The following individuals, foundations and businesses made new gifts or pledges of $1,000 or more this year:

Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation $250,000
Christel DeHaan Family Foundation $250,000
Anonymous $100,000
Citizens Energy Group $100,000
Indiana Pacers $100,000
W.C. Griffith Foundation $85,000
Rollie and Cheri Dick $50,000
Larry and Lee Glasscock $30,000
Anonymous $25,000
Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr. Memorial Foundation, Inc. $25,000
United Water Green Infrastructure Grant $20,000
Charles and Peggy Sutphin $10,000
Hulman and Company Foundation $10,000
The Clowes Fund $5,000
Indianapolis Theatre Fringe Festival (The Longest Dinner) $2,500
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Blanton $1,000
Mark Zwoyer and Peggy McDonald $1,000

"We are very grateful to everyone who continues to support this project," said Cultural Trail founder and president of Central Indiana Community Foundation, Brian Payne. "It has been a tough year for everyone. This tremendous support in such a difficult year tells us that even in down times, investing in our city's future remains an important priority in this community."

There is still a $12 million gap to complete the Cultural Trail in time for the Super Bowl in February 2012 in Indianapolis.  Make a gift or learn more about how to support the Indianapolis Cultural Trail.

# # # 

Sept. 10, 2009 -- The Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick announces another public art installation. “Moving Forward,” by Indianapolis-based architect Donna Sink, is a series of three custom-designed eco-friendly bus shelters that will showcase original poetry by published writers. The shelters will be located along the Cultural Trail on the south side of Virginia Avenue near Lexington Street, McCarty Street and Woodlawn Avenue.

Each shelter will be comprised of ecoresin panels, which are made using 40% post-industrial re-grind content, mounted in a stainless steel frame. The shelters will be installed on TX Active photocatalytic cement pads. These pads will be self-cleaning and will help reduce many pollutants deemed harmful to human health and the environment.

A call for poetry begins this week and submissions are due November 22, 2009. Published poets living in or with ties to Indiana are invited to submit work based on subjects such as community, neighborhoods, landmarks, shared spaces, transportation, history and the future. Poets must have published at least one poem in a print magazine or anthology prior to submitting work for “Moving Forward.” Selected poems may have been published previously.

The Writers’ Center of Indiana is administering a selection process with out-of-state jurors. Authors of the three selected poems will each receive a $1,000 award. Selections will be announced in March 2010. Poems will be displayed in their entirety on a stainless steel panel on the shelter. Excerpts of the poem will be embedded in the ecoresin panels.

“Moving Forward” is the sixth public-art installation planned for the eight-mile Indianapolis Cultural Trail that will connect each of the downtown cultural districts with a uniquely designed pedestrian and bicycle path.

For more information about the eco-friendly products used in “Moving Forward”: http://www.3-form.com/materials-varia.php or http://www.italcementigroup.com/ENG/Research+and+Innovation/Innovative+Products/TX+Active/

Download the call for poets here  FINAL.Call_for_Poetry-ICT_Poetry_Stops_102009.pdf 137.97 KBor call 317.713.3333 for more information about the Cultural Trail public art program.  

About the architect:  Donna Sink is an Indianapolis-based architect who is interested in innovative and sustainable design solutions. In addition to designing residential and commercial spaces, Sink has extensive experience in exhibition design and is married to the artist Brian McCutcheon. They live in Indianapolis’ Broad Ripple Village Cultural District with their son, Angus. Sink received her Bachelors of Architecture from the University of Arizona and her Masters of Architecture from Cranbook Academy of Art. She has worked at architecture firms throughout the country and in Europe, and is currently a partner at MW Harris Architecture and Design in Indianapolis, IN.

Construction on the Northeast Corridor of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail is underway. The Northeast Corridor will run from Alabama and North Streets to the Monon Trail at 10th Street. The contractor is anticipating several traffic restrictions throughout the construction process, which is scheduled to last through 2010. Beginning next week, there are two new restrictions:

On or after April 29th, Massachusetts Avenue/Bellefontaine St. from College Avenue to 10th Street will be restricted to one-way northbound.  This restriction will be in place until late summer of 2010.  During the initial phase of this restriction, left turns to westbound 10th Street will be prohibited.  Motorists will only be able to turn eastbound off of Bellefontaine Street.  10th Street will also have some restrictions during this time period but traffic will be maintained east and westbound.  

Parking will be available on the north side of Massachusetts from College Ave. to Bellefontaine St.

On or after April 29th, the alley between Massachusetts Avenue and College Avenue (behind the Scholars Inn) will be closed to traffic.  This closure will be in effect for approximately three months. 

Other traffic restrictions will be needed in the weeks and months to come. We will keep you updated throughout the construction process.

Download the detailed street map to see the specific Cultural Trail route.  

For more information contact Gail Payne, 317.713.3333 or gail@indyculturaltrail.org.

For other traffic updates, please visit: www.indy.gov/eGov/City/DPW/Road/Closings/Pages/home.aspx or for weekly traffic e-mail updates, visit: www.indy.gov/Newsletters/pages/home.aspx.

For information about other Indianapolis Department of Public Works services, please visit the DPW Web site at: www.indygov.org/dpw.

For information on Indiana Department of Transportation projects, state roads and highway information, please contact INDOT at 232-5533.

INDIANAPOLIS – This morning, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick hosted a construction kick-off event to celebrate the North Corridor of the trail, a one-mile stretch including portions of Indiana Avenue, St. Clair Street, Walnut Street, the Canal, Meridian Street, the American Legion Mall and North Street. The event also celebrated the groundbreaking of the Glick Peace Walk.

