I LOVE INDY

“The city loves me.  Even the stop lights

Are concerned with my health.”

Poet’s Place on the Indianapolis Cultural Trail has this poem “City Generation”  by Elizabeth Weber on the sign in the landscaping right outside the little deli attached to –

“the old Sears Roebuck Building
its date so faded all I can see is 19 something
erected by Samuel L somebody”

How many times have I walked to O’Malia’s – wait no Marsh now – and walked right by that sign.

Too many to count. 

Definitely my loss.

My friend and I celebrate the anniversary of our friendship every August alternating years as to who plans what we do to commemorate this relationship.  This year, 2013, was my turn.  I had been walking downtown Indianapolis with another friend every Sunday evening for the past two years.  He’s a wealth of knowledge about the city – well about everything; and, as we walked, he would tell me different things about the monuments we walked past, about the Cultural Trail, and about old buildings he visited as a kid.  So, it dawned on me that I should put together a walking tour of downtown Indy for the celebration of friendship with my other friend.  I wondered if there could be enough to fill up a whole day, though. I quickly found out there was all that and more.

Putting this together was so much fun and so easy thanks to the Central Indiana Community Foundation.  There is a map on the website http://www.indyculturaltrail.org/about.html and interesting information about the public art along the trail.  So, I combined the knowledge I attained from my Sunday night walking friend with the information on the website, along with the map and information about the monuments at http://walkindianapolis.com/ and made up my 4 X 6 index cards of information for each site we would stop by.

Taking the map I printed from indyculturaltrail.org, I added in the monuments I wanted to highlight, did a run through walk and prepared for this anniversary celebration.  I had my friend meet me in Marsh in the wine aisle to add to the mystery.  Once we met we simply headed out by car to “Looking Through Windows” at Indiana Avenue and St. Clair.  What a gift.  I was taken with the words of the author on the scavenger hunt that was provided on the website as well.  Here is a person with a heart for the city.  Michael Kuschnir said, “The inspiration for this piece came from listening to people of the community talk about this site….I collected these viewpoints as if they are windows into each of us.  Now I give the opportunity for everyone to see this neighborhood in these warm embracing colors:  an opportunity to look at this community through each other’s lenses.”  What a gift those words are.  A great reminder of what life is all about.  What a gift this artwork is!  Beautiful to look at and fun to do the scavenger hunt.  Thank you, Mr. Kuschnir.

Moving along the trail we participated in the Peace Walk adding to our vocabulary a different definition of luminaries which always remind me of Epiphany and putting out the paper bags with the birdseed and candles in them.  These 8 luminaria are beautiful representations of people who were “People of peace whose creativity, perseverance and concern for others improved life for everyone who came after them.”  It was interesting to find out that two additional luminaria appear in different parts of the city, too.  I am in awe of this walk especially at night in the expression of lights that encompass it.  Although the city at night is even more of a favorite of mine anyway. 

Next we went on to the Scottish Rite Cathedral next door where we learned about its start in the 20’s and how every dimension of the design is divisible by three and many by the age of Christ at his crucifixion.  Of particular note to this 30 year veteran of church work.  We ate lunch in the café which was good, homemade, albeit a bit pricey.  Then off across Meridian.

I shared information about the American Legion Mall, the WWII Memorial, The Vietnam and Korean War Memorials, Veteran’s Plaza, and the Indiana World War Memorial & Museum with the Shrine Room of particular note as it is one of the holiest places in the city to me.  We walked to University Park where we learned that it was originally designed for a university, hence the name; and , that the Union troops prepared here for a confrontation with Morgan’s Raiders during the Civil War which we will see highlighted next weekend when we go to Conner Prairie.  This park has a lot of different things in it.  We joked about how it seemed like someone was cleaning out a basement and attic somewhere and found things and added them to the park.  Not sure why Lincoln and Grant’s VP would be in the same park with Syrinx and Pan and a lady in a toga and bronze fish, but it is an oasis in the middle of the city for people reading books on their lunch hour, others photographing squirrels and people in need to get items from a van many evenings during the week. 

We then stopped on the circle and I explained about “The Mile Square,” Christ Church Cathedral and Hilbert Circle.  To prepare for our ascent into the Soldiers and Sailors  Monument, we stopped by the always interesting Rocket Fizz for a cold, diet pop which we drank sitting on the steps of the monument and people watched.  It’s great that the pianos are on the street corners.  We watched 2 older women help an even older woman sit down at one of the pianos to play.  A loving sight to behold.

