In celebration of the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500, a new, temporary art piece has been installed on the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick. Like by nationally renowned artist Chakaia Booker is located on the Cultural Trail at the Washington and Pennsylvania Street intersection and will be displayed until October 2016. The sculpture is funded by Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Inc., with support from the 100th Running Host Committee.
“We’re thrilled to host Chakaia Booker’s work on the Cultural Trail, in partnership with the 100th Running