I have passed this mural many times and not noticed it. I decided to make today a mural finding…read morefield trip. The mural wraps around two sides of the Indy Auto Man's Service Center, the front and side and covers 2,400 sqft. It was commissioned in 2021 by the Indy Auto Man Car Dealership and created by Nekoda Witsken. She was assisted by Travis Neal, Bezol One, and Dan "Invisible Hometown" Handskillz. it is meant to represent the business's core values of initiative, growth, integrity, transformation, and resourcefulness. Employees were polled as to which symbols and heroes they felt best represented these values and their feedback was then used to design the mural. The mural not only has the dog, it has MLK, and Freddy Mercury. I like this mural it is large and very detailed. The colors really pop out and pull you in. You can park in the business's lot to get out and see the mural up close. I highly recommend planning out stops at some of the other wonderful murals that are within a mile or two of this one to maximize your time. Fun fact: This mural served as the backdrop to the inaugural Indy Arts Fest as well.

One of the most talented and successful local artists stays busy adding new murals faster than I…read morecan keep up with her. Local artist Nekoda Witsken collaborated with some other local artists to work on an enormous two sided mural on the south side. One of the special details of this mural is that instead of just using brushes, she used spray paint on this metal surface. The front of the building has many figures and faces (including a full sized Fredddie Mercury. Over on the right side of the building you will see the title of the mural as well as a larger than life image of her dog "Potato".. There is also a dog tag with names of people who love Potato as well as the artist. one of the things I enjoy about this artists' work is that there are many styles of art that she can choose to use. I've seen enough of her art that I can arecognize much of it without her signature. Even when she worked with other artists to complete the work, she has such distinctive touches that I can still find them. Review #3969

This awesome mural is the work of UIndy alum, Leah Diekhoff. She painted the mural in 2021 and it…read moreis on two sides of the building. Books and Brews commissioned Diekhoff to paint the mural for the business. It is a very nice mural. One of my favorites in the area. It is actually two murals in one. The mural on the front side depicts some classic books stacked against each other that include: Frankenstein, The Strange Case of Jekyll and Hyde, Shakespeare and Dracula. You will find a black and white portrait of William Shakespeare in the upper right corner of the mural, just above two of the building's windows. The detail on the books is amazing. I like the way that the building's window is incorporated into the Batman book. It also blends well with the Books & Brews sign. The mural continues on the right side of the building with a nice and detailed bicycle and white silhouette portrait of Jane Austen, against a green background. Austen was a writer who wrote 6 major novels, including Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. Diekhoff is a very talented muralist and specializes in anything Disney or fantasy. She is an up in coming artist and I really enjoy her work. I am surprised that I was the first to review this piece. The artistry is very good, the images are very detailed and the colors just pop and demand your attention. There is a decent sized parking lot in front of and on the side of the business that the mural is located. So, parking to get out and get a closer look would not be a problem. As with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is probably not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other wonderful attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. The University of Indianapolis is right across the street, so, you could download the UIndy Sculpture Walk map that is online and make it a half a day or so.

This mural is huge, covering 3 walls and is 18 feet high and 60 and 130 feet wide. It is right by…read morethe Post Office and located on the side of a Subway sandwich shop and Beck's Service Center, and runs into the back of the building. Being that it is in the back of the building there is a lot of obstructions there like dumpsters, trash cans and poles. The mural depicts a farm complete with cows, chickens, a barn, an old pick-up truck and green pastures. The mural is intended to pay homage to Indiana's vast farmlands. It was painted by Henry Lipkis in 2019 for Beck Service Center. It took him more than a week to paint, which considering its size, is very impressive. When you see this mural you are like Wow!! And just think, it only happened because of a chance meeting between Lipkis and Beck's co-owner. Being that the mural is on a business with a huge parking lot, parking and getting out to get a closer look at this mural is simple and easy, if that is what you want to do. As with most all murals that I have reviewed, this is probably not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at like Subway or the Post Office, to maximize your time and trip.

