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    Carmel Arts and Design District

    4.3 (23 reviews)
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    Paisley T.

    Charming streets. Walkable. Great animated sculptures. And...a tad..boring. Maybe I'm not the best one to write this review since I'm not from here. Before I set out on my trip here people told me mixed advice about coming to Carmel. Some raved about it and said its darling and a must-see. Others told me that Carmel is just meh and I'd better spend my time in Indy. So I had to check it out for myself. Well, I have to report that when I showed up I was shortly ready to turn around. If you like indoor galleries this might be your thing. I had a fun time taking goofy pics with the sculptures but I didn't feel drawn to the cookie-cutter shops.

    Chris F.

    The Carmel Arts and Design District has a lot to offer. I'm most impressed that the city provides free parking so that you can spend time in the Arts and Design District without the fear of a stalking meter maid in your mental rear view mirror. Grab pizza at Bazbeau's, Thai at Pad Thai, challenge your appetite with the "Big Ugly" at Bub's, catch fresh seafood and meats at Joe's, savor a guilty treat at Auntie Em's, dive into an Italian dish at Donatello's, go creole with some Cajun fun at Mudbugs, enjoy pressure cooked chicken and fried cheese at Muldoon's, chips and salsa at Agave's, brews and apps at The Library, or catch a game at Scotty's or the Pint Room. Oh wait,.. I can't leave out a donut at Square Donuts, a chocolate at The Sweet Shoppe, or high tea at Tina's. And.. that's just the restaurants all within a short walk. There are other retail businesses on the strip that deserve similar shout-outs, but I'll tailor this review strictly to the taste buds and pen one for each retailer later. The festivals are plenty and occur annually. There's a lot of pride in this community and the city works hard to create an experience for every season. I couldn't recommend a stop or a road trip enough. There are plenty of things to see and do, dogs to watch, and items to take home to savor later on when shopping at the local businesses on Main St.. Bring your bikes, too, and begin your exploration.

    Granny multitasking
    Jemmie W.

    Places like this really have to be taken in the context of what else is available in metro Indianapolis. If you go to NYC, Toronto, Chicago, etc., this place is, at best, nothing special. There are many neighborhoods in those places that are larger, more local, unique, and interesting - and evolved organically over decades or even centuries rather than "designed". However, you are in metro Indy, where this place is a little interesting. There are art galleries, non-chain restaurants (yes, there are still some of those around here), Joe's Butcher Shop, barber shop, yogurt shop, tea shop, etc. It's a rather perfect location and is within walking distance of not only the aforementioned shops but also: Carmel High School, Carmel Library, Monon Trail, and Palladium / Booth Tarkington (via Monon Trail). There are several annual events that close down the District to car traffic. Carmel Artomobilia and the Carmel International Art Festival come to mind, both being excellent, high quality, well-attended events. This is also a fine place for people watching as it's where the beautiful people of Carmel come to see and be seen (right Neal P?). You can see them walking their well groomed dogs on the Monon and on Main St, transporting them in their Range Rovers and Porsche Cayennes. The only downside is that there just isn't the population density for there to be enough foot traffic to be interesting except on absolutely perfect summer weekend afternoons and evenings. Surburbia is still car-centric and has too much sprawl. The fact that metro Indy has the cheapest real estate of any medium-sized or larger city in the US doesn't help the effort to increase population density. But this is what we have.

    My World - Johnson Jr 1992 at the Carmel City Center on south Rangeline Road
    Ken N.

