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.

This sculpture is located in front of North Central High School. It was the winning submission for…read morethe North Central High School Art Department's design contest. It was made in 1989 and is the work of Martina Nehrling. I consists of 3 stainless steel structures, which considering their age are an excellent shape. The first thing I thought of when I saw the sculpture was origami, which turns out to be the artist's inspiration for the piece. The three pieces look like large metal origami pieces. This sculpture did not stick out like I thought it would. I had difficulty finding it. It is located in the long grass strip between the school and the road, if they helps you. It was an overcast day when I visited, so I probably did not get the full effect of the sculpture. I think it would be better with the sun shine off of it, as it is intended to make the sculpture somewhat interactive. There are a decent amount of parking spots in the school's lot. I would just caution you from trying to check this place out during student arrival and departure. 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 checking it out on your way somewhere else.

If you've ever wondered about those gleaming stainless steel sculptures (there are 3 of them) along…read more86th Street, they are called "Arrows of Direction". They were built in 1989 as a result of a design competition at North Central HS. Martina A Nehrling is the artist. The design was based upon folded paper origami. At different times of day, the light strikes different angles affecting the shadows and reflection on the highly polished steel. Review #1516

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

The ArtsPark borders the Indianapolis Art Center in Broad Ripple. The Park and gardens are natural,…read morefor the most part, with meandering paths through natural wooded and open area. The trail is Certified Sustainable by the Indiana Wildlife Federation. We visited on a beautiful Memorial Day morning. I would not have known the garden was here, had I not been looking for the Twisted House sculpture. The park contains 13 sculptures by artists with Indiana ties. In addition, 37 garden features located throughout the park were gift by various benefactors. The art is interesting. There are a mix of concrete walkways and gravel paths. Benches provide seating at various points along the walkways. Free parking is available on the east side of the Arts building and there is no charge to walk through the trails. The park is a hidden gem and worth a visit.

I love the ArtsPark. It's a free, outdoor space that's on the grounds of the Indianapolis Art…read moreCenter. I would often visit when my children were young when we needed a place for them to roam and explore outdoors, so this place holds a special place in my heart. This park is super kid-friendly. The park is contains several art displays, statues and exhibits all throughout the grounds, all set among beautiful landscaping and trees. It's like a gallery without walls. It's also right by the White River, which you can see from a boardwalk that overlooks the river. It's also right by the Monon Trail, so it's easy to get to by bike or by foot. There are a couple of art displays that my kids would play at a lot, and they were the more hands-on pieces. One of them is the "Twisted House," which is a wooden house that's twisted and turny, but kids can go inside. It also makes for a super Instagram-worthy backdrop! "Circle" is another piece in the ArtsPark that my kids gravitated to. It's a Zen-like sculpture composed of a 10-foot ring of black granite with a sand garden on the inside. You can't miss "Crescendo," a bright blue sculpture composed of 6,000 tiles. If you look at the tiles closely, you'll see little uplifting quotes and sayings written on them. I can spend many hours just sitting at ArtsPark among all of the art and nature. It's a beautiful place in the heart of Broad Ripple, and a genuine hidden gem of Indianapolis.

The scent of roses fills the air surrounding this fun and welcoming sculpture at the entrance to…read moreCarmel on Westfield Blvd. The 36 foot sculpture, by Arlon Baylis, is composed of three metal flower stems, each with 16 florets. At night the flowers are lit through dichroic glass lenses with LED lights providing mesmerizing display of changing colors. Baylis studied art at the Royal College of Art in London. He currently teaches at Anderson University, where he established the glass program. Baylis has designed several of my favorite sculptures in Carmel, including Beacon Bloom. The sculpture is difficult to visit up close. While there is a sidewalk surrounding the sculpture, there is no convenient parking. I was able to park on a nearby street and walk. The sculpture is best seen driving through the round about.

Broad Ripple is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Indy, and part of the reason is because of all…read moreof the beautiful murals everywhere. This is one of the murals I see frequently, because it's right by the Rainbow Bridge and my favorite store in Broad Ripple Village, Good Earth. So, according to the artist's website (her name is Abigail Staffelbach), this mural is actually called "Fire Station 32 Mural." At least, that's what it's labeled on her website. The name doesn't exactly roll off the tongue or conjure visions of flower gardens, but it is painted on the side of the Broad Ripple fire station, so it makes sense. Sometimes pragmatism wins. This is a beautiful piece of public art, and fortunately, there are other murals by Staffelbach in the area that you can check out.