In 2019, the year that Jules Muck Rock shook the Indianapolis art scene with a sweeping tour of…read moremural painting, another muralist from outside the midwest arrived in Indianapolis and through a fortuitous encounter regarding his vehicle, artist Henry Lipkis added murals to the south side of the city. Lipkis was asked by the building owner of a service center to create an enormous mural because "the world needs more beauty". The mural covers a few sections of wall 18' tall. One section is 130 feet wide and the other is 60'. The mural features farm scenes and an antique car. Oversized farm animals are displayed along with a barn and pasture. Note, a second mural was painted that same year of an antique car, but my recent efforts to find the second mural near Harding and Edgewood went unfound. The mural that I found is painted on the north and east sides of a building/shopping center owned by the owner of Beck's Auto Supply near Madison and Stop 11. Review #3839

This is a piece of art that is located on an incline on the side of the Tube Factory Artspace, a…read moreplace where all is welcome to create some art. It is a simple one color piece painted on the building's blacktop. It was created in 2016 by a local artist that goes by the name Roadsworth. It was commissioned by Big Car Collaborative. It is a two color piece, teal and white and is an abstract design. I was not very wowed by this piece and the fact that I visited it during the fall, it was partially covered by leaves. Additionally, I had to move a goal post that some put on it out of the way to take the picture. So, it was apparent to me that this piece was not a high priority at the facility and not very well maintained. There is lots of free street parking available for you to get out and check out the mural. However, it is not a very long stop. This is a brief stop and so, it is best to plan out stops at many of the other wonderful murals in the area or at/in the Artspace.

This sculpture is located on the UIndy campus in front of the Student Center. It is part of UIndy's…read moreSculpture Walk, sponsored by Fifth Thirds Bank. You are able to pull up a map of the 20 plus sculptures online and make a day of visiting each piece. There is a small placard on the ground next to the sculpture, but is is severely weathered and has been wiped blank. The sculpture is a gift from the UIndy class of 1959 and dedicated in memory of their class sponsor, Gerald Boyce. There is a plaque on the base of the sculpture denoting such. This aluminum sculpture is attributed to Kenneth Ryden, which he made in 2008. It stands 12 feet tall and reminds me of a tent or a metal Christmas tree. It has three poles that meet at the top point to form the frame. On that frame are various aluminum shapes like a crescent moon, stars, birds, leaves and feathers. Ryden aim was to depict the contrasting definitions of the term "freedom." It is way yo deep for my blood. Being that the sculpture is located on the UIndy campus there is a lot of parking available, however, most of it requires a parking permit. I just parked in an open spot, got out and took a closer look. I was not in the spot long. So, you can live on the wild side and do the same or you can find one of the guest spots that they have around campus to park. As with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is probably not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other wonderful pieces of public art on campus, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. As I previously mentioned, you could download the Sculpture Walk map that is online and make it a half a day or so.

On the west side of the University of Indianapolis campus is an aluminum installation by Kenneth…read moreRyden. Ryden, born in Chicago, was a professor at Anderson University and has done many sculptures, particularly in bronze, in Central Indiana. This installation is monochrome in color and consists of three poles that angle up to meet near the top. Each of the poles has cutout images attached along the height as it rises. The cutouts depict different thoughts about what freedom means. Review #1687

This sculpture is located on the UIndy campus, next to the Fifth Third Bank parking lot and off of…read morethe campus' main entrance off of Shelby Street. It is part of UIndy's Sculpture Walk, sponsored by Fifth Thirds Bank. You are able to pull up a map of the 20 plus sculptures online and make a day of visiting each piece. This is the only piece near the bank, the Art Walks sponsor. I did not see a placard near the sculpture giving its title and artist like most of the ones in the Sculpture Walk collection. This abstract sculpture is the work of Bernie Carreño and his drew his inspiration for the piece from a brilliant sunlight at a bullfight in Madrid, Spain. Sol y Sombra translates to sun and shade in English. It also happens to be an after dinner or breakfast alcoholic drink, popular in Madrid, that consists of equal parts brandy and anise dulce served in a brandy snifter. It is a very simple design that is made of steel painted bright yellow. There are 4 vertical square poles of different lengths and sizes. The shortest pole has a small circle sitting on top of it. It reminds me of one of those bladeless fans. The tallest pole has a 9/10 circle mounted about half way up it. the circle has an opening at the 5 o'clock position. Both circle's inner section id painted white. The sculpture is mounted on a cement pad and overlooks the back entrance to the bank's parking lot. The bright yellow paint is starting to dull and fade, which the sculptures color was a huge part of its identity in my opinion. The piece is Mehhh for me. It was pretty basic and simple and I did not feel that connection that I get with other pieces. But hey, that is just my opinion. Anyway, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is probably not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other wonderful pieces of public art on campus, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. As I previously mentioned, you could download the Art Walk map that is online and make it a half a day or so.