    I am relatively new to the world of public art. Sure, I checked out some of the art displayed downtown in Indy when it was there. And I checked out the murals that went up for the Super Bowl (XLVI for 46). But, other than that, I hadn't really noticed. I don't think that I'm the only one who walks or drives by ornate buildings and sculptures, murals and graffiti without taking time to see what is there. So, now that I am retired, I have the time to slow down and look at the world around me. When I saw that Carmel had an extensive collection of public art, I hopped in my car to check it out. The area designated as the Arts and Design District (and the area to the immediate south on Rangeline Road) is filled with artistic sculptures and fountains. There are murals and private pieces of art as well. And there are numerous shops in the district to appeal to anyone looking to acquire something for themselves. My focus on the day I traveled was to find the pieces by J Seward Johnson Jr. The city has acquired 15 of his bronze lifelike sculptures and placed them in places that are likely to be noticed by anyone in the area, but are so real looking that you may be surprised they aren't fellow humans. I started out my journey just south of the district at the Carmel City Center. The first piece I found was "My World" (1992) where a little girl sits reading a book on south Rangeline Rd. The next piece was "Big Sister" (1987) at Hanover Place in the area behind Divvy Restaurant. The piece depicts a young girl receiving help in tying her shoe from her big sister. I then headed north to Main Street and parked on the east side of the district. As I walked along the north side of the street, I found "Who's in Charge" (1991) at 30 N Rangeline. It shows a boy sitting upon his father's shoulders. The next piece I found was "Sidewalk Concert" at 22 W Main, right in front of a music store. A statue of a violinist playing for tips is the focus of this piece. Further down the street at 40 W Main (on the corner of 1st Ave), "There, Now You Can Grow" has a little girl with a watering can placed next to some live flowers. From that location, you can also see a large Mural painted by students at Carmel in 2007. Across 1st Avenue, I then saw "Ambassador of the Streets" (1993). This woman in a red dress is walking her dog. The dog has other things in mind than walking in the direction the woman wants to go. A little farther down the street and I found "One Man's Search" (1996). It shows a man (in a Carmel HS jacket) sitting on a bench reading a book. Across 2nd Avenue near the Monon Trail is "Oh, It's You, Welcome!" (1997) portraying a policeman named W Carey. Further down the street is an oversized bronze of a dancing woman by Jerry Joslin titled "Eternal Spring" (or Spring Eternal). And finally, near the roundabout, an artist is painting the fountain in the middle. This piece is called "The Right Light" (1983). I really liked that this piece not only shows off the sculpting ability, but the painting skills of the artist as well. Working my way back to my car on the south side of Main Street, I soon noticed the piece "First Ride" just a short way down the Monon Trail. This piece is a bit dated, showing a father helping his daughter ride her bike before the days of safety helmets. Interestingly, the city put a plaque that the use of a helmet is not to be ignored just because of the statue! The next block shows two pieces. The first is "Confirming Predictions" and shows a man on a bench checking his stocks in the morning paper. The second is a woman coming out of a butcher shop called "Holding Out". Sadly, the plaque for this piece is missing, so there was little information about it. As I crossed 1st Avenue, there was another colorful mural on the east side of the street. As I got to Rangeline, I turned south and saw a couple holding an umbrella called "Elemental" (1993). Although it seemed a bit out of place on this sunny day, I can imagine it seems very realistic on a rainy day. I crossed the street and at 1 S Rangeline found "Things to Do". This piece has a business woman seated on a bench making out a list of things to do that day. By the look of things on the list, she seemed rather ambitious! The final piece was found at 19 E Main St. This statue reminds me of several photos taken after World War II ended as a returning sailor plants a kiss on a willing lady. The original title of the piece was "Unconditional Surrender" (2004), but is also known a "Embracing Peace". Overall, the pieces are very lifelike, although some have become dated. Still, I appreciate the nostalgic feel that made me feel welcome. After the walk, I was able to try out one of the numerous restaurants in the area. There is a great diversity of shops along the path as well as places to acquire art. It was a fun way to spend my morning. Review #154 indyartsguide.org/public...

    Marianne D.

    Charming little section of Carmel, Indiana, filled with eateries, galleries, etc. My favorite of the art & design area is the many bronze sculptures lining the street. They also have concerts is the park. There is a fantastic farmer's market on Saturday mornings...make sure you go with an empty stomach as there are many food vendors at the market. I like to stay at the Old Towne Carmel Bed & Breakfast. Fantastic B&B within walking distance to everything.

    Face/body paint in at the art fair
    T.j. K.

    Went into the art district yesterday for the art fair and had a really great time. Lots of excellent art from painting to photography to sculptures and much more. Most of it was well out of our budget but it was still cool to look at and a great time for them family. On a more general note this area is great because it offers so much in such a little area. From the Farmers Market to shops and places to eat you can spend and entire day and get a lot of stuff done. A few of the places we love are Bubs, The Pint Room, restyled, and the antique store.

