds are also home to dozens of really cute chipmunks (one of which once made me brake hard and fly into a hedge to avoid running it over on my bike); the First Down Moses statue (complete with horns!); and a reflecting pool, which I really used to like until I found out they use blue food coloring to make the water look deep. (It's actually only a few inches, so don't ever try to dive into it.) The ducks that swim in the pool all look like they've just eaten a Slurpee; their tongues are stained blue from the food coloring. They drain the reflecting pool during the winter, and it can be a little bit dangerous when it's surrounded by snow and you don't realize the lip is there. But I really do love the Hesburgh Library, and especially in the winter, it was nice not to have to walk far from Malloy Hall to here to grab some books before crunch-crunching home through the snow.