The Glick Peace Walk is made possible through a gift of more than $2 million from Gene and Marilyn Glick that is in addition to their $15 million contribution to the trail. “With the Glick Peace Walk, we hope to honor ‘luminaries,’ people of peace whose creativity, perseverance and concern for others improved life for everyone who came after them,” said local developer and philanthropist Gene Glick.

The Glick Peace Walk, once it’s completed in 2010, will include 12 distinctive sculptural gardens that celebrate the lives and accomplishments of 12 “luminaries,” such as Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr. and others (see list below). Each garden will feature a granite terrazzo plaza depicting the individual’s contributions to society and a timeline noting significant events that helped shape the person he or she became. Interpretive signs will tell the story of the person’s life through descriptive text and images. The centerpiece of each garden will be a 12-foot stainless steel and glass “luminary” featuring a lighted glass etching of the individual.

Brian Payne, Cultural Trail founder and president of Central Indiana Community Foundation, thanked the Glicks for their tremendous generosity, vision and leadership. “You have chosen people who have inspired you, yet today, we are also inspired by your generosity and vision that will enlighten generations of Hoosiers and visitors from around the world,” said Payne.

Ten of the luminary gardens will be located on the Indianapolis Cultural Trail along a median to be constructed on Walnut Street between Meridian Street and Capitol Avenue. This section of Walnut Street will also receive new brick roadway pavers, lighting and landscaping to transform the street into a pedestrian-friendly destination along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. The luminary garden dedicated to Abraham Lincoln will be located on the trail at the southwest corner of Washington and Illinois streets, and the luminary garden dedicated to Martin Luther King, Jr. will be located on the trail at the southeast corner of Washington and Pennsylvania Streets. The construction of the Walnut Street section of the Peace Walk has already started and should be completed by fall 2010.

The luminaries will honor:

• Susan B. Anthony
• Andrew Carnegie
• Thomas Edison
• Albert Einstein
• Benjamin Franklin
• Abraham Lincoln
• Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt
• Jonas Salk
• Mark Twain
• Booker T. Washington
• The Wright Brothers

Speakers at the groundbreaking event included Marianne Glick, daughter of Gene and Marilyn Glick; Carolin Requiz Smith, director of internal and cultural affairs for the City of Indianapolis; Cultural Trail founder and Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) president Brian Payne; Ransom Place resident and chairman of BOS Community Development Corporation Randy Jones; and Indianapolis Urban League president and CEO Joseph Slash.

To date, nearly $42 million has been raised towards the $55 million budget. Brian Payne announced several new gifts to the Cultural Trail, including:

• $500,000 from Frank and Katrina Basile, which will be acknowledged with the naming of a two-block corridor on Walnut Street from Capitol Avenue to the Canal as “The Frank and Katrina Basile Corridor”,
• $100,000 from Citizens Energy Group, dedicated to the construction of the Southeast Corridor to Fountain Square,
• $100,000 from an anonymous donor,
• $85,000 from W.C. Griffith Foundation, bringing its total Cultural Trail gift to $100,000,
• $25,000 from an anonymous donor,

A portion of property at Indiana Avenue and St. Clair Street donated by The Indianapolis Urban League.

More information about the construction and the Glick Peace Walk is available on the Indianapolis Cultural Trail Web site at www.IndyCulturalTrail.org.

The north corridor is the third of seven construction phases, or corridors, of the trail. The half-mile East Corridor, along Alabama Street, was completed in June 2008 and construction of the one-mile Northeast Corridor began in April of this year. Construction recently began on the North Corridor, restricting traffic in the following area:

Walnut Street between Pierson and Illinois streets is closed to traffic and is expected to remain closed through mid August.

The entire eight-mile Indianapolis Cultural Trail is expected to be completed by the end of 2011.

# # #

The Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick is a world-class urban bike and pedestrian path that connects neighborhoods, Cultural Districts and entertainment amenities, and serves as the downtown hub for the entire central Indiana greenway system.

Public art projects, significant donations announced

April 14, 2009 – This afternoon, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick hosted a construction kick-off event to celebrate the Northeast Corridor, which travels through the Mass Ave Cultural District. The event celebrates not only the beginning of construction for the corridor, but also the trail’s contributions to making Indianapolis a greener, more sustainable city.

Event speakers included Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, trail founder and Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) President Brian Payne, Arts Council of Indianapolis Public Art Director Mindy Taylor Ross, and Best Chocolate in Town founder and Mass Ave business owner Elizabeth Garber.

Once complete, part of the Cultural Trail will be renamed the “Efroymson Family Corridor.” The alley behind Chatham Tap and Scholars Inn Restaurant & Lounge, where the kick-off event was held, will be named “The Efroymson Alley on the Cultural Trail.” Lori Efroymson Aguilera and her husband Sergio Aguilera were in attendance. The Efroymson (E-frum-sin) Fund, a CICF Fund, has given $2 million to the Cultural Trail project.

Today’s announcement came during Green Week, a series of events highlighting the city’s sustainability initiatives and celebrating the public-private partnerships working to make Indianapolis a greener city. “The Cultural Trail is a terrific example of how public-private partnerships can transform the landscape of the city and help make Indianapolis a more connected, sustainable community,” said Mayor Ballard.

