Public art is one of those things that’s more than the sum of its parts. Here in my neighborhood, the humble traffic signal box—a four-foot-tall aluminum cabinet that had never before registered on my radar—seems to be the start of something big.
In 2012 I was one of the volunteers painting Irvington’s first seven signal boxes as part of the Great Indy Cleanup.
These Colts cheerleaders helped us get the job done. Photo by Heidi Unger.
Each design had been submitted by artists like Morgan Hauth, shown here putting finishing touches on one of her pieces.
Morgan Hauth touching up. Photo by Heidi Unger.
By 2013, Foundation East, the brainchild of Vishant Shah and Aaron Story, had formed with a goal of transforming eastside Indy neighborhoods through public art. Building on the success of the traffic signal box project, the duo enlisted six artists to paint another round.
Oil painter Rita Spalding at work on one of her signal boxes. Photo by Charmaine Edwards.
A total of 19 boxes now brighten the main thoroughfares of my community.
Sadly, some disrespectful souls targeted a couple of these landmarks. Two boxes were vandalized early Dec. 31, prompting outrage among neighbors. A third more recently had a bucket of paint splashed on it.
It’s infuriating, but I take my cue from Rita, who has more reason than anyone to be outraged—her luminous painting was among those defaced. She told the Indianapolis Star that morning, “I’m not angry. It just really makes me think about what’s going on in that kid’s life.”
Later that day she wiped off the graffiti. Several neighbors met her at the box to help out if needed, but it turned out to be easier than she expected, because she’d applied a layer of clear coat finish.
Foundation East founders Aaron and Vishant say the outcry shows how important these boxes have become. They invited the community to meet the artists and show their support this week.
I went to the gathering, finding it packed to the gills with neighbors eager to thank the artists and scribble their ideas on a white board. (Paint the water tower, build a vertical garden structure on the library lawn, install a sculpture on my street!)
Many also chipped in for a “clear coat fund” to give all the boxes the same treatment as Rita’s.
Homage to car culture, by Andrew Severns. Follow this artist at @severnscanon. Photo by Vishant Shah.
I talked to several residents there who mentioned Irvington’s history as a hub of creative and intellectual stimulation, with Butler University’s campus located here until 1928. In the 1920s and 30s, a group of acclaimed painters known simply as the Irvington Group drew national attention.
Apparently our neighborhood’s reputation as a quirky haven for eccentrics also dates back 100 years—Irvington is described in an October 1903 Indianapolis Star article as “the classic suburb which has an interesting way of turning up all kinds of freaks and strange things generally.” (This was before the city grew to swallow up the suburb, but we retain our unique character.)
Erin Kelsch’s Signal box in Arctic Vortex aftermath. Photo by Vishant Shah.
Kathleen Angelone, owner of Bookmamas, says that’s exactly the kind of neighborhood she wants—and the art definitely adds to the vibe. “I think public art is vital to any community because it makes it beautiful. It denominates where the community is and gives it character.”
“And it is civilized. I want to live in a civilized community where people are interested in art and music and learning, not just their day to day jobs.”
Dave and Holly Combs’ tribute to farm heritage. Photo by Vishant Shah.
Russian-born Svetlana, an oil painter, told me that public art played a role in her childhood desire to paint. “There are statues everywhere in Russia; you’re just surrounded by art,” she said. “That gave me a lot of creativity and imagination.”
Two years ago she moved to Irvington, where color is starting to pop in unexpected places. “I think it’s wonderful that there is art for people to view without going to a museum.”
Aaron and Vishant invite local artists, funders, and dreamers to contact them about partnering on future eastside Indy public art projects.
My next blog post will have more about the role of public art in placemaking, youth engagement, and crime prevention.
