Indy Arts Council

Public Art for Neighborhoods Grantees Announced

People of Culture

About the grant

We’re proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 Public Art for Neighborhoods grants, supported by the City of Indianapolis. These grants, ranging from $500 to $5,000, pair artists with communities to collaborate on arts and culture projects that residents can enjoy and appreciate.

 

Public Art for Neighborhoods Grantees Announced

Irvington Development Organization & Andrea Light

The Irvington Development Organization and artist Andrea Light will create a mural commemorating Irvington resident Madge Oberholtzer’s 100th death anniversary. They aim to engage the community, preserve local history, and inspire change. This project reinforces Irvington’s status as an art hub and educates about Madge’s role in taking down the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana.

Irvington Development Organization

www.irvingtondevelopment.org

Andrea Light

@andrealight84

Public Art for Neighborhoods Grantees Announced

Ellenberger Park Family Center & Cassia Malbone

Middle-school artist Cassia Malbone is partnering with the Ellenberger Park Family Center, Friends of Ellenberger Park, and muralist Andre Parnell to create a garden-inspired mural to help beautify the park and historic Irvington. The mural will enhance the Pollinator Patio area, which will support camps, family activities, and educational gardening events.

 

Ellenberger Park Family Center & Cassia Malbone

Ellenberger Park

Eagle Branch Library & ArtbyJarrod

Painter ArtbyJarrod partners with Eagle Branch Library to create a large-scale painting highlighting the diversity of the local community. Engaging residents as photo references, each image tells a unique story, in the process promoting community acceptance, unity, and creativity. The project also encourages utilization of library resources and the pursuit of one’s creative dreams.

Eagle Branch Library

@indylibrary

Jarrod Stone

@art_byjarrod

Public Art for Neighborhoods Grantees Announced

MLK Multi-Service Center & Boxx the Artist

The MLK Center, with neighborhood artist Boxx the Artist and other partners (Indy Parks and Recreation, Butler-Tarkington Neighborhood Association, Midtown Indy, and Catch the Stars Foundation), will create a mural at Tarkington Park’s facility that houses Tea’s Me Café. Aligned with the Tarkington Park Master Plan, it celebrates the community’s diverse history, culture, and arts initiatives.

 

MLK Multi-Service Center

@mlkcenterindy

Boxx the Artist

@boxxtheartist

Public Art for Neighborhoods Grantees Announced

Aspire Higher Foundation & Tia Sublett

Aspire Higher’s Urban Bloom project aims to empower Northwest Landing residents to transform their neighborhood through colorful, tactical, and resourceful art interventions. The project, led by artist Tia Sublett, focuses on DIY-ing alleys, parks, homes, and entry points to foster community ownership and change residents’ perceptions about where they live.

Aspire Higher Foundation

@aspirehouse_indy

Tia Sublett

@tilly_bell

Brookside Neighborhood Association & Zola Lamothe

Photographer Zola Lamothe will exhibit “Unveiling a Forgotten Legacy” in Brookside and produce an exhibition catalogue. Hosted by 1000words gallery in Fall 2024, the photography showcases real stories of Black neighborhoods along Indiana Avenue, prompting reflection on community displacement and cultural preservation.

Brookside Neighborhood Association

@1000wordsindy

Zola Lamothe

@livingart.creations

Public Art for Neighborhoods Grantees Announced

Near East Area Renewal & Addie Hirschten

Near East Area Renewal (NEAR) will collaborate with artist Addie Hirschten of Studio Alchemy, a resident and working artist in the Cottage Home Neighborhood, to create a mural under the 10th St. rail bridge highlighting the flowers found in residents’ gardens of Windsor Park and Cottage Home Neighborhood.

Near East Area Renewal

@neareastareanenewal

Addie Hirschten

@alchemy.of.art.addie.hirschten

Hanna Commons & Tiffany Black Behzad & Qahar Behzad

“Creating Home: A Collaborative Mural Project” led by artists Tiffany Black Behzad and Qahar Behzad at Hanna Commons, a supportive housing development in south Indianapolis, spotlights residents’ narratives through large-scale art, aligning with the community’s housing-first mission.

Hanna Commons

@upholdingshousing

Tiffany Black Behzad

@___tblack___

Qahar Behzad

@qahar_behzad

Ladywood Estates Historic District & Melissa Gallant

In June 2024, Ladywood Estates Historic District celebrates Avriel Shull, their trail-blazing designer, with “Celebrate Avriel 2024.” Musicians and neighborhood residents Melissa Gallant and Wendy Reed, along with guest musicians and visual artist Giselle Trujillo, will focus on mid-20th century women as they showcase Shull’s designs and offer a unique multi-media art experience.