Payne announced two significant gifts to the project - $250,000 from the Christel DeHaan Family Foundation and $100,000 from the Indiana Pacers. Christel DeHaan Family Foundation President Melynne Klaus was on hand for the announcements. Payne said, “I’m happy to announce that public and private support for the Cultural Trail is still going strong. While we still have money to raise to complete this $55 million project, gifts like these move us closer to our goal of connecting our city’s great Cultural Districts and making the trail a reality.”

Ross unveiled three public art projects that will be located on the trail’s Northeast Corridor. They include:

• “Prairie Modules 4 & 5” by M12
• “Chatham Passage” by Sean Derry
• “Care/Don’t Care” by Jamie Pawlus

"After years of reviewing artists’ visions for art along the Cultural Trail, I’m thrilled to unveil these commissioned public art projects,” Ross said. “While all very different, they will capture the attention and imaginations of trail users and challenge them to reflect on our city’s history, heritage and attitudes.”

The public art projects, their location on the trail and the participating artists include:

“Prairie Modules 4 & 5” consists of two architectural sculptures, tall grass, solar panels, black reflective pavers and dynamic LED lighting. This combination of references to our agricultural and urban environment is designed to invite spatial interaction and experiential awareness. Through a partnership with Indianapolis Power & Light, “Prairie Modules 4 & 5” will be the first public art installation in Indianapolis to return solar power to the electrical grid. The project will be located on the north side of North Street between New Jersey and Alabama streets.

About M12

M12 is a collective of artists and designers who view contemporary art as a vehicle for exploring community identity and as a powerful tool for the enhancement of civic life. Operating as a non-profit, the multi-faceted and interdisciplinary firm develops and implements site-based projects, public art commissions, exhibitions and research projects that have socially progressive themes. The name M12 refers to a groundbreaking model of electrical amplifier, which when introduced in 1933, made possible the technological fusion of the numerous existing genres of music and the birth of rock-and-roll.

“Chatham Passage” is a multisensory artwork comprised of a sunken concrete scent vault with an ornate steel grate and LED lighting. Located in the alley adjacent to Metro Bar, the scent vault will release a faint floral aroma recalling a scent historically associated with luxury. Both the luxurious scent and the ornate latticework of the vault cover reference the work of the former Real Silk Hosiery Mill. The vault form also references the historic coal vaults in the area. The ethereal qualities of the vault, grate, light and scent are intended to create an emotional environment that allows trail users to form unique relationships with the Indianapolis cityscape of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

About Sean Derry

Sean Derry is a conceptual artist whose public projects seek to connect a site’s history with its current context and use. Derry earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in studio art from the University of Alaska, Anchorage, and his Masters of Fine Art in studio art from The Ohio State University, where he studied with internationally renowned artist Ann Hamilton. Derry completed a successful site-specific public art project in Indianapolis in 2005 as a finalist in the Great Ideas Competition managed by the Arts Council of Indianapolis. His project “Charting Pogue’s Run” received national recognition at the annual conference of the Americans for the Arts when it was selected by the artist Mary Miss and Robert Rindler, artist and president of the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, to be featured in the Public Art Year in Review as one of the most innovative and exciting public art projects to happen in the country that year. A former resident of Bloomington, Ind., he now lives in Pittsburgh.

The “Care/Don’t Care” project resembles a pedestrian signal and functions like the typical “Walk/Don’t Walk” signals. In an increasingly fast-paced world, this project quietly invites users to pause and find joy in a moment of comic relief. The message “Don’t Care” will be programmed to change to “Care” automatically and at random intervals; it can also be changed manually if trail users push the button. The “Care/Don’t Care” signal will be placed for use by those continuing along the trail, as opposed to a tradition pedestrian crossing sign that is located near intersections. It will be located on the east end of Massachusetts Avenue, just north of the intersection of St. Clair Street and College Avenue.

About Jamie Pawlus

Jamie Pawlus' work involves the creation of conceptually based site-specific installations. Much of her work repurposes materials commonly found in the public realm, including her frequent use of commercial or transportation signage. The messages found in her art are usually based on anecdotal expressions of personal experiences. Pawlus is a graduate of the Herron School of Art and Design and received her Master’s of Fine Art from the University of Kansas. She is currently a visiting assistant professor at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis.

This is the second of seven construction phases, or corridors, of the Cultural Trail. The half-mile East Corridor was completed in June 2008. The contract to construct the one-mile Northeast Corridor was awarded to Sunesis Construction Company in October 2008 for $6.1 million. Construction recently began, restricting traffic in the following areas:

• New Jersey Street between Walnut and North streets is one-way northbound. Parking is still available in the east curb lane.
• Walnut Street from New Jersey Street to Park Avenue is one-way eastbound with parking on the south curb lane.

Also, another traffic restriction will begin the end of April:

• Mass Ave between College Avenue and 10th Street will be one-way southbound. Parking will still be available at the meters on the west side of Mass Ave.

# # #

The Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick is a world-class urban bike and pedestrian path that connects neighborhoods, Cultural Districts and entertainment amenities, and serves as the downtown hub for the entire central Indiana greenway system.

At the event, Mayor Greg Ballard and Cultural Trail officials will announce recent significant gifts to the project, as well as three public art projects on the Northeast Corridor.  

 What:   Northeast Corridor celebration; donations and public art announcements

When: Tuesday, April 14, 2009, 1:30 p.m.

