Deaf School Public Art Project

post-meeting updates

2008-03-17T11:54:00.004-04:00

After meeting with the construction managers from Shiel Sexton, and corresponding with the Public Arts Dept. of the Indy Arts Council, and the Monon Trail INDY Parks committee we have a big list of responsibilities that need to be addressed before we can proceed with our sculpture.
The art tiles are almost finished but we have a long way to go before we can install!
Big THANKS! to those who have helped us so far....stay tuned for more progress!

March 2008 updates

2008-03-04T20:30:00.007-05:00

Wow!! We unloaded several glazed tiles from the kiln and started laying out the pieces as they will look on the columns of the sculpture. So far, so good!

Current Activities Feb. 2008

2008-02-18T18:29:00.001-05:00

Students are working hard, glazing tiles from last semester, and making many more tiles to complete the project!

We are currently meeting with a construction manager from Shiel Sexton Co. to determine exact location and site design.
Stay tuned for more info.....

Timeline

2008-02-18T17:00:00.001-05:00

Our target date for installing the sculpture is April-May 2008

An “unveiling ceremony” date is to be announced.

Please check for updates regularly!!!

Brief history of this project:
Spring - Summer 2006- Discussion, sketches, and research for ISD / VSA public art began.

Fall 2006– Sculpture Project Residency began with VSAI artist at ISD.
Students looked at various public art examples, and brainstormed for themes and imagery for their sculpture.

Fall 2006- Spring 2007- The first 150 ASL tiles were created by students during the VSA Residency.

Fall 2007- Students created ASL tiles and other pottery as a fundraiser for the sculpture.

Spring 2008- Phase II : make remaining tiles, and install sculpture.

Location

2008-02-18T16:41:00.000-05:00

The sculpture will be located on the west edge of the ISD campus along the Monon Trail; just north of 42^nd St. across from the State Fairgrounds. The site design around the piece will connect to the Monon Trail via a paved or brick pathway; with benches, Monon map, and plaque describing a brief history of the Indiana Deaf School.

http://www.indygreenways.org/monon/monon.htm

Rendering

2008-02-18T16:40:00.003-05:00

First draft sketch of our sculpture design....in colored pencil. Image on right is a silhouette of the new idea for a gabled pediment, instead of a curved arch. This gabled peak will tie-in more so with the historic architecture of ISD main building.
We will post a professional rendering asap.

General Info

2008-02-18T16:08:00.001-05:00

The "Outdoor Sculpture Project" is a collaboration of VSAI artist Barbara Zech, ISD art teacher Scotty Zwicker, and ISD art students to create a public sculpture on the grounds of the Indiana School for the Deaf. The piece will be a free-standing architectural gateway made up of two 8ft tall "columns", covered with ceramic tiles depicting American Sign Language, Nature, and Deaf Culture, topped with a "pediment" inspired by the school's historic architecture.
Stay tuned for updates and progress!

http://vsai.org/
http://deafhoosiers.org/