Public art mural of some brightly colored and beautiful flowers on the back of the firehouse in the…read morebroad ripple neighborhood of Indianapolis Indiana. My family and I on a weekend getaway from louisville was dining in the area when after eating we decided to discover the area around as it was a cool looking place. We pulled over to check out this rainbow bridge public art when my daughter pointed out this awesome mural just off the banks of the canal water from the bridge. Very fun photo op that is a wonderful piece in an area with all kinds of cool Pieces of public art.

Summer is officially here, and so are the best vibes on the patio at Big Lug! As we know, this is…read moreone of my favorite neighborhood spots for several reasons. One being how they consistently roll out new monthly specials - they're always creative, and the names and descriptions are so much fun. Plus, their specials tie into whatever's locally happening at the time, whether it's Pride Month, Oktoberfest, or anything in between. I tried the summer za' which is a pizza with tomato, corn, zucchini, sausage, red onion, and cheese. Super tasty! And for my mocktail lovers, try the watermelon mint refresher. I'm obsessed!

Big Lug Canteen delivers a memorable meal from start to finish -- friendly, unpretentious service,…read morea warm neighborhood vibe, and two standout dishes that I'll be ordering again. The Brussels sprouts are an absolute triumph: perfectly blistered with a caramelized exterior and tender interior, dressed in a harmonious balance of bright acidity and savory depth. Little crunchy bits and a subtle smoky char add texture, while a finishing sprinkle (and a hint of something sweet-salty) elevates them from simple side to a show-stealer. The Korean salmon is equally impressive. The fish arrives flaky and moist with a richly glazed crust that carries sweet, spicy, and umami notes in perfect proportion. Layers of flavor -- gochujang-forward heat, sesame brightness, and a touch of citrus -- play against the salmon's natural richness without overpowering it. It's plated thoughtfully, with complementary sides that keep each bite balanced. If you're at Big Lug Canteen, don't pass up those two dishes -- they demonstrate skilled technique, bold yet nuanced seasoning, and a real sense of care in the kitchen. Great food, relaxed atmosphere, solid value. Highly recommended.

This is statues of little children running around, pulling some kind of rope or doing something and…read moreholding hands just playing. I have no idea what it's called what it's called but cool to check out.

Crack the Whip is a bronze collection of seven kids playing a crazy game where they hold hands and…read morerun in a circle leaving the last kid in line having to hold on due to the centrifugal force that "whips" them from side to side. As a kid who played this, the thrill came from feeling like you were about to fly! The problem was that it almost always ended with the last kid or two falling to the ground. But we were kids and it was worth the fun. The bronze was created in 1986 by artist/company J Seward Johnson Jr who many will recognize as the creator of the bronze series in the Carmel, Indiana Arts District. The mural sits right at the entrance to the Sheraton Hotel at Keystone at the Crossing, just north of the fashion mall. Review #1519

Located within walking distance from where all the action is in town made it easy to get around…read morewithout a car. The neighborhood is charming and filled with friendly people. My accommodations were extremely comfortable, clean and truly exceeded my expectations. There are only three quest rooms so it is very quiet and relaxed. The food was absolutely outstanding, especially the chocolate chip cookies!!! Kelly and Joe made me feel like I was at my home away from home. I will definitely return and highly recommend a stay.

We just returned from a stay at this B&B in the charming town of Carmel IN. Our stay was fabulous,…read morethanks to our hosts, Kelly and Joe. The property is lovely, and our room (Anna Lynn) was spacious and comfortable. The pillow top King size bed was spectacular! Joe and Kelly's breakfasts were absolutely phenomenal. Everything was gourmet quality, and served with care. They are lovely people and we enjoyed chatting with them each day. I fell in love with their little dog Ted, and it was very hard to say goodbye! We have stayed in many B&Bs and the Old Town Carmel was one of the best! Would highly recommend this to anyone seeking a relaxing stay in the Indianapolis area, as it was an easy drive to the city. Lots to do in the Art & Design District.