Melissa Gallant

@mgallantharp

Savannah Jacob & Paul Williams with the Bates-Hendricks Neighborhood Association

Savannah Jacob and Paul Williams, local artists from Bates Hendricks, are teaming up with the Bates Hendricks Neighborhood Association to establish the Neighbors Gallery, a free, neighborhood-based art kiosk. Scheduled for completion by June 2025, the kiosk will feature both 2D and 3D artwork from local artists, offering a vibrant and inclusive space for community engagement. Designed and built by Paul Williams with input from Savannah Jacob, the kiosk will provide a permanent venue for showcasing local talent and fostering community pride. By creating this accessible art space, the Neighbors Gallery aims to bridge the gap in local arts representation and offer a welcoming environment for residents to connect with and celebrate the diverse artistic expressions of their neighborhood.

Savannah Jacob
@savijjacob
www.savjart.com

Paul Williams
@anaveragepaul

Bates-Hendricks Neighborhood Association
@bateshendricks
www.bateshendricks.org

Public Art for Neighborhoods Grantees Announced

Studio Lauren Zoll with Near North Development Corporation

Studio Lauren Zoll, LLC, in collaboration with the Near Northside Development Corporation, is leading the conservation of her public art installation Kitsch’n Lights as part of the Public Art for Neighborhoods Grant. Installed in 2016 for the IN Light IN Festival, Kitsch’n Lights is a vibrant, sculptural light display made from commercial foodservice colanders, located on the Cultural Trail in the Near Northside Neighborhood. Now in its eighth year, the installation requires cleaning, conservation, and signage to maintain its aesthetic and functional role in the community. As a beloved landmark, Kitsch’n Lights enriches the neighborhood’s cultural heritage, while its upkeep will ensure it continues to enhance public safety and the area’s artistic vibrancy.

Lauren Zoll
@studio_lauren_zoll
www.laurenzoll.com

Near North Development Corporation
@nearnorthdevcorp
www.nearnorthdevelopment.org

Dance2Connect with the Jeremiah Gray Elementary PTO

Dance2Connect is a community outreach initiative founded by Mackenzie Lucas and Eleni VogasBarnette to bring accessible dance education to youth in the Carson Square area. Aiming to break down barriers to dance, foster social cohesion, and enrich young lives, the program will offer four two-hour dance classes in various styles, culminating in a community performance in fall 2024. Partnering with Jeremiah Gray Elementary School PTO, the program ensures inclusivity for all youth, regardless of dance experience. Dance2Connect not only provides a creative outlet but also strengthens community ties through performance, mentorship, and ongoing support for participants to pursue further dance opportunities.

Dance2Connect
@dance.2connect
@lexa.mayy
@kenzie.nikole_

Jeremiah Gray Elementary
www.perryschools.org/jg/pta

Public Art for Neighborhoods Grantees Announced

Melanie Lachowicz with the Felege Hiywot Center

The second annual TAG You’re It! Street Art Festival is a free, family-friendly event hosted at the Felege Hiywot Center, designed to celebrate and educate the community about street and graffiti art. The festival features hands-on workshops in stencil making, wheat-pasting, sticker creation, and yarn bombing, as well as live graffiti painting, hip-hop performances, and a history tour. The event also includes an outdoor gallery with local artists and an artist Q&A. Led by artist Melanie Lachowicz in collaboration with local street artists and collectives, the festival fosters community engagement and artistic expression while breaking down the stigmas surrounding graffiti art.

Melanie Lachowicz
@mllachowicz
@chromatic_c0llective

Felege Hiywot Center
@fhcgarden
www.fhcenter.org

Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site with James and Jon Sholly

The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, in collaboration with Commercial Artisan (James and Jon Sholly), is transforming a traffic control box at the corner of 13th and Delaware Streets into a vibrant and educational public art piece. This project, slated for installation in late 2024, will draw from the Site’s extensive collection of over 11,000 artifacts to highlight the legacy of America’s Hoosier President, the history of Delaware Street, and the rich heritage of Indianapolis. The wrap will feature historical imagery, sustainable materials, and themes of unity and diversity, enhancing the cultural landscape while mitigating graffiti. This installation reflects the Presidential Site’s vision of becoming the most innovative and civically engaged presidential museum in the country, enriching the community for both residents and the 32,000 annual museum visitors.

Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
@presbenjaminharrison
www.bhpsite.org

James & Jon Sholly
@commercial_artisan
www.commercialartisan.com

Public Art for Neighborhoods Grantees Announced

The Tribe Youth Foundation & Timothy Williams

The Tribe Youth Foundation’s community birdhouse repainting project, led by artist Timothy Williams, aims to refresh and beautify existing birdhouses in public spaces, creating a vibrant and inviting habitat for local birds. By involving residents of all ages, particularly youth, in the repainting process, the project seeks to enhance the visual appeal of these birdhouses while fostering community engagement and environmental awareness. Volunteers will contribute to the restoration effort, promoting teamwork, a sense of ownership, and pride in the St. Clair Place neighborhood. This initiative not only improves the aesthetic of the area but also supports wildlife conservation and provides an educational experience about the importance of habitat preservation.