Where: Alley on Mass Ave behind Chatham Tap and Scholar's Inn Restaurant

This is the second of seven construction phases or corridors for the Cultural Trail. The first half-mile East Corridor was completed in June 2008. The contract to construct the one-mile Northeast Corridor was awarded to Sunesis Construction Company in October 2008 for $6.1 million. Construction recently began, restricting traffic in the following areas:

--- New Jersey Street between Walnut and North streets is one-way northbound. Parking is still available in the east curb lane. 

--- Walnut Street from New Jersey Street to Park Avenue is one-way eastbound with parking on the south curb lane. 

The contractor is anticipating several traffic restrictions throughout the construction process. Please note two upcoming restrictions:

The first restriction is anticipated April 1. This restriction will be onNew Jersey Street between Walnut Street and North Street.  Currently,New Jersey Street in this area has two-way traffic, one lane northbound and one lane southbound with parking on the east curb lane of New Jersey.  The contractor will make New Jersey Street one-way northbound and there will still be parking available in the east curb lane during this construction.  This restriction will be in place approximately ten weeks. 

The second traffic restriction will be on Walnut Street from New Jersey Street to Park Avenue.  This traffic restriction is scheduled to start April 8 and will last approximately 20 weeks.  Currently, Walnut Street is one lane westbound and one lane eastbound with parking mainly on the south curb lane.  The contractor will make Walnut Street one-way east-bound with parking on the south curb lane.

Again, other traffic restrictions will be needed in the weeks and months to come. We will keep you updated throughout the construction process.

For more information on the Indianapolis Cultural Trail and the construction sechedule: http://www.indyculturaltrail.org/timeline.  

For other traffic updates:   www.indy.gov/eGov/City/DPW/Road/Closings/Pages/home.aspx. 

To receive weekly traffic e-mail updates: www.indy.gov/Newsletters/pages/home.aspx.

For information about other Indianapolis Department of Public Works services: www.indygov.org/dpw.

For information on Indiana Department of Transportation projects, state roads and highway information, please contact INDOT at 232-5533.  

This is quite an honor. All designers, architects and engineers must follow the lengthy list of AASHTO Design Guidelines for building public works projects. Just imagine how it must feel to have the people who write the guidelines ask to use YOUR project as a case study for all of your colleagues to follow and reference all across the country!

It's not confirmed that the Indianapolis Cultural Trail will make the final print guidelines, but Brad was pretty impressed: "I learned a lot from the work you have done, and I'm excited to see the progress over the next few years!"

Kudos to our fabulous team who continues to knock this project out of the park on so many levels.

(See photo from left: Brad, Kevin and Mark review Cultural Trail plans.)

 "Seeing the Indianapolis Cultural Trail gives us great encouragement on what the City of West Lafayette can do with our current projects," said Chandler Poole, director of development for the City of West Lafayette. "We continue to put bike lanes, landscaped medians, walking trails, street trees and art into our public spaces and to see the implementation taking place in Indianapolis was eye-opening and educational."

Tom Gall, a project manager for the City of West Lafayette said: "It is an amazing coming-together of project initiatives ranging from public art, lighting, wayfinding, landscape architecture, environmental issues, urban pedestrian and biking transportation all design to look like a simple walking and biking trail. The Indianapolis Cultural Trail program is inspiring in its scope and even more amazing in its implementation."

Thanks for visiting, West Lafayette! If you are interested in learning more about the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, contact Gail Payne at 317.713.3333 or e-mail Gail@IndyCulturalTrail.org.

Friday, October 31, 2008 -- As Julian Opie's "Ann Dancing" returned to her dancing stage on the corner of Mass Ave, Vermont St. and Alabama St. on Friday, October 31, she had a little unexpected competition.

A clear message had been carefully laid out in yellow painted rocks on the Cultural Trail outside Marsh the Marketplace, just north of Vermont St.: "We are going to be okay."

The Indianapolis Cultural Trail is not responsible for this Halloween surprise. The artist or commentator remains unknown. 

What did the Cultural Trail team think about it?

"It's brilliant," said Mindy Taylor Ross, director of Public Art for the Arts Council of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Cultural Trail project. "It's exactly the kind of thing the team has always hoped that the Cultural Trail would inspire: Random, spontaneous and inspired creativity that is respectful of the Trail as a communal space. This is a great example of how the Cultural Trail is inspiring community conversation."

"Ann Dancing" was temporarily removed for repairs. It is the first of several permanent public art projects planned with the Cultural Trail's $2 million budget for new public art.

Below: "Ann Dancing" by Julian Opie reinstalled Friday.  

October 27, 2008 -- The next phase of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick will begin construction in mid-November. The Northeast Corridor will connect the East Corridor on Alabama Street to the Monon Trail terminus on 10th Street. Compared to Alabama Street's half mile, the Northeast Corridor is approxmiately one mile in length and will feature both combined and separated trail paths with the same trail design, benches, bike racks, lighting and signage. Due to the use of federal transportation funding for the Northeast Corridor and the upcoming North Corridor phases, both construction projects are being bid through the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT). On Oct. 2, 2008, Sunesis Construction from West Chester, Ohio, submitted the lowest accurate bid to secure the Cultural Trail Northeast Corridor job. It is anticipated that the Northeast Corridor hardscape will be complete by late 2009 with plantings installed in spring 2010. Download a map showing the specific route of the Northeast Corridor from North St. and Alabama St. to the Monon Trail.

Above illustration: The rendering shows how the Cultural Trail's separated bike and pedestrian path will look along Mass Ave east of College Ave. See more before and after renderings.

Photo: Cyclists from across the Midwest wait to begin the most competitive men's, category 1/2/3 race.

