There is a new public art mural across the street on the north side of the courthouse in Marion…read more Created by local artist/art teacher Andrew Luttrull in 2018, the mural spans the entire length of the alley! The artist wanted to create a mural that would focus on the possibilities of what could be and then working towards making that change happen, i.e., a mural that would be positive and encourage being proactive. The mural is painted on a light blue background and from left to right, shows a young male preparing to launch a paper airplane which then changes in a frame by frame style, into a white bird. I found the story of the mural easy to follow and imaginative. And the bright colors seem to soften the emotional effect of walking passed a long, otherwise dark alley. I wish more communities would invest in transforming their old downtowns into canvases and thereby create points of interest for visitors to see. I hope that Marion and the rest of Grant County can take steps to revitalize their towns like I am seeing throughout central Indiana. Review #2258

A very beautiful mural with a positive message. Brings life and color into downtown Marion.read more

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.

Amazing school! The emphasis on whole person education is so beneficial to student development…read more Biblically sound faith is incorporated into every aspect of campus life and education. One of the most genuinely kind and friendly campuses. Such strong community. My favorite place to be!

Taylor University was a life-changing experience!…read moreACADEMICALLY - During the time I attended Taylor (2016-2020), 97% of the faculty held doctorates in their respective field of instruction. I loved class, because I got to engage experts who imparted understanding and wisdom far beyond what I could learn from a standard textbook or online resource. This rivaled the experience of my friends who attended large, public universities where the bachelor programs are often taught by adjunct professors or graduate students. SPIRITUALLY - Taylor is a Christ-centered community that so beautifully holds fast to the truth of scripture without losing sight of the humility and love of Jesus. While no community is perfect, Taylor is marked with deeply committed relationships and campus life that exudes the fruit of the Spirit. One of my favorite memories from Taylor was gathering with my friends in the Prayer Chapel 2-3 times a week for informal worship, prayer, and Bible reading. COMMUNITY - Taylor has a very strong culture of intentional community with many long-standing traditions (some of them decades old). The residence life experience is one of the best for Christian colleges, because they allow freshman, sophomores, juniors, and seniors (optional) to stay in the same dorm/wing throughout their time. Of course you're welcome not to stay in the same spot each year; however, you will most likely discover the beauty of the "wing life". In a way, they become your "home base" on campus and some of your best friends. POST COLLEGE - Today God has graciously given me a great start to my business career at a national family-owned business with overtones of business as missions (three promotions in 4 years). I also continue to keep up with fellow graduates and see success on all fronts!

My husband and I had a really fun time at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. They had a large and varied…read morecollection of art. My favorite exhibit was the glass art collection. I'm amazed at the intricate details that these artists are able to create. They had several permanent and rotating exhibitions worth exploring. Their gift shop supports local artists and is worth a look. I highly recommend the For Wayne Museum of Art!

I love this museum as it has one of the nicest glass exhibits. Going from different decades and…read morestyles. Every year I come i see new glass exhibits. When they have the day of the deaths exhibit, they give away the traditional bread! Yummy!

British Garfield unites the local icon Garfield (created by artist Jim Davis from Marion) with all…read morethings British like the Battle of Mississinewa and the popular Fish and Chips dinner served inside the nearby Payne's Restaurant. This is one of fourteen statues of the cat in various poses, dressed in different clothing, scattered throughout the county. The path to connect these sites is called the Garfield Trail and is a fun way to get out and explore, maybe finding a new place to eat, or something interesting to check out. Review #2570

The server met me near the kitchen to order a takeout order. I asked my questions and got quick…read moreanswers and suggestions on how to make it a special experience. When I was able to get my order, it was perfect, a good assortment of unique foods that gave me that British experience that we were looking for. We also got very hot English tea and it was delicious, very strong. This is a great stop on the Garfield Trail and very tasty! The only negative I had was no one, servers or customers, had a mask on. For that reason, we took our order to go but thank you for a great experience despite that...

Just outside the Gas City Public Library is a statue of Grant County's own Garfield the cat. This…read morestatue is seen blowing glass with a book about the history of Gas City between his feet. Gas City has a history of glass production (like much of the area including Kokomo). So, it makes sense that if someone wanted to learn about glass blowing in Gas City, the library would be a good place to start. This is one of fourteen statues of the cat in various poses, dressed in different clothing, scattered throughout the county. The path to connect these sites is called the Garfield Trail and is a fun way to get out and explore, maybe finding a new place to eat, or something interesting to check out. Review #2568

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

While strolling along the Mississinewa Riverwalk, I discovered this mammoth sculpture of historic…read moresignificance. The sculpture was designed by artist Karl Kendall and recast as a ten foot bronze in 2005. The scene features a soldier, a Native American couple, and a horse following the War of 1812. After attacks on the villages, the remaining Native Americans were relocated to Ohio so that they could no longer assist the British. The soldiers were ordered to surrender their own horses to help the surviving tribe members relocate during the cold December weather. The scene is meant to show the compassion for those who suffered in war. Review #2248

I love when they show our history through art especially sculptures I think it's so wonderfulread more