This mural may be a bit hard to find. It is tucked in between Storage Express storage units and a…read morehouse. It is a long mural and was painted by Lily Hollinden in 2018. I like the mural's detail and color. The mural depicts a line of bees, get it bee-line, on a honeycomb background heading to a dark area, which I awesome is the hive, where there is a swarm of bees formed. There is then a single line of bees exiting the swarm against honeycomb background just how the came in. I really like this mural, it is as unique and creative as it is pleasing to eyes. The bees really pop out of the mural. Anyway, as with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes and I was out. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other wonderful Bloomington murals and attractions and making this part of a larger itinerary.

Located on the south face of the north property wall for Storage Express is a colorful and…read morewhimsical mural that plays off the name of the "B-line" Trail. The mural consists of a honeycomb background with lines of bees going to the hive in the center. The art was added in 2018 by local artist Lily Hollinden who also attended Indiana University. Review #3345

Although much of the appeal of art is for the viewer to interpret, I really appreciate when there…read moreis a plaque nearby that helps understand the point of view of the artist. Such is the case for "Cindy's Song", a work commissioned by Bill Simon for his new bride Cindy Stewart Simon back in 2015. Hoosier artist Don Gummer (born west of Indy) was commissioned to build this stainless steel and stained glass piece located near the Jacobs School of Music at IU. The structure is 16 feet in height and is built with a solid foundation, then three levels with the corresponding number of braces to tie the piece to a Haiki poem with 5-7-5 syllables (or in this case braces). The top brace is lined with alternating clear, then blue, panes. The poem that inspired the piece was by Maeve Kinkead: "From our hidden source waves stir, rise to crested blue, and begin again" The attached plaque mentions the sculpture has a musical composition which I personally didn't understand, but that composition is why the piece is titled "Cindy's Song". Review #1271

Inside the IU Auditorium is an incredible mural created by artist Thomas Hart Benton. The mural is…read moretwelve feet in height and nearly 250 feet in length and was created entirely by Benton. Benton was an artist born in Iowa, so when he was commissioned by the State to create the mural to decorate Indiana's "Century of Progress" Exhibition Hall in the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago, there was some controversy since Benton would be given $50,000...money local artists would have liked to have had. After six months of traveling around the state, Benton completed the works in time. But when the Fair was over, nobody had a plan for the mural. So, the pieces were stored at the State Fairgrounds in a warehouse until 1940! Fortunately, IU President Herman B Wells convinced the State officials to donate the mural to IU. Benton returned to Indiana to help install and retouch the mural in December 1941. The mural consists of two themes. One represents the industrial progress of the state. The other represents the cultural changes. Some famous individuals were included in the painting including a young Lincoln, the Governor of Indiana at the time of the Fair, and artist William Forsythe. The sheer size of the mural makes it difficult to take in all at once, but if you have time, it can be interesting to see what you may discover in the panels. Review #2191

One of the oldest and most recognizable art installations in Bloomington is the "Birth of Venus"…read morewhich is located in the Showalter Fountain on the west side of the IU Auditorium. The piece was cast in 1958 and installed/dedicated in 1961 as a gift from Grace Showalter. Former IU President Herman B Wells saw the piece and traveled to Italy while the piece was cast. The artist was Robert Laurent who created this large sculpture that is surrounded by five fish that spray water during the warmer seasons. The piece has had its share of controversy as well as vandalism, but has always been restored. The giant female figure stretches across the fountain while balanced on an over sized half shell. Review #2184

Along the B-line trail in the northwest part of Bloomington's downtown is a massive sculpture by…read morelocal artist Dale Enochs. The piece is called "Bloomington Banquet" and appears to be a giant dinner table and chairs with a bowl of steaming fish soup. The piece is made of primarily limestone along with anodized aluminum, stainless steel, and powder coated steel. The piece measures 24' x 28' x 12'. According to the artist's website, there is a great deal of symbolism and homage to the location. The dinner table represents the coming together of the community as a family does around the dinner table. The site also was formerly the location of a furniture store, so the table and chairs ties to the history. On top of the table is an ornate bowl surrounded by silverware that stands on end. From the bowl can be seen rising "steam" that supports a detailed fish, suggesting the contents of the dish. The fish was playfully added to reference the image of a fish that sits above the Monroe County Courthouse. Dale Enochs has numerous pieces in the Bloomington and Indianapolis areas. For more information about those pieces, go to his website at https://www.daleenochs.com/artists/ Review #1203