Mayor Ballard described the newest planned addition to the Cultural Trail – the Capitol corridor – which will travel along the west side of Capitol Avenue from Washington Street to South Street. Three of the four blocks of the $2.5 million extension will be funded by additional federal transportation dollars secured by the City of the Indianapolis that are being administered through the Indiana Stadium & Convention Building Authority (ISCBA). Construction of that corridor is expected to begin 2009 and be finished by fall of 2010.

Mayor Ballard said, “As the city begins preparations for the 2012 Super Bowl, it is important that we connect visitors to our new convention center and Lucas Oil Stadium. Now thousands of visitors and sports enthusiasts will be able to take the Cultural Trail to explore everything our Cultural Districts have to offer.”

Payne thanked Mayor Ballard and the ISCBA for their collaborative support.  He also recognized previously announced donors of $500,000 or more. Marianne Glick, daughter of Gene and Marilyn Glick, was on hand to represent her parents and their gift of $15 million. In addition, Payne thanked The Indianapolis Foundation for its $500,000 gift and Myrta Pulliam for her $1 million gift. Both the Foundation and Pulliam are recognized as donors on signage along the Alabama Street corridor. While Pulliam could not attend the ribbon-cutting, Milt Thompson, chair of the Indianapolis Foundation Board, was in attendance.

Lacy announced recent commitments. They include:

• Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation; $1 million; represented by Leonard J. Betley, President & CEO, and Betsy Bikoff, Vice President & Chief Grant Making Officer of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation
• Barnes & Thornburg LLP, $100,000, represented by partner Joe Loftus
• BSA LifeStructures, $100,000, represented by Don Altemeyer, executive director

Lacy also announced that so far, the fundraising committee has raised $41.35 million of the estimated $50 million needed to design and construct the Cultural Trail. He said, “So far, we have secured $26 million in charitable donations from very generous individuals, private foundations and businesses. This project simply would not be happening without their support and faith in a big, bold, innovative vision for the city of Indianapolis.” 

Construction will begin later this year on the North and Northeast corridors. The North corridor includes St. Clair Street, part of the Canal between St. Clair and Walnut streets, Walnut Street, Meridian Street, the American Legion Mall and North Street. The Northeast corridor includes North Street, New Jersey Street, Walnut Street, College Avenue and Mass Ave, connecting to the Monon Trail at 10th Street.

In addition to the presentation, a one-block “Fun Run” for children was held, complete with medals for all participants, helping to celebrate National Trails Day, which is today. Attendees also received commemorative T-shirts.

 ###

                
(top) Brian Payne (left) speaks with Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation Grants Officer, Betsy Bikoff and Board Chairman, Len Betley, which recently awarded the Cultual Trail $1 million.  (bottom) Lori Efroymson-Aguilera and Sergio Aguilera attended the event. The Efroymson Fund, a CICF Fund, has given $2 million to the Cultural Trail.

Donors help Mayor Ballard and Brian Payne cut the ribbon. From left: Andre Lacy, Joe Loftus, Mayor Ballard, Margot Eccles, Marianne Glick, Lori Efroymson, Katrina Basile, Brian Payne, Frank Basile.

A little rain wasn't stopping these kids from running in the kids' fun run! All participants received well-deserved medals.

Mayor Greg Ballard will make this announcement at the official Cultural Trail East Corridor Ribbon Cutting, Saturday, June 7, 9:00 a.m., from the northeast corner of Market St. and Alabama St.

For more information on the Capitol Ave. extension or June 7 ribbon cutting, contact Gail Swanstrom: 317.713.3333 or Gail@IndyCulturalTrail.org.

Immediately following the ceremony there will be a one block kids' fun run and walking tours of Cultural Trail along Alabama St. (five blocks) to North Street with members of the Cultural Trail team.

There will be free parking at nearby street meters or pay $5 all day in the paved lot on the northeast corner of Washington St. and New Jersey St. (Enter off New Jersey St.)

Invite your friends, family and neighbors! Download this invitation and distribute.        CT Ribbon Cutting June 7.pdf 219.83 KB

From there, there's plenty to do and discover in Indy’s Cultural Districts June 7:

10 a.m.

• Divers & Dragons: Celebrating U.S. Olympic Diving Trials, Alabama St. & North St., English Foundation Building parking lot, Free
• Kids Day on the Canal, north end of Canal, Buggs Temple, Free  

11 a.m.

• Vintage Indiana Wine & Food Fest, Military Park. For tickets call (800) 359-2968, visit Marsh Supermarkets, or buy at the gate  
• Scales & Tails Fest – A Celebration of Pets, Indiana State Museum. For tickets call (317) 232-1637 or buy at the museum

7 p.m.

• Outrun the Sun, walk/run, IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium, IUPUI. To register call (317) 253-2121
• The Herron Experience 2008 ~ Art Couture (THE ’08), Eskenazi Hall, IUPUI. For tickets call (317) 278-9473

For more information, contact Gail Swanstrom, 317.713.3333 or e-mail Gail@IndyCulturalTrail.org.

Nov. 5, 2007

Contact: Erin Pipkin, 317.631.6400, erin.pipkin@borshoff.biz

Cultural Trail paving crews coming to Alabama Street  

INDIANAPOLIS – Crews working on the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick will be paving all lanes of Alabama Street between North and Market streets beginning Tuesday, Nov. 6, weather dependent. The paving, which will occur during evening hours to decrease impact to pedestrians and vehicular traffic, will restrict all lanes of Alabama. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes between Nov. 6 and 9 during the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.  

