On my last visit to Muncie, I found this giant mural downtown on the side of the Mark III Taproom…read moreon Walnut. The mural was completed in 2017 by the "We're Trying Collective" and volunteers. The mural was inspired as response to the Orlando Pulse Nightclub attack. Muncie residents wanted to let folks of all types know that they are welcome in Muncie. Community outreach gathered thoughts and interest and developed the mural. The mural has large pastel areas with a black overlay of lines that create a lot of abstract imagery. Between the lines, a number of hand prints can be seen of volunteers. The orange areas also have a number of equality symbols. Review #1367

Sometimes, I find the most appealing art to be simple, such as this three paneled piece called…read more"Growing Through the Changes". The large panels are connected but set at slight angles to each other to appear free standing. Each of the steel panels has a cutout in the shape of a lush tree which allows you to look through the panel. Some of the cutout shapes are simply folded down instead of being entirely removed which adds a little texture and dimension to the panels when viewed from the side. The panels are not coated, so they have taken on a rusty red color over time. They are set in a green space by the City Hall and the color can add a bit of contrast to the green on a sunny day. The art was created by artist Sally Myers as a gift from a local gallery (Gallery 308) which was established to give local artists a place to have their works seen. The piece was given to the City in 2013. The piece, including the title, tie to the city which is undergoing a transformation, trying to rekindle growth despite the loss of industry and population. Review #1376

You can't go wrong with a good statue. This is an icon in…read moreMuncie. It's easy to find and parking is handy. Sadly the grounds were not very well kept. My hope is this statue will continue to great drivers in Muncie and give them pause to stop, think and say a little prayer to whoever your higher power is.

In 1929 the spouse and children of Edmund Ball dedicated this replica bronze of Cyrus Dallin's…read morefamous Sioux Warrior. (The original is located at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.) The sculpture is part of Dallin's "Epic of the Indian" series. The statue is located east of the Minnetrista in a triangular park area at the intersection of Walnut St and Granville and is visible from the Cardinal Greenway Trail system. Though the statue is a beautiful work, it does not fit with the history of Indiana. The Hoosier state had Delaware and Miami tribes in the Muncie area. The Sioux and all western plains tribes were farther west, so this statue may not have been the best choice from an accuracy point of view. Still, it is an impressive sculpture and was probably selected more for the spirit it portrays than the actual tribe. Review #1206

Prominently displayed in the middle of a roundabout, "Passing of the Buffalo" stands atop a stone…read morepedestal. The sculpture portrays a lone warrior Native American cast in bronze back in 1929. The headress extends the entire length of the sculpture to the warrior's feet where a cattle skull rests. The artist was Cyrus Dallin who also did the "Appeal to the Great Spirit" sculpture on the north side of downtown. Passing of the Buffalo can be found on the south side of downtown on Walnut across from the Children's Museum Review #1381

Grant County has honored the creator of the cartoon character, Garfield, with a trail tour through…read morethe County. Garfield's creator, Jim Davis, was born and raised in Grant County. Giant figures of the iconic feline are scattered throughout different communities. A cell phone tour describes attractions along the route. I visited several of the figures during my recent visit to Grant County. The first stop is at the Community Foundation of Grant County. The people at the Foundation provided us with a map and information of the Trail. The Garfield behind the Foundation is on a pedestal with a description plaque. This cat is called "Marion - Paws for Thought". Garfield (a little faded) stands with his arms folded showing a little attitude. Our second stop was at the Marion Public Library. Inside, "Bookworm Garfield" is surrounded by books. He is also decorated for the holidays. There are fourteen figures throughout the County. The Trail is a fun way to learn about Grant County. I didn't know about the Trail until my visit. I recommend picking up the map and hooking into the mobile phone guided tour. I found nearby parking at each of our stops, though accessibility was variable.

This is one of the Garfield statues on the Grant County Garfield Trail. Unfortunately, you can't…read moreget close to it, because it's in a garden that's fenced off and locked. So everyone in my party oohed and aahed from a good distance away. There's a plaque inside the gate but close enough to read that outlines what the Garfield Trail is and a little about the statue at this stop. Basically, Grant County has placed Garfield statues all around in different cities in honor of cartoonist Jim Davis, who is from the area. You can drive around and check out each one. It's a nice way to explore Grant County and learn more about a famous Hoosier. There were also some brochures for the Garfield trail inside a little plastic container, which tell you where each statue is located. There's a little parking lot just around the corner from the statue, or you can park on the street.