Although the landscaping needs a bit of attention, the sculpture of Bloomington Stoneware is…read moreamazing! I love the functional aspect of the piece and the great use of space and materials. The installation was completed in 1996 by artist Brad Goldberg. In a narrow triangular shaped area, the wider end is elevated and supports a pool with a large vessel (14' high by 9' wide) made from limestone. The vessel has a cool pattern of multiple lines that flow around the piece. The vessel overflows with water that runs down the sides (changing the color of the limestone where it is wet). The water gathers in a pool below before overflowing on the north side. On the north side of the park triangle is a lightly wooded area with a lazy canal sweeps back and forth, carrying the overflowing pool water down to the point of the park before returning the water back to the south. The water returns to a circular collection point to the east of the vessel where it circles several times before disappearing down a drain which returns the water to the top of the vessel through some pump. The sound of flowing water and the shade of the trees make for an island of calm in the busy downtown location. Review #1282

I do not know if this is a mural or sculpture. I will just refer to this piece of art as a piece…read more Fittingly this piece is located right above a bike rack at the transit center. The piece depicts 4 colorful rings, 3 overlapping and one red stand alone. It has blue wind like line and circles that represent wind or movement. The blue circles are shadowing the 4 colorful ones. It is 6 feet high and 22 feet tall. The piece was constructed by local artist Dale Enochs, who intended it to signify movement on trains, bikes, buses, skateboards.... This piece is 3D and jumps right out of the wall. It adds color to the other bland transit center. It is simple, but still provocative. I must admit, I like it. It is definitely worth a look. There is nearby metered street parking available to park, get out and get a closer look. You could also get a decent look from the comfort of your vehicle, doing a strategic slow rolling drive by. I ended up parking in one of the private parking lots across the street, jumped out, looked and got back in my vehicle before the tow trucks came. Well, as with most public art pieces that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes and I was out. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other wonderful Bloomington attractions and making this part of a larger itinerary.

I love finding art that fits the space. Think about it: Located on the wall of the Transit…read moreCenter; mounted above a bike rack; in the town featured in a movie called "Breaking Away" about the annual Bloomington bike race "The Little 500"; it all ties together to place a 3D mural type sculpture that celebrates speed and motion. Have the artist be a local resident and it seems the piece was destined to be good! Back in 2014, sculptor Dale Enochs created this colorful addition to the Bloomington art scene. Like wheels of racing bikes, the shapes have been streamlined by the speed of the wind (done in a light blue) rushing passed the shapes. The shades of the wheels go from a deep red (out front) through oranges and finally, a bright yellow at the tail end. Though Enochs has done a majority of his work using limestone, it's great to see him express his ideas in colorful metals as well. For more of Enochs' work in the Bloomington area, check out the following: "Axis" (1985) at Showers Park "Bent Crescent" (2014) at 17th & Arlington "Phoenix" (2001) mounted on the west wall of a fire station at SR45 & 3rd "JOG" (2016) near the parking lot at Clear Creek Trail at Tapp & Weimer "Bloomington Banquet" (2009) at 399 W 8th (see separate review) "Public Seating Area" (2015) on the south side of the Courthouse Review #1270

One of Bloomington's own has added another fine sculpture to the local Public Art offerings in the…read morearea. Famed sculptor Dale Enochs has put together this giant sculpture near the entrance to the grounds of the NW Monroe County YMCA. The installation called "Stride" (2019) covers 80' in length and 15' wide. The human figure, made from water cut, powder coated aluminum, stands 16' in height! There are four layers of the figure held together just a short space from each other. The two outer layers are black. The two inner layers are colored with the five colors associated with the YMCA and have the words "Mind", "Body", and "Spirit" cut into them. Besides the human figure, there are multiple pieces of cut Indiana limestone that are spread out beside and behind the figure along the sidewalk that visitors can follow near the path of the giant. I really like that kids who go to the YMCA can see this public art each day and be encouraged to stride forward using their own imaginations to create something that will endure. Review #3287