Also, while crews pave the lanes on Alabama, through traffic may be affected at various intersections. Those include North Street, Michigan Street, Vermont Street, New York Street, Ohio Street and Market Street.  

The intermediate completion date for items on the Alabama Street corridor, with the exception of the landscaping and duratherm on the crosswalks, is Dec. 31, 2007. The final completion date for the corridor, which includes all plantings and pavement markings, is June 13, 2008.  

The Cultural Trail will be a world-class urban bike and pedestrian path that will connect all six Indianapolis cultural districts and bring users to the front door of nearly every arts, cultural, heritage, sports and entertainment venue downtown. More information about the Indianapolis Cultural Trail is available at www.indyculturaltrail.org.

Jan. 22, 2008

“Ann Dancing” by internationally renowned artist Julian Opie a legacy of the popular 2007 public art exhibition

INDIANAPOLIS – From now on, there will always be dancing in the streets in Indianapolis. Or at least dancing at the intersection of Mass Ave, Alabama Street and Vermont Street.  

A new animated artwork by internationally renowned artist Julian Opie, titled “Ann Dancing,” now has a permanent home in the Mass Ave Cultural District. The four-sided light emitting display (LED) is installed outside the Old Point Tavern.

“Just one month ago, we illuminated the Indianapolis Cultural Trail’s East Corridor, the Trail’s first segment,” said Brian Payne, president of the Central Indiana Community Foundation, at the dedication ceremony. “Today we’re here to continue a new tradition in our public art exhibition legacy, and I’m happy to say that it’s the first permanent art installation along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail:  A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick.”

Last fall three bronze sculptures from the city’s first public art exhibition, Tom Otterness in Indianapolis, were installed permanently outside the Indiana Convention Center. More than $550,000 was raised from generous private donors to underwrite the costs.

Managed by the Arts Council of Indianapolis, Julian Opie:  Signs was the city’s second major public art exhibition. The exhibition featured 11 art installations, including three LED sculptures – one of a man walking, one of a woman walking and one of a woman dancing – throughout downtown and an electrically lit image of musician Bryan Adams in White River State Park.

Mindy Taylor Ross, director of public art for the Arts Council of Indianapolis, explained that the animated artwork “Ann Dancing” is new, but the hardware and concept were used during the year-long Opie exhibition. “‘Sara Dancing’ was located on the northwest corner of Illinois and Maryland across from Palomino,” Ross said. “‘Ann Dancing’ is a new animation – different model, different clothes, different dance – that will be unique to Indianapolis.”

The total cost for the project – the display and new animated artwork along with the permanent base and installation expense – is approximately $150,000.  It is being funded by the Indianapolis Cultural Trail and the Indianapolis Cultural Development Commission.  The Indianapolis Cultural Trail is mostly funded by private individuals, foundations and corporations. Lilly Endowment provides funding for the Indianapolis Cultural Development Commission.

The artist, Julian Opie, explains that he’s always been drawn to the idea of statues. “Just as the 19th century city builders used stone and bronze for their bridges and buildings, I use the fabric of modern cities – signs, aluminum, electronics, LEDs, concrete and glass – to create my people,” he said. 

“I am really happy that ‘Ann Dancing’ will be in Indianapolis and become part of the street fabric. As I sit in my studio in London I think of her endlessly dancing for the passing traffic.”

“Ann” will seldom dance alone. In recent years, pedestrian traffic has increased considerably at the intersection where she is taking up residency. A mix of old and new retail businesses, offices, residential offerings, restaurants and other attractions have made the Mass Ave Cultural District a favored destination. Linking up with the Cultural Trail will only make it more popular.

Patti Perrin, who owns the Old Point Tavern with her husband, Chic, said, “We were delighted when this world-class amenity was sweeping by our door, and now we’re thrilled the plaza will be home to a permanent art installation easily in view for all of our customers and employees.” She and her husband Chic have owned Old Point Tavern for 17 years.

The Arts Council’s Public Art Indianapolis program now is finalizing plans for a third public art exhibition. It will feature nine large sculptures by Chakaia Booker, a New York City-based artist who makes expressive woven sculptures from recycled tires. The exhibition is scheduled to open in July 2008 and run through April 1, 2009.

The Indianapolis Cultural Trail:  A Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick is a 7.5-mile trail that will be a world-class urban bike and pedestrian path connecting all six Indianapolis cultural districts, entertainment amenities and serve as the downtown hub for the entire central Indiana greenway system.    Public Art Indianapolis is managed by the Arts Council of Indianapolis and funded in part by the Indianapolis Cultural Development Commission. It began in 2004 after the development of a public art master plan.

That’s how the article on the Indianapolis Cultural Trail is listed in the table of contents of the April issue of Metropolis magazine. The magazine, distributed worldwide and self-characterized as “Architecture<Culture<Art,” is well worth holding. Or check it out online: "Winning Lap: ­Indianapolis hopes to make its cultural mark with a bike-and-pedestrian path that loops through the heart of town." There’s no doubt that the Cultural Trail is putting Indianapolis on the global map in ways never previously achieved.

April 25, 2007

Contact: Gail Swanstrom, 317.631.6542 x166 gail@indyculturaltrail.org
Justin Ohlemiller, 317.327.3690 johlemil@indygov.org

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON THE INDIANAPOLIS CULTURAL TRAIL

Officials announce groundbreaking, two new donors and renderings of the first public art project

INDIANAPOLIS - Construction signs, barricades and jackhammers now flank the Alabama Street corridor, as construction began today on the 7.5-mile Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick. The Cultural Trail will be a world-class urban bike and pedestrian path that will connect all six Indianapolis cultural districts and bring users to the front door of nearly every arts, cultural, heritage, sports and entertainment venue downtown.