    Karmen W.

    Amazing! Beautiful Family friendly. Many parking lot, direct connection to Monon greenway. Great festivals in main street.

    So fun to do the Community Mosaic project!

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    Ask the Community - Carmel Arts and Design District

    Review Highlights - Carmel Arts and Design District

    3) Walk off that food with a stroll or bike ride on the Monon Trail (Zagster bikes for rent - $3/hour).

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    Grace, Love, and Joy

    Grace, Love, and Joy

    5.0
    (2 reviews)
    2.1 mi

    This is a tall sculpture located in the center of a Carmel roundabout. I saw it both during the day…read moreand the night and in my opinion, it is far more impressive at night than during the day. This piece stands 42 feet high, and is made of aluminum and steel. It is the work of Arlon Bayliss, who created the piece in 2019. It depicts 3 roses towering over the roundabout. It is very detailed and looks very realistic. I love the pink pedals and how they look like they are made of some type of sheer material. The sculpture also includes gold stems and silver leaves, wrapped in a ribbon. It is illuminated at night and looks amazing. It is rumored that if you look closely at the sculpture, you may find a bumblebee hidden among the flower petals. There are a few parking lots off of the roundabout that you can pull into, park, and get out to take a closer look. That is what I ended up doing. Just be carful doing so, as it is a very active roundabout. This is obviously not a destination piece or a long stop, but if you are in the area and near by, then it may be worthy of a quick visit. As with most sculptures (especially those located on roundabouts) that I visit, this was not a long stop. I was there about 5 minutes and I was out. I came across the sculpture by chance, driving to an appointment. I recommend making this part of a larger itinerary or a stop on your way somewhere else.

    Wow! When it comes to making eye catching sculptures, leave it to Arlon Bayliss. This newest…read moreedition (2019) fills the center of the roundabout at Pennsylvania St and Old Meridian Streets. The shining steel roses rise above the lawn a towering 42' and are wrapped in a ribbon. According to the artist's statement, he hopes that the roses add beauty as well as bring Grace, Love, and Joy to the hearts of those who see it. P.S. There is a little surprise built into the sculpture that is hidden "in plain sight". If you like this installation, you can see another of Bayliss' work at 96th and Westfield Blvd (Beacon Bloom) in Carmel and another at the north end of Main Street in Speedway (Seeds of Light). Review #3063

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    Grace, Love, and Joy
    Grace, Love, and Joy
    Grace, Love, and Joy

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    Carmel "Selfie Station" Mural

    Carmel "Selfie Station" Mural

    5.0
    (3 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    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.

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    Carmel "Selfie Station" Mural
    Carmel "Selfie Station" Mural
    Carmel "Selfie Station" Mural

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    Be Kind mural

    Be Kind mural

    4.7
    (3 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    This mural is painted on the side of the Union Brewing Company overlooking its patio. You will find…read moreit right off of the Monon Trail. It looks very nice and is well maintained. I love the use of colors. The brewing company commissioned Nekoda Witsken to paint the mural in 2019. It depicts a woman that looks like the St. Pauli Girl mascot, a German beer company, in a "We Can Do It" poster pose that was made popular during WWII. The woman is holding a beer mug in her hand and using her other hand to reveal a tattoo on her arm. On the left side of the mural, you will find the brewing company's logo. The woman is in front of the words "Be Kind" in bold colorful letters and the white background just makes it all pop. It is a simple message of kindness and a reminder to do what should be basic to everyone. I like the message, I like the presentation and I like that artistic display. This mural is great. I really like it. It gives off a kind of pop art feel. As with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is probably not a very long stop unless you are enjoying an adult beverage on the patio. 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 such as the Monon Trail or the community garden that is right across from the patio.

    Love this mural with a simple, yet positive message. We can all use more kindness in this world…read more Artist Koda Witsken created another lovely piece of art in Carmel.