Sol y Sombra (Sun and Shade) is a metallic sculpture created by local artist Bernie Carreno. This…read more10' sculpture was originally painted a brilliant yellow, but has faded over time. Sun and Shade are two of the seating arrangements available at bull fights in Madrid which is believed to be the inspiration for the piece. Fun note: Sol y Sombra is also the name of cocktail made of equal parts brandy and sweet anise that is popular in Spain. Review #1698

Here now. It's 11:15pm. There's a large gathering in the lobby with numerous loud guests. I guess…read moreit must not matter to the staff. Kids running back and forth in the hallway and doors slamming shut. It was already noisy with the drag racing going on up and down 31. I've been coming here for a long time, but definitely won't be back. I don't see this as improving. It's going to be a very long night.

If you are staying on the first floor, be sure you check to make sure that the toilet will flush…read morebefore situating yourself in the room for multiple days. Stayed at this location for the first time this past weekend. The staff at the front desk were helpful and friendly. The lobby was clean. Our room was immaculate and did not have a musty smell. The breakfast... the breakfast was fantastic!! There was much variety and food was abundant. The two star deduction stems from being placed in a room with others in my party (so multiple of us) without having access to a functioning toilet. It literally was a crap shoot. If I poo, will it flush. That is not the kind of game anyone hopes to have to play when they go to the bathroom while on a long road trip. Whatever the plumbing issue is, I encourage the property manager to resolve it. The bathroom would gurgle and bubble, so this isn't a clog. It's a drainage problem. I will definitely not stay there again. There was zero chance of having this issue resolved in the short stay, unfortunately. In sum, the location was fantastic. So long as your toilet functions, you will have an amazing stay. But do be sure to check this out the moment after you open the door to your room.

This mural is part of Jiffy Lube's mural program in conjunction with Indianapolis Art Council who…read morecommissioned up and coming artist Ashley Nora to paint it. The mural is in Nora's trademark 3D style and depicts an angel looking down at the word "dream" set against a colorful background. The angel figure appears to be holding a paint brush and just painted the word dream, as if she was creating her own dream. The artwork is astonishing, but I would expect nothing less from Nora. I really like her pieces that are all over the city. I missed the one that was at the airport for the NCAA football championship. The mural is meant to be a reminder to everyone to continue to just dream. It has an even deeper meaning too. When talking about the mural, Nora stated that the "image is something one may see in a DREAM state.. This is an image of going from one reality (on the right) to creating another reality (on the left)." You can view the mural with 3D glasses to bring it to left. I did not have any 3D glasses on me during my visit, but I think that is an awesome and unique feature that is seen in many of Nora's pieces. Parking here to get a closer look is pretty simple. You can pull into the Jiffy Lube's parking lot, get out and look as long as your heart desires. I was lucky the day that I visited. There were no vehicles parked in front of and blocking the mural. That was very rare, as I had passed it on many occasions and there was always vehicles parked in front of it. Anyway, good luck and as with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. 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.

Theses are two murals that were painted by Jules Muck aka Muckrock in 2019. They are on the Tube…read moreFactory Artspace, a place where all is welcome to create some art. You will find the green beetle on a small door outside the courtyard near the back, near the chicken coop. It is just a plain beetle, nothing spectacular. The other mural, which is a bit larger and located in the back of the building on a garage roll up door. It is a mural of Marguerite Young, an Indianapolis-born poet and novelist, drinking a cup of rainbow. The mural is 3D, as it gives off the appearance that the rainbow is overflowing from the cup and onto the ground in front of the garage door. I like it, I like it a lot. The mural is modeled after an actual photo of Young that was taken in 1948. There is lots of free street parking available for you to get out and check out the mural. However, it is not a very long stop. This is a brief stop and so, it is best to plan out stops at many of the other wonderful murals in the area or at/in the Artspace.

In August 2019, international artist/muralist Jules Muck spent time in Central Indiana adding…read moremurals in multiple styles. Such is the case with the two she added to the Tube Factory on the south east side. On the east wall near the doorway, a giant green scarab beetle is painted. The beetle is painted as if viewed from above. Between the large, jagged pinchers is the artist's signature "Muck Rock". Around the building to the south end is where a garage door has been transformed. The mural is a portrait of Marguerite Young, a famous Indianapolis-born (Butler Univ) writer, poet, and instructor. In the mural, she is sipping from a coffee cup that is overflowing with a rainbow that flows out onto the ground in front of the door. Although well known in literary circles, I was unfamiliar with Young until I saw the mural. I like when I find one piece of art and it leads me to others, in this case, a different art form. I've read some of Young's poems and though she is best know for "Miss Macintosh, My Darling", the book is close to 1200 pages. She had a lot to say! While in the area, take note of the other artwork around the Tube Factory. Check out "Totally Pencil" on the west wall or some of the art scattered around the grounds. Review #2893