After the approval of a master plan for the renovation and enhancement of the railroad bridge underpasses and adjacent streetscapes, Art Strategies was hired as part of the design team to advance into conceptual design and eventually the creation of construction documents for three major southern gateways into downtown Indianapolis. These gateways connect with major civic assets such as the city’s convention center, Indianapolis Colts Lucas Oil football stadium, the Indiana Pacers Gainbridge field house, major hotels, the central business district, and historic urban neighborhoods.

Using a small curatorial advisory committee of arts not-for-profits in the city including the Arts Council of Indianapolis and GANGGANG , Art Strategies is managing the selection of artists and design teams to create site specific proposals to enhance these underpasses.

In 2023, Art Strategies was approved and funded for a scope of work to solicit site-specific, integrated art proposals for the first three underpasses—or rooms—at Capitol Ave., Illinois St., and Meridian St.

The following are excerpts of the proposals under consideration.

For the west side of Capitol Avenue, Blockhouse Studios (Bloomington, Indiana) proposed the creation of a projection map and site specific animation of a historic train and passengers moving through the underpass reflecting the historic activity above. This wall is part of a critical pathway along the Indiana Convention Center that connects it to Georgia Street at the north and Lucas Oil Stadium to the south. It is also a corridor for the Indianapolis Cultural Trail bike and pedestrian pathway.

Kobayashi Studios, led by Kipp Kobayashi (Los Angeles, California), submitted a proposal for a site specific installation composed of wire mesh traveling vessels suspended from the overhead train bridge and an atmospheric light display reminiscent of the light that comes through the interior rose window in the historic train station. The “traveling vessels” are sculptures based on historic suitcases and even indigenous basket forms that people of this area would have used to pack and move their goods on transpotation routes in Central Indiana.

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer (b. 1967 Mexico City, Mexico) and his Antimodular Studio (Montréal, Canada) hav proposed a dynamic light installation on the 929 feet of “train shed” that faces south running from Capitol Ave, over Illinois Street, and to Meridian Street. This is the major entry to the downtown core from the south.

The scientist-artist, Hemmer, proposes an installation the reflects the entrance of cosmic rays into the atmosphere over Indianapolis. The project concept links to a history of high energy physics discoveries made in Indiana and uses an unsightly piece of infrastructure as a canvas to celebrate science, art, beauty, and innovation.

Artist Jamie Pawlus (Indianapolis, Indiana) has proposed a “Walk of Life” for the east side of the Illinois Street underpass. Comprised of her signature sculptures that utilize graphic design and vernacular advertising and sign design, this installation asks use to take a moment to find joy, community, and humanity in this urban public space. The artist’s words can be read on the slide that follows.

For the west side of the Illinois Street underpass, Art Strategies has proposed the installation of a series of light boxes that would be used to host outdoor exhibtions of work by artists who may not otherwise be able to show their art outdoors.

Luftwerk, the studio of Petra Bachmaier and Sean Gallero based in Chicago, Illinois, is one of two proposals under consideration for the Meridian Street underpass.

“In Parallel” is a site-responsive installation that uses the form of the train tracks above to create an architectural lexicon—or alaphabet—of forms. Those forms would manifest in light sculptures overhead in the pedestrian areas and wall paintings on either side of the underpass.

“Ribbon Rail” by Project One Studio (Indianapolis, Indiana) is the second of two proposals under consideration for the Meridian Street underpass.

Taking the rail and tie structure of the railroad over head and the historic flow of Pogue’s Run under the site, the studio has proposed a “ribbon” that would flow over the head of pedestrians as they move through the space. Form, color, and light connect residents and visitors moving between south downtown and the downtown core.