Breaking ground today for the Indianapolis Cultural Trail was the project team, led by Mayor Bart Peterson and Central Indiana Community Foundation President Brian Payne, as well as the Cultural Trail�s community partners and major donors.

Mayor Peterson said, "Indianapolis continues to grow its reputation as a nationally renowned destination city for arts, culture and thriving quality of life. The Cultural Trail will take this effort to an entirely new level."

"This is a much-anticipated day for our city," Payne added. "After working on this project for six years, it's a dream come true for CICF to turn dirt and make the trail a reality that can be enjoyed by the residents of central Indiana and visitors from around the world."

Construction Schedule
Schutt-Lookabill Co. of Indianapolis was awarded the contract in March to construct the first segment along Alabama Street between North and Market streets. "Hardscape," or the physical components of this corridor, will be complete by November 2007, with landscaping to be added in the spring.

The entire project will be constructed in six corridor stages over three years, and is projected to be complete in late 2009.

Fundraising
In addition to Gene and Marilyn Glick's $15 million donation announced in October 2006, the Cultural Trail is funded through federal and local transportation grants and private funds from many generous individuals and foundations.

New donations announced at today's groundbreaking include a $2 million endowment from the Margot L. and Robert S. Eccles Charitable Fund, a CICF Fund; and a $1 million donation from the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation. Rob Smith, President of the Lilly Foundation, said, "Like many organizations in our community, Eli Lilly and Company is deeply interested in Indianapolis continuing to be a great place to live and work. The Lilly Foundation is pleased to lend financial support to this project, which will advance our city in so many ways."

The estimated cost for the trail is $50 million and to date, $37 million, or two-thirds of the total budget, has been raised. In addition to the $1 million gift from the Lilly Foundation, Eli Lilly and Company has volunteered to build an extension from the Cultural Trail at Virginia Avenue to its main campus. "Eli Lilly and Company believes that the Cultural Trail will be a great asset for Indianapolis," John Lechleiter, president and chief operating officer of Eli Lilly and Company, said. "By investing in a link between our corporate campus and the trail, we will be providing a service to our employees and underscoring our commitment to this important project and our community as a whole."

Public Art
The first artist to be contracted to create a formal public art proposal for the Cultural Trail is Emily W. Kennerk. Kennerk is an Indianapolis native who currently splits her time between her Broad Ripple studio and a studio in Chicago. She earned undergraduate degrees in painting and sculpture from the Herron School of Art & Design in Indianapolis and a Masters of Fine Art from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield, Mich. Kennerk was a recipient of a 2006 Efroymson Contemporary Art Fellowship, has served as an assistant professor for both DePauw University and the Herron School of Art & Design, and is currently an assistant professor of sculpture at Trinity Christian College in Chicago.

Mindy Taylor Ross, Director of Public Art for the Arts Council of Indianapolis and the coordinator of the Cultural Trail�s public art programming, said, "We kick off the first leg of the Cultural Trail and its public art programming with a proposal from a smart and resourceful artist who hails from our city. Emily's proposed sculpture installation will serve as a new landmark and a monument to the fun and eclectic nature of the growing Mass Ave cultural district."

Kennerk's proposed installation is tentatively titled "Marbles." Exploring what Kennerk believes to be the three most critical elements in creating successful public art -- those of site, scale and surface -- she is proposing to create a monumental marble game comprised of 4-foot and 7.9-foot marbles and one 11.6-foot "shooter" marble. The installation is proposed for the east corridor, with a primary focus on the intersection of Mass Ave, Alabama and Vermont streets. Exact placement and color palate of the marbles has not been determined.

Kennerk is opening a major exhibit at the Indianapolis Museum of Art on July 13. Emily Kennerk: Suburban Nation will feature four sculptures made from mass-produced materials such as vinyl siding, decking and other home building products.

The Curatorial Advisory Committee is considering several other artists for installations along the Cultural Trail. Announcements about additional commissioned artists are anticipated in the next few months.

More information about the Indianapolis Cultural Trail is available at www.indyculturaltrail.org.

Nov. 1, 2006

Contact: Gail Swanstrom, 317.631.6542 x166 gail@indyculturaltrail.org
Erin Pipkin, 317.631.6400 epipkin@bjmpr.com

ARTS COUNCIL SEEKING QUALIFICATIONS FROM INDIANA ARTISTS FOR INDIANAPOLIS CULTURAL TRAIL

Hoosier artists encouraged to respond by November 17

INDIANAPOLIS - The Arts Council of Indianapolis, on behalf of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, is requesting qualifications from Indiana artists who are interested in creating an outdoor site-specific public art project. The Arts Council is the leader of the Trail's Public Art Team charged with selecting artists and managing a $2 million budget for public art projects that will be incorporated along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail.

While this Request for Qualifications is an open call to artists living in Indiana, the final pool of qualified artists will include artists from other parts of the world as determined by the Public Art Team's Curatorial Advisory Committee. The Curatorial Advisory Committee is comprised of local curators of contemporary art, local artists and relevant design professionals. The Public Art Team will work with neighborhood stakeholders to select artists and art projects that reflect the unique characteristics of each of the five downtown Cultural Districts connected by the Indianapolis Cultural Trail while supporting the project leaders' goals of creating a world-class, 21st century icon and an unprecedented model for multi-modal transportation systems in urban areas.

