It’s been an exciting week, with artists traveling from across the country to install their projects! Luke Crawley and Quincy Owens from the Indianapolis area were the first ones in, assembling their colorful pillars near the center of our project site. It’s astonishing to see them brightly lit at night, when the banding patterns rapidly pulse and change color unpredictably as a result of the colored LEDs inside each sculpture. What an innovative way to combine science and art!

This week Chris Miller drove here from Calais, Vermont to install his bicycle rack. To carve the giant-sized granite hand that appears to rise out of the concrete to hold up the bike rack, he used his own hand as a model. Miller’s project honors the sculpting methods of the past, employing traditional techniques that contrast with the high-tech approach invented by Crawley and Owens.  Meeting each of these artists has been an inspiration, and I’m looking forward to networking with them in the future!

As seen in the photo below, a historic building located in the heart of our project site is undergoing a transformation. By March the new owners hope to have the building completely renovated and opened as a new business – Brick Alley Pub and Sports Bar. The open-air patio and glass walls facing the alley will allow customers to enjoy the artwork and entertainment year-round. ArtPlace America’s funding for our project, which is made possible by national banks and foundations, is already demonstrating how investments in the arts and culture drive economic development.