On my most recent trip to Bloomington, I headed out to the west side to find a large wind driven…read moresculpture behind the Bed Bath and Beyond store. Partially hidden by large evergreen trees on the west side of the green space is a sculpture that is nearly 70 feet in height made of coated steel that on sunny days, reflects deep colors off its surface. The piece is officially listed as "Untitled 2001" by artist Stephen Powell (2001) but is also referred to as "Fngers". The piece has two end pillars that support a crossbar. The cross bar has five tapered tubes that use their thicker and heavier bases to counter balance the long and narrow portion that reach skyward. As wind catches the long surfaces, the tubes pivot towards horizontal depending upon the wind velocity. On my visit, the wind was light, so the tubes were generally pointing skyward with litle movement. However, I have seen photos of the tubes frozen in winter parallel to the ground! At the time of my visit, there were no benches in the vicinity for visitors to sit and watch the movement though I can imagine that it may be peacefl to watch the tubes sway. I believe I've read the tubes make noise on windy days as well, but were silent on my trip. If you are in the area and the wind is cooperating, take a moment to swing by to check it out. There is plenty of parking to pull up and view the piece in motion. Review #1370

While driving across Reeves Road west of Ellettsville, I was surprised to see this large sculpture…read moreon the southeast side of the intermediate school grounds. The sculpture represents a tree (using two intersecting two dimensional tree shapes bisecting through the middle) with an Eagle's nest at the top. Off to the southwest are three human figures also presented in 2D. A plaque on site explains that the sculpture "visualizes the mission of the school Corporation. The Eaglet poised ready for flight, represents both a mascot and each child in the community. The three figures watching the fledgling eaglet are symbolic of the joint responsibilities of parents, teachers, and community members who have, are, and will continue to nurture the development of our children. The "lifelines" of good character are cut into the roots of the learning tree while the trunk and canopy are emblazoned with oak leaves and symbols of learning. Limestone blocks mark the cardinal directions anda stone bench is place for individual reflection." Review #1566

I thought this was pretty awesome. It is a mural in an art project of bowls just making a little…read moredesign and hanging off the wall. Bloomington has many awesome public displays of our tall around and this one was really cool

The IU campus of Bloomington and the surrounding neighborhoods are filled with art. Some are…read moremurals, some abstract sculptures, and in particular on the campus, a number of lifelike bronze statues of people. On my recent visit to the campus, I found five outdoor installations that can be seen from the sidewalks. (Note that there are some other sculptures within the Eskanazi Art Museum when open and the Memorial Union.) On the west side of Campus in front of Franklin Hall is a bronze of Ernie Pyle by sculptor Harold Langland (2014). Pyle was a famous war correspondent who reported from the front lines to get the news for the readers of his articles. He is depicted seated at a small table typing one of his stories. To the east across the sidewalk from Owen Hall is a plaza that has former IU President Herman B Wells seated on a park bench. This was another sculpture by the Harold Langland (2000). A little way to the south on the edge of Dunn Woods by Lindley Hall is a pair of bronze statues representing Adam and Eve. "The Space Between" by Jean-Paul McAuley was sculpted in 1968 and is the oldest of the lifelike sculptures I found. Instead of being connected like many sculptures, the two figures (maybe a little smaller than life sized) face each other across a small raised platform. To the northwest on the north side of the IU Auditorium by the cinema is a full sized Hoagy Carmichel statue, complete with grand piano! The piece was created by Michael McAuley (2007). You can even see the titles of his music on the sheet music found on the piano. On the north side of the campus is the Cox Arboretum. Near the small pond in this park is a pair of unidentified figures that I assume are another representation of Adam and Eve. I've tried contacting the school, but was unable to gather any information about the origin or creator of the pieces. Review #1399

In 2016, local artist Dale Enochs created the sculpture "JOG" to represent motion for the trailhead…read moreof Clear Creek (W Tapp and Weimer Rd). Biking enthusiast Deb Wehman noticed that the Clear Creek Trail did not have any art like the more popular B-Line Trail. She contacted the local arts council and got the wheels turning (pun intended) to contact Enochs to create a piece for the trail. I believe Wehman funded the work and donated it to the city. Before creating the piece, Enochs walked the trail with Wehman to get a sense of place. As a special treat, the back of the piece shows a bicycle going up a steep hill as a thanks to Wehman. The piece is made from limestone and metal and is abstract in its attempt to convey motion. I guess that is up to each individual to determine if they get that message since I don't believe there are any actual moving parts in the piece. Review #2192

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

For the kids that go to Edgewood Junior High, they have a daily reminder that they are the Edgewood…read moreColts...a cool abstract sculpture at the front entrance into the school! Artist Mark Nicklasch created this black metal sculpture that appears to be running through the front raised garden in 2017. And this horse isn't just running along...it is going at break neck speed and seems a little bit wild. There is something a little bit crazy seeing this mix of metal strips in the shape of a natural creature. The eyes of the colt are black as well which adds a ferocity to the awkward balance the beast is maintaining. This mascot is meant to fire up the students and if they play anything like the sculpture suggests, their opponents should look out! Review #1567

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

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