Tribe Youth Foundation
www.tribenow.org

Southdale Neighborhood Association with artists Christina Hollering, Biak Par, Yan Yan & Travis Neal

The Southdale Traffic Signal Box Public Art Heritage Project will bring four vibrant murals to high-traffic intersections in Southdale in 2024. Spearheaded by the Southdale Art Committee and local artists Yan Yan, Travis Neal, Christina Hollering, and Biak Par, the project seeks to celebrate the neighborhood’s rich history and cultural diversity. Two murals will honor the legacy of the German immigrant growers who shaped the area’s agricultural heritage, while the other two will reflect the contemporary story of Southdale’s large Burmese refugee community. This initiative, deeply rooted in the community’s values, fosters a sense of unity, pride, and belonging by incorporating public art that resonates with the residents’ diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Southdale Neighborhood Association
@southdaleneighborhoodassoc
www.bhpsite.org

Christina Hollering
@christinahollering
www.christinahollering.com

Biak Par
@satiisakhong

Yan Yan
@yan_yan32
@y2_illustrator

Travis Neal
@nealartistry
www.nealartistry.net

Garfield Park Neighbors Association, Andy Fry and Big Car Collaborative

The Garfield Park Neighborhood Association (GPNA) is collaborating with artist Andy Fry (supported by Big Car Collaborative) to restore and maintain the “Welcome to Garfield Park” gateway mural on Shelby Street. Big Car will contribute creative direction, artistic support, marketing, and event coordination, while Fry, the original mural artist, will assist with restoration efforts. Central to the project is a community-building event where 40-50 neighbors and business owners will help repaint the mural, symbolizing the ongoing renewal of Garfield Park and greater Indianapolis. The mural’s revival aims to inspire pride, foster engagement, and encourage investment in the neighborhood through art.

Garfield Park Neighbors Association
@garfieldparkneighbors
www.garfieldparkneighbors.com

Big Car Collaborative
@bigcarpix
www.bigcar.org

Green Thumb Patrol Community Garden and Gary Gee

This project in the Martindale-Brightwood (Oakhill) area of Indianapolis aims to enhance community engagement, environmental stewardship, and quality of life by involving youth aged 5-20 and their families in creative, garden-focused activities. In partnership with artist Gary Gee, the project will beautify the neighborhood with a painted mural on a container box, artistic pathways, garden signage, and sculptures. By engaging the broader community in design and implementation, this initiative fosters intergenerational collaboration, builds life skills, and promotes healthy eating habits, transforming the garden into a hub for social interaction, leadership development, and creative expression.

Green Thumb Patrol Community Garden
@greenthumbpatrol

Gary Gee
@originalgarygee
www.artbygarygee.com

Kierra Ready and Ujamaa Community Bookstore at Flanner House

Artist Kierra Ready will launch an 8-week art class series called “Urban Landscapes: Painting Our Communities” at Ujamaa Community Bookstore in Indianapolis, specifically for older adults. The classes will provide participants with an opportunity to reflect on their neighborhoods through storytelling and visual art. Participants will create two personal paintings of meaningful Indianapolis landmarks, fostering community pride and connection. The course will culminate in a public art exhibit at the bookstore, showcasing the participants’ work. “Urban Landscapes: Painting Our Communities” will promote artistic expression, strengthen community bonds, and offer older adults a platform to reflect on their experiences while creating lasting memories through art.

Kierra Ready
@freemind.ki
www.freemindcreations.com

Ujamaa Community Bookstore
@ujamaacommunitybookstore
www.flannerhouse.org

Roots International and Wildstyle DaProducer

Collaborating with Roots International, artist Wildstyle DaProducer will involve Riverside neighborhood residents in creating a large-scale photographic artwork that highlights their power and joy. Through interviews, the artist will capture the stories of neighbors, focusing on what brings them happiness and how they use their gifts to support one another, fostering a sense of belonging. The resulting photographs will be displayed as a “wrap” around the Ritz Lounge, a beloved local gathering spot with a history of community connection since 1957. The installation will remain on display throughout 2025, showcasing Riverside residents’ contributions and celebrating the strength of the neighborhood.

Roots International
www.thelearningtrees.com

Wildstyle DaProducer
@wildstyledaproducer

Public Art for Neighborhoods Grantees Announced

Photo courtesy of MLK Multi-Service Center

Applications are open for the next round of Public Art for Neighborhood grants.