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    Be Kind mural
    Be Kind mural by Nekoda Witsken 2019
    Be Kind mural by Nekoda Witsken 2019
    Be Kind mural

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    Breathe

    Breathe

    4.0
    (3 reviews)
    1.6 mi

    You will find this piece on the side of a the Carmel's Jiffy Lube. It is the work of local artist…read moreJustin Cooper, with assistance for community members through community celebration paint days. It is a positive mural and is intended to pay homage to Carmel-born artist and illustrator Franklin Booth. It was painted in 2016 and is the product of a partnership between Jiffy Lube and Department of Public Words, a group dedicated to spreading positive messages through art. The message here is to just pause, take time and just "breathe". As most community murals are, this is a simple design. The colors of the mural are dull, almost pastel like, but it is still in great shape. The mural depicts a blue heron flying, against a blue background, flying through a whimsical sky. It is not a very detailed piece, but I love its message and it being a community project. As with most murals that I have visited, this is not a large consumer of your time, nor a destination piece. I was just there briefly while on my way to another nearby attraction. I would say that I was there about 5 minutes. I highly recommend visiting here on your way to somewhere else or making this part of a larger itinerary.

    Love, love, love Jiffy Lube's new art initiatives! They have murals on their different locations…read moreall over the city. It seems to not only connect the Jiffy Lubes to the community more, but also distinguish each one as fun and unique. This mural was painted by Justin Cooper in 2016 (just searched the Internet - definitely didn't know that off the top of my head!). This mural is peaceful and just says the word 'breathe' on the side. Great reminder. The light colors are pretty, but it is hard to read from far away. Regardless, I just love the initiative to spread public art and have learned a lot about how great Jiffy Lube is as a company. This is evidence of it!

    Photos
    Breathe
    Breathe
    Breathe by Justin Cooper 2016

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    Breathe by Justin Cooper 2016
    Anatomy of a Moment

    Anatomy of a Moment

    4.0
    (2 reviews)
    2.1 mi

    This piece is part of the 2020 Jiffy Lube Mural project, in conjunction with the Arts Council of…read moreIndianapolis. It is the work of Artur Silva and Shaunte Lewis and is not your typical mural. It is not painted directly on the building wall. The image was printed on vinyl and installed on the building. This is the first digitally-created artwork in the Jiffy Lube mural program. So, obviously it is on the side a Jiffy Lube. The mural is abstract. It goes from color in the center to black and white as it gets toward the outer edges. The left side of the mural is a mirror of the right side. It mainly consists of a lot of colorful hands. There is also a heart thrown in for good measure. The hands are based on Silva's friends' performing various actions with their hands. He also used screenshots of films highlighting the role of hands in telling a story. I will say that it is an interesting piece that I found very intriguing. I was trying to figure out which each hand was doing in the mural. I like the way the color portion of the mural contrasts with the back and white portion. They both really pop. I just pulled into the BP gas station that the mural overlooks to park. It was very easy. As with most murals 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 at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

    As part of the ongoing commitment from the local owners of many Central Indiana Jiffy Lubes,…read moreanother new mural was added to the south wall of the Jiffy Lube on 151st in Westfield. The artists for this piece were Artur Silva and Shaunte Lewis. The artwork is a mixture of bright colored pieces surrounded by black and white "sketches". There are many images of hands that I haven't had a chance to understand what they represent. It is a definite eye catching mural as I noticed it from 151st even though it was just beyond a BP gas station on the south wall of the Jiffy Lube on Thatcher Lane. For more information about the artists and Jiffy Lube art program, see the link to the Arts Council of Indiana that I have added to the Business page of the mural. This piece was added in 2020, so something good came out of that year! Review #3861

    Photos
    Anatomy of a Moment by Artur Silva & Shaunte Lewis 2020
    Anatomy of a Moment by Artur Silva & Shaunte Lewis 2020
    Anatomy of a Moment by Artur Silva & Shaunte Lewis 2020
    Anatomy of a Moment by Artur Silva & Shaunte Lewis 2020
    Anatomy of a Moment by Artur Silva & Shaunte Lewis 2020

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    Anatomy of a Moment by Artur Silva & Shaunte Lewis 2020

    Carmel Arts and Design District - galleries - Updated June 2026

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