This is the only open call currently planned for the Trail. To reply to the request for qualifications (RFQ), artists must be 18 years of age or older and provide proof of residency in Indiana.

The 7.5-mile trail will expose users to downtown's dynamic arts amenities and the city's rich heritage, providing an inspiring and safe way to travel and exercise throughout Indianapolis and serving as the downtown hub for the central Indiana greenway system.

The five downtown cultural districts connected by the Indianapolis Cultural Trail include Fountain Square, Indiana Avenue, Mass Ave, The Canal & White River State Park and Wholesale District. The Indianapolis Cultural Trail will also connect with the Monon Trail via Mass Ave at 10th Street, allowing visitors easy access to Broad Ripple Village from downtown.

Construction of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail will begin in March 2007, with the corridor along Alabama Street. The project will be built in six corridor stages over three years, and is projected to be complete in 2009.

More information about the Indianapolis Cultural Trail is available at www.IndyCulturalTrail.org.

Oct. 13, 2006

Contact:

Gail Swanstrom
317.631.6542 x166
gails@cicf.org

Erin Pipkin
317.631.6400
epipkin@bjmpr.com

Justin Ohlemiller
317.327.3690
johlemil@indygov.org

PAVING THE WAY TO A LEANER, GREENER INDY

Public/private partnership unveils plans for the Indianapolis Cultural Trail

INDIANAPOLIS – A public/private partnership of Indianapolis leaders today unveiled the Indianapolis Cultural Trail � a world-class urban bike and pedestrian path that will connect all six Indianapolis cultural districts and bring users to the front door of nearly every arts, cultural, heritage, sports and entertainment venue downtown.

The unveiling included an announcement of the Trail's primary sponsors and namesake, as well as artists' renderings and maps of the project. Gene and Marilyn Glick are giving $15 million to the Trail, which will be permanently recognized as "A Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick."

"Marilyn and I are excited about participating in this momentous undertaking for our city and appreciate the opportunity to use our resources for this worthwhile purpose," said Gene Glick. "I want to compliment Brian and everyone else involved in the planning and implementation of the Cultural Trail."

In addition to the Glicks' generous donation, the Trail is funded through federal and local transportation grants and many other generous individuals and foundations - no local taxpayer dollars are being used on the construction of the Trail. The estimated cost for the trail is $50 million and to date, $34 million, or two-thirds of the total budget, has been raised.

The 7.5-mile trail will serve as the downtown hub for the central Indiana greenway system, not only providing an inspiring and safe way to travel and exercise throughout Indianapolis, but also exposing users to downtown�s dynamic arts amenities and the city's rich heritage.Unveiling the Indianapolis Cultural Trail today was the project team, led by Central Indiana Community Foundation President Brian Payne and Mayor Bart Peterson. The team also includes:

• Keira Amstutz, chief counsel/director of policy, Office of Mayor Bart Peterson, City of Indianapolis
• Lori Miser, administrator, Department of Public Works, City of Indianapolis
• Melody Park, project management, R.W. Armstrong & Associates
• Kevin Osburn, project designer, Rundell Ernstberger Associates
• Mindy Taylor Ross, director of public art, Arts Council of Indianapolis

"The Indianapolis Cultural Trail will completely change the way our nation and the world perceives Indianapolis," said Brian Payne, president of Central Indiana Community Foundation, who first developed the idea and has led the project since it began in 2001. "They will come to Indianapolis to do the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, a Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick, and discover that Indianapolis has an incredibly dynamic arts, culture, heritage and entertainment scene."

"Indianapolis continues to grow its reputation as a nationally renowned destination city for arts, culture and thriving quality of life, and the Indianapolis Cultural Trail takes this effort to an entirely new level," said Mayor Peterson. "The Cultural Trail will be a world-class amenity that is truly unique to our city."

The five downtown cultural districts connected by the Indianapolis Cultural Trail include Fountain Square, Indiana Avenue, Mass Ave, The Canal & White River State Park and Wholesale District. The Indianapolis Cultural Trail will also connect with the Monon Trail via Mass Ave at 10th Street, allowing visitors easy access to Broad Ripple Village from downtown.

The Indianapolis Cultural Trail will boost tourism, quality of place and quality of life in central Indiana. It will increase downtown residential development and inspire new business. It will also position Indianapolis as a dynamic city, which is essential for attracting and retaining talented professionals, which is the key to succeeding in a global economy.

With the growing epidemic of obesity in Indiana, the Trail will also provide a safe and free form of exercise that supports both state and city initiatives, INShape and FitCity.

Construction of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail will begin in March 2007, with the corridor along Alabama St. first. The project will be done in six corridor stages over three years, and is projected to be complete in 2009.

More information about the Indianapolis Cultural Trail is available at www.indyculturaltrail.org.

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English Foundation Building, corner of North and Alabama streets

Be among the first in Indianapolis to see the route and design elements of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail-the 7.5-mile path that will be the downtown hub for Central Indiana's greenway trail system and an icon for the urban development and cultural attractions that have come to define our city.

Information Fair: 10 a.m. - noon

Downtown neighbors and trails enthusiasts should plan to attend this fun family event.

Trail tours: noon - 2 p.m.

The public is invited to tour nearby sections of the Cultural Trail route on bike to learn more about how the trail will connect and enhance the neighborhoods and attractions along its path.

Contact us to RSVP for the bike ride.