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Transforming a Gateway to Indy with Public Art

Submitted January 07, 2010 by Ryan Puckett | 5 comments

On December 15, 2009, KIB helped with the first stage of a public art installations at the I-70/Holt Road interchange, completing a transformation of a key gateway into Indy.

Kathryn Armstrong, a graduate student at Herron School of Art and Design through the Basile Center for Art, Design and Public Life, created the piece, which is named going home. Ten of the multicolored art forms were installed on a bone-chilling December morning and eventually, 34 total pieces will live among the green space on both side of the exchange.

Originally, the project called for one piece of art, but Kathryn sensed the space called for multiple pieces.

"Being that space had no experience, I wanted to somehow visually invent a place that would suggest a living environment, while activating the space with color,” said Kathryn.

“Since the work would be competing with fast moving traffic, it was important for me to create an idea of movement without using kinetic techniques. I imagined a work that had no end, no beginning and no center. A work of art that would expand the space and travel with the audience, while invisibly connecting the east and west interchanges. Thirty-four individual forms will mark the site similar to dots on a map. I addressed movement by designing a slanted top to create a tilt and using individual placement to depict a nomadic feeling."

Eli Lilly and Company and KIB partnered with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to seek approval from the Federal Highway Department to install the art. The public art installation at I-70 and Holt Road will be the first of its kind in Indiana, and reflects a growing trend nationally.

KIB President David Forsell said improving the I-70 corridor from the airport to downtown has been an aspiration of many community leaders for a long time. “It’s important that the major corridor into our city reinforces a positive image of our community,” he said.

Photos of the art are available (including the image below) via Herron at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/herronschoolofartanddesign/sets/72157622920020778/

Read the news release about the project for more details.

Comments

The public art at Holt Road is meant to be a permanent installation to add some visual attraction to this blah stretch of highway. Regarding the site, our contractor visits weekly to address weeds and any lost material. This site has been filled with challenges of erosion and drainage that we continue to solve. Replacement plant material will be coming in the Spring. In addition, the entire site is getting some good watering given our under 1/2 of rain for the month of August.
Mark Adler on August 30th, 2010, 6:05pm
How much longer will the plastic "art" be on display in the intestate right of way at Holt and I-70? It was a humorous sight when the colored blobs were installed on verdent spring grass last year. The site just looks loopey now as the site erodes, plantings dry and weeds emerge.
Daniel Lynch on August 27th, 2010, 12:51pm
Rob~ Hopefully, you've been by I-70 and Holt Road and have seen where we worked to plant hundreds of trees and thousands of plants at the interchange last May.
Linda Broadfoot on January 20th, 2010, 10:14am
How about planting some trees?
Rob Johnson on January 19th, 2010, 1:18pm
how will the expected addition of a Junkyard at that exit look with the new beautification?
Bryan on January 13th, 2010, 12:14pm

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