Red, Blonde, Black, and Olive is a fascinating piece of public art in Bloomington. The limestone…read moresculpture is unique, with detailed faces representing different cultures and backgrounds. It's a powerful reminder of connection, diversity, and the importance of understanding one another. I enjoyed stopping by this piece because it's not just something to look at, it has a message behind it. The design makes you slow down and think about the meaning of the artwork and the community it represents. Located in Miller-Showers Park, it's a great quick stop for anyone exploring Bloomington's public art scene. A beautiful and thought-provoking landmark that shows Bloomington's appreciation for creativity and inclusion.

This sculpture is located on the Bloomington Art Trail at the end of Miller-Showers Park. It was…read morecreated by Jean-Paul Darreau in 1980. It sits in a small plaza area with a few benches for people to sit and it over looks the water. It consist of 2 limestone statues that are facing each other. The two statues each have two faces for a total of 4. Each face features a different major world ethnicity which is meant to represent Bloomington's diverse population. Depending on how you are viewing it, you will see the faces of an Asiatic woman facing an African woman, or Indian man facing a Nordic man. The artist intended the piece stimulate communication across racial lines. There is a placard near the sculpture with information about it, but it is very weathered and cannot be read. There is a small parking lot at the front of Miller-Showers Park that offers 3-hour parking. It is on the opposite end of the park from the sculpture, but not a long walk. This is a nice sculpture and credited as the genesis of Bloomington's public art displays. It has a powerful and positive meaning and has withstood the test of time. It is over 30 years old and is in great shape. I highly recommend checking this place out. As with most public art that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. You may want to consider planning out additional stops or making this part of a larger itinerary, to maximize your time and trip. You could start your itinerary with a visit to, Miller-Showers Park, the park the sculpture is located.

What a fantastic event! I came for the second seating (3:30pm) of Return of the Mac. Even though…read morethere were a lot of people, it was well-run (lines moved quickly) and there was plenty of mac & cheese (I was worried that second seating = less options/vendors) All the mac & cheese options were awesome. Feast's & FARM's tied for #1 for me! *Feast's offering was an Aged Bacon Garganelli (Cheddar Cheese Garganelli, Chicken Fat Breadcrumbs, Kimchi Hot Suace, Popcorn Cheese Sauce, Shallot, Fennel) - Feast is my favorite restaurant in town, so I feel a little biased but it was amazing mac & cheese. First of all, garganelli is one of the best pasta types and they made it a CHEDDAR CHEESE garganelli! I loved the texture from the breadcrumbs. Overall, just a well-balanced mac and cheese (never thought i'd say that about mac & cheese) *FARM's offering was Giant Elbow Noodle with Smoked Gouda and Chinese Peppers - good lawdy. They need those chinese peppers on the menu, please! I've had a lot of chinese peppers in my life and Farm does 'em justice! Shout out to Ivy Tech's Smokey Bleu Quack & Cheese - I usually don't even like bleu cheese and the duck was perfectly smoked and juicy - whew!

What a great event! I had gone to the one in Indianapolis and enjoyed this one a little more. The…read morereason- there were a ton of vegetarian options! I liked how creative the chef's got. My favorites were Farm, Upland, and Uptown Cafe. The event ran super smooth and people weren't having to wait for long. Only thing I'd recommend is to drop the price a little lower since it's a college town and/or add a few more places. Great event overall!

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

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

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

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

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