INDIANAPOLIS – Hundreds of artists all across Indiana helped paint the Circle City in a new light throughout All-Star weekend.
Basketball fans from across the world and right here in Indiana said they were amazed to see all of the artwork across the city. In fact, many said they were sad to see it go.
“It’s beautiful,” described fan Shirl McDaniel. “Boy, it’s going to be lame down here once they get through it. It’s beautiful looking. It’s beautiful.”
While several crews began taking down some of the artwork, other displays will be sticking around the Hoosier state. That includes 24 large fiberglass basketball sculptures that sat across downtown Indianapolis all week long.
The Indy Arts Council was in charge of that project. Several artists from across Indiana helped design these large sculptures, which displayed historical moments of Hoosier high school basketball.
“Because they are so associated with some high schools here in Indiana, the high schools are very interested in having them,” said Julia Moore, the Indy Arts Council director of public art. “So we are going to be placing them on long-term loans with the high school if they want them.”
Several high schools have already reached out to the Indy Arts Council, including Franklin High School and Muncie Central High School. Moore said it will be nice to share these historical depictions for many years to come.
“Some of these stories are decades old,” she described. “I mean, they even predate some of these students’ grandfathers or great-grandfathers. So, it’s really cool to have that come alive for them.”
All-Star 2024 was not the first time the Indy Arts Council helped bring the Circle City’s culture to life through artwork during a major sporting event. In fact, the group said it has been doing so for many decades.
“We continue to look forward to working with any major sporting event, whether it’s another Super Bowl, another All-Star Game or the NCAA Final Four,” Moore said. “We’re here to put the arts at the disposal of people who want to make these events exciting in this city.”
Other artwork displayed at the Indianapolis Artsgarden over the weekend is being sold.
The curators of last weekend’s “Cultural Corridor” said 100 percent of those profits will go to the artists who helped bring the Circle City to life for All-Star 2024.