"Beyond the Threshold of Knowledge, the Flame of Wisdom illuminates the Path of Understanding."…read more This unattributed quote appears on the dedication plaque of this beautiful sculpture by local artist Kenneth Ryden (2001). Standing upon a pedestal of two round levels, a bronze of a man holding a flame is framed between two columns of stainless swirl finished steel that arc up and over the man. The dedication plaque lies on the top circle of the pedestal at the man's feet.'' The three phases of intelligence, first knowing, then finding wisdom, and finally, understanding are referenced in the quote and hopefully, provokes some reflection and contemplation of our own beliefs in the things we "know". Review #1506

Outside the Children's Museum in Muncie is a whimsical bronze called "Wait for Me". The piece was…read morecast in 1999 by artist Paul Moore. There are five children arranged from largest to smallest (right to left). The four largest are linked hand in hand, but the smallest has let go to stop and inspect the ground for a bug to put in his jar. Since the largest child seems unaware of the bug catching, he pulls the group along (he carries a toy train under his arm.) The second largest kid is adorned in firefighting gear and pulls behind him the third child who is dressed in a costume with a tail and carries a Teddy Bear. The fourth child, a little girl no longer holds the hand of the center child, but has a firm grasp on the costume tail and appears to be tugging to keep the line of children from moving forward. The girl has a book under her right arm as she leans backwards to pull back on the chain of children. It's a fun collection of unique children, each connected, but having different interests and seeing the world with different points of view: Construction/engineering; service/protection; imagination; academics; and science. Review #1385

The Twisted House is a whimsical, quirky sculpture in the ArtsPark. The house is the 2005 work of…read moreJohn McNaughton. McNaughton was a founding member of the Art Department of University of Southern Indiana. He passed away in 2022. The Twisted House is typical of his fun-loving approach to art. The wood sculpture has a storybook appearance. I can imagine that kids (and maybe even a few squirrels) would have fun visiting and playing in the structure with the crooked door and roof that curves over into the ground. The sculpture brought a smile to my face. The Twisted House worth a visit if you like art. There is no charge to walk through the quiet and serene park. There is free parking at the east side of the park.

It was a cold crisp day in late November when I visited the house. I knocked on the door but…read morenobody was home. Just kidding. It is a piece of artwork. It reminds me of the nursery rhyme about the old woman who lived in a shoe. It is just one piece of outdoor artwork and sculptures available on the grounds of the Indianapolis Art Center. I found plenty of parking available at the Center's parking lot. Then it is short walk from the lot.

Fun fact: Much like…read morethe drama masks included as part of the public art installation "Admit One" located on the east wall of Tipton, Indiana's Diana theatre, I am also adorned with a similar tattoo. So, you can imagine my delight when I finally had a chance to check out "Admit One," an installation added to the historic theatre in 2017 with most of the work being done by Robin Coyner along with community volunteers. The installation was part of the "Art in Rural Places" project and it fits sublimely on the Diana's building as its an entirely film-themed installation that includes a large projector, the theater masks (my tattoo), and a theatre ticket. It's an attractive, colorful addition to the historic building (I'll confess I was somewhat surprised it was allowed on the building). I like the way that the film reel incorporates touches significant to the Tipton area. It's a wonderful weaving together of the project's rural setting with the public art. While the project was completed in 2017, I'm somewhat saddened that it hasn't caught on in downtown Tipton. Sponsored by The Arts Federation, "Admit One" is artwork that instantly makes you smile when you drive by it and it's one of those pieces of art that is practically a "must stop" locations that is ideal for a selfie. The mural takes the entire east side of the building and draws you in if you're coming in on that side of the Diana. The Arts Federation actually places murals in several counties and they're nearly all remarkable efforts that add a nice spark of creativity in rural settings.

Unless you are coming into Tipton from the east, you could easily miss one of the best matches of…read moreart and business in the area! On the east wall of the Diana Theatre, a mural was added in 2017 that compliments the movie theater with local historical sites in the area. The art shows the historic buildings as frames of film while an over sized projector and the theater masks sit in the background. The art was primarily painted by Robin Coyner (with some help from local volunteers) as part of the Tippecanoe Arts Federation's program "Arts in Rural Places." The mural is colorful and somewhat whimsical. There's even a giant theater ticket on the north end of the wall. This is a really nice addition to the downtown to add some color and vibrancy to an area known with its older buildings that lack much life. I hope Tipton can continue to find ways to add art to its downtown. Review #2042