Then it was time to go to the top.  I opted to pay $2 for each of us to take the elevator – the tiny elevator – and then walk up the remaining 31 steps to an inspiring view of the city and beyond - seeing the old and new combined to create this vibrant, urban area.

After our descent I took us on a short-cut to the Cultural Trail and Poet’s Place.  Once there I had my friend read the entire poem before we headed over to Dancing Ann.  I have grown tired of seeing Ann over the years wondering why they couldn’t change the light pattern to create something different and fresh.  Then I learned about this lady and why the artist chose her.  Julian Opie in 2007 picked this representation and art form because “the female form has often been used in the development of inspiring places.”  We sat on the bench, and I was inspired by Ann Dancing and by the 4 different people who sat down to play the piano on that corner.  City life and sounds coming alive. 

Although I was becoming tired, whining and ready to be done, we continued on walking by the Murat Shrine (sad it is now called Old National Center but at least it is still a hot spot downtown), and I shared the information about it.  An interesting piece of trivia is that the Shrine donated the first camel to the Indianapolis Zoo.  How appropriate! 

A brief stop at Aesop’s Tables quenched my thirst and a bit of my whining with their delicious raspberry iced tea and cheerful wait staff.  A much needed relief.

There were still several more sites on the Cultural Trail to see.  I was excited when I found one of the Moving Forward bus stops, and we read that poem and learned how these “self-cleaning pads will help reduce many pollutants deemed harmful to human health and the environment.”  Then walking across the street we stood on top of Chatham Passage.  WOW!  This aromatherapy devotee was truly amazed at this work of art - my friend not so much amazed as he always debunks aromatherapy.  Could he be a believer now?  Could the Cultural Trail have changed his outlook?  I can only hope. 

Next came a very impressive piece of art for a city.  The “Care/Don’t Care” project that resembles a pedestrian signal and functions like the typical “Walk/Don’t Walk” signal.  The Artist Jamie Pawlus said:  “In an increasingly fast-paced world this project quietly invites users to pause and find joy in a moment of comic relief.”  The art was placed in an appropriate spot as this is a very busy section of roads.

Now I was really ready to be done.  We were at the east end of Mass. Ave. and I wanted to be done.  There was only one piece of art that we hadn’t seen, and it was somewhat on our way back.  “Prairie Modules 1 & 2” at North and Alabama are particularly nice to see after dark with the lights; however, to complete our experience we went to them.  And that is where I truly became inspired and energized.

Standing on the corner as we waited for the light to change, we noticed about 5 people with drawings in their hands talking and gesturing to a spot on the corner in front of the Central Indiana Community Foundation building.  I couldn’t help myself and had to interrupt them because I felt that this was something important about the Cultural Trail that I needed to hear.  Wow!  There I met Brian Payne, President and CEO of the Foundation and the visionary behind the Trail.  What an honor!  I also met Alphons Van Adrichem, Community Coordinator, and their team plus two other influential men (one named Andy) on bicycles.  I heard about and saw the plans for another piece of art that will go on that corner using the seats from Bush Stadium to create a community talking center.  Wow!  Great dreaming, thinking and planning!  One person thought there should be a campfire for folks to sit around and talk.  I think there should be talking stones embedded in the ground with questions on them to encourage conversation which possibly even light up when touched.  This was definitely a high point of my day.

We live in an amazingly vibrant city.  I am happy and proud to say I live in Indianapolis although I currently live on the far East side and work on the far West side.  Hopefully soon an apartment will come open in Colonial Apartments on the corner of Delaware and Ohio where I am on the waiting list, and I can truly live and breathe downtown.  It is a joy and a blessing to be a part of this city – to walk the Cultural Trail and pause to be inspired and sent on my way again.  What a wonderful anniversary celebration!

For my anniversary gift my friend gave me the book I have really wanted since I was born, baptized and lived in Detroit my first 40 years.  The book is called The Ruins of Detroit.   It is my hope and dream that people in the city of Indianapolis affirm with word, actions and financial contributions the work of Brian Payne and his team so that Indy doesn’t end up in a book of this nature like Detroit did.  Thank you, Brian and colleagues, for vision, for dreams, for follow through, for making Indianapolis the great city it is!

If you would like to take this tour with me drop me an email or give me a call.

As the poem began this blog, so I end it with my rendition which reminds me of Psalm 46:10 reminding me that God is everywhere.

I love this city.  Even the stop lights

Cause me to pause and be still in a crazy, busy world.