We're open if you are is a massive public art piece that you can't miss when entering the broad…read moreripple neighborhood of Indianapolis Indiana. My family and I on a weekend trip from louisville was dining in the area when we decided to explore the local art in Thai vibrant area. As soon as you cross another public art piece called rainbow bridge you look up and can't miss this fun little piece for the area. Proudly boasting of you are open then they are as well. A perfect Motto for a vibrant little neighborhood such as itself. Overall a very fun and cool photo op and a very fitting slogan for This town.

This is a nice 3D mural that welcomes visitors as they cross over the world famous Rainbow bridge…read moreleaving the Art District towards the Business District, the heart of Broad Ripple Village. It is located on the side of the Red Room Night Club. The mural incorporates the areas seal and motto and depicts a white shopping bag with the words "Broad Ripple Village" on it in a decorative/artsy font (the Broad Ripple Seal). The bag has thin pink hand straps on each side. Coming out of the top of the box you will find a row of house in broad ripple architectural style. Above the row of house are items that are significant to the area including a flower, a guitar with a musical note, a steaming hot coffee cup, a bottle of wine, and a paint brush. This houses and the significant objects are divided by a banner that reads "we're open if you are" (Broad Ripple's motto). This motto has a dual meaning. It refers to the bustling nightlife the are has to offer, with the bars closing at 3AM. It also refers to the areas diversity and open mindedness. Is it by coincidence that the mural faces the Rainbow Bridge, a beacon of the area's inclusiveness. The mural overlooks a small commercial parking lot, so parking to get a closer look is easy. There are also metered parking spots within a short walk that you can park as well. The third option is to view the mural from the comfort of your vehicle, doing a safe and strategic slow rolling drive-by. However, for this to work, you will have to approach from the Rainbow Bridge. 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. If you come here you must also check out the Rainbow Bridge and look up its history and interesting backstory.

This mural is part of Jiffy Lube's mural program in conjunction with Indianapolis Art Council. They…read morecommissioned Shamira Wilson Young to paint it in 2018. The mural is a metaphor for the energy of movement inspired by the social fabric, textile technique and the multi-cultural diversity of the community surrounding the area. Much of Young's work uses stripes as a graphic device which largely comes from textiles. It took her 15 days and 14 gallons of paint to complete. The abstract design depicts a line that is woven vertically that fades from orange to yellow against an intersecting line that is woven horizontally and transitions from pink to dark red. It is meant to represent the back and forth motion of the process of weaving and also reflect the motion of movement and transportation. I am normally not a fan of abstract art and this is a basic design. However, I like this mural. It works for me. I don't know, the colors just grabbed and hypnotized me. It also helped that I had context while viewing this mural, which is huge for me. Parking here is pretty simple. You can either park in the strip mall parking lot that the Jiffy Lube sits in front of or pull right into the Jiffy Lube parking lot. Either way, as with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, 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.

Interwoven is a colorful art installation on the side of the Jiffy Lube near 56th and Georgetown…read more The art shows two loops of color that are overlapping. The vertical loop has an orange line that transitions to a light yellow the higher it goes, then returns to orange as it lowers to near the sidewalk. The horizonal loop starts as a deep scarlet thread and lightens to a pale red (almost pink) by the time it reaches its lowest crossing. The background is white and visually pops between the crossings. The work was created by artist Shamira Wilson Young (Indy) who worked with the Arts Council of Indianapolis and Jiffy Lube of Indiana. Jiffy Lubes throughout the state are adding original public art and will continue the program in 2019. This piece was added in 2018. Review #2276

This is a new (October 2022) mural located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis and honors the…read morecountry's first female self-made millionaire, Madam CJ Walker. This mural is the second mural unveiled as part of the city of Indianapolis Bicentennial Commission's Indiana Legends mural series. The first being cyclist Major Taylor. It is the work of artist Tasha Beckwith and was commissioned by the Madam Walker Legacy Center in conjunction with the Indianapolis Cultural Trail and the Arts Council of Indianapolis. The mural overlooks the city's Pathways To Peace Garden and there is lots of metered street parking available within a reasonable walking distance. If it looks familiar, you would be correct. It is a smaller version of the one in the Indianapolis Airport's rotunda that was also painted by Beckwith. It depicts a portrait of Madam Walker and imagery of her hair product business and models. You will also see a silhouette of a cotton field, a couple of sulfur references (an ingredient in her hair products), the famous Walker Theater sign and the quote from Madam Walker, "If I have accomplished anything in life it is because I have been willing to work hard." It is set against a bright green background which really makes it pop. The mural is not painted directly on the building's wall, but is put together with panels that were attached to the wall. I like the artwork of the mural. It is very detailed. I also like the concept of this mural, to promote hope and inspire. When speaking of the mural Beckworth said "I'm hoping that this mural will provide inspiration for people to follow their dreams, as well as understanding that it doesn't matter where you come from or where you start, it's about where you finish,". As with most mural and public art that I visit, this is not a large consumer of time, nor a destination piece. I was just there briefly. I would say about 5 minutes. I highly recommend visiting here on your way to somewhere else or making this part of a larger itinerary. There are many downtown attractions to see such as the canal, The 9/11 memorial, and the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center.

This mural is on the indy/Greenwood line on the wall of a Jiffy lube. It was created in 2019 by…read morePamela Bliss through a partnership between Jiffy Lube of Indiana and the Arts Council of Indianapolis. In painting this mural her vision to depict the importance of bees and their drastic drop in population because of herbicides, pesticides, deforestation, and urbanization. It is her belief that when bees are gone, everything in the world, including humans, will cease to exist. Bliss has a few of other popular pieces around the Indy area like the Reggie Miller mural. This is a piece that I have passed numerous times and not even noticed. It is on the side of the business and a small pieces continues to wrap around the front corner. The mural grabs your attention and really grabs you. She has an excellent use of colors. I like the shadows the artist created in the painting. A very nice touch and the illusion of the wall breaking open to reveal a honeycomb, with some bees coming from it was awesome. I am a sucker for a piece with a message, as this one has. You can park in the jiffy lube parking lot and get out and see the mural. It is not necessarily a huge time consumer, so it is best to plan out stops at many of the other wonderful murals that are in the area

Pamela Bliss has been bringing fantastic artwork to Central Indiana for a long time. Whether it's…read morebeen her historic murals in Wayne County, or the Kurt Vonnegut or Reggie Miller murals in Indy, she has a talent that is at the top of the field in creating images that are instantly recognizable and accurate. She brings color and detail to her work. In 2019, she was selected to paint one of the Jiffy Lube locations with a mural that through a whimsical image calls attention to the importance of the honey bee and its place in keeping our world functioning. While painting the mural, she repeatedly had bees land without stinging. Then one day, she found a dead bee at the base of the mural which focused her even more keenly on how short their lives are and how much good they do. The mural is part of an ongoing program that is sponsored by Jiffy Lube with assistance from the Arts Council of Indianapolis to bring art to unexpected places to inspire visitors and employees to lead full, well rounded lives. This mural, which wraps from the front of the station, features honeycomb, several bees, a whimsical flying baby dressed as a bee and finally, a sunflower with the Earth spinning in the center of the petals. The honeycomb appears to be breaking out of the wall while the bees and other images appear to be casting shadows from in front of the wall. It is a delightful piece that adds beauty and understanding to the lives of those who see it. Review #2947

Although the downtown of Mooresville took a hit from the spring 2020 tornado, things are looking…read moremuch better today as a new mural was added to the downtown area by local business Something More. The business hired a local artist, Kylin Brown (Plainfield) to paint a colorful mural of wings on the side of their business. The wings are feathery and painted in shades of aqua, sunset orange, and sunflower yellow. I am not sure if the artist simply painted something that was asked for by the business (visitors can stand in front of the wings for one of those "instagram moments",) or was left to her own imagination to create the wings. The mural has high visibility, especially with the bright colors as you approach the stop light at Indiana St and Main from the east. The mural, though nicely executed, does not offer much originality since there are other murals in the Indy Metro area by artists Jamie Locke & Megan Jefferson (along the Monon in Broad Ripple) and by Kelsey Montague (on the near south side near the Pacers' Fieldhouse) that are basically the same idea of painting a mural of two open wings that a person may stand in front of for an "instagram moment". Although Mooresville doesn't have a lot of public art, it is nice to see there is starting to be a collection of art downtown for visitors to check out while located within a short walking distance of small shops and restaurants. Review #3785

Sometimes, you just need to slow down to really appreciate the beauty in life. I live only a mile…read moreand a half from this beautiful mural, and I know that I have gone by and seen it before. But I don't come this way often and when I have it, it's been while riding a bike. But recently, I've been much more into walking. I've also been much more into living deliciously and slowing down and appreciating moments for what they are and enjoying the beauty in life in all the ways that I can find it and experience it. So, as I rounded the corner and saw this amazing artwork, it stopped me in my tracks. I thought I might've scored a FTR, but when I went to look and see if it was on Yelp, the incomparable Ken N had already beat me to it! He beats all of us to them doesn't he? Sadly, I was never able to meet this incredible man. But I've heard a lot about him from the Yelp community. I'm honored to be the second to review when Ken N holds the FTR. I've seen so many other reviews of public art where it was only Ken N and one other prolific yelper. So I'm honored to have the opportunity to be in this elite group of "hidden art treasure" reviewers. Go read Ken's review because he has a lot of amazing information. For me, I wanted to simply absorb the artwork and also appreciate the special moment of being listed on a review with Ken N. It feels like truly such an honor.

When weather was warm enough to paint outdoors from fall 2020 to the spring of2021, several local…read moreartists headed by Koda Witsken of Hue Murals were commissioned by the town of Cumberland Indiana to paint the trail head area for Buck Creek Trail that runs under US40 just east of Cumberland. It had been prone to graffiti, though not visible from the highway, was a negative experience to users of the Buck Creek Trail for running, biking, and hiking. The highway is very wide and traffic can be heavy, so having this below street level area to cross is critical to getting the trail to be user friendly. A 4500 sq. foot mural has been completed and was recently dedicated. Other artists who assisted Koda were Megan Jefferson and Israel Solomon who are also local. The subject matter focuses on local flora and fauna, much of which is pictured at larger than life size. A fresh coat of white paint was initially placed so that the colors of the mural would be true. The finished mural has also been treated just incase more vandalism occurs, the clean up costs and restoration of the mural should be much easier (wise thinking!) Pull off parking is very limited especially along the busy highway, but there some areas on each side of the street that will allow a car to get off the road. the trailhead can be visited from both sides of the highway since it passes all the way under US40. Just be careful as you slow to look for a spot. I noticed the north side of the street has a neighborhood, but I am not sure if there are any restrictions on street parking there. Review #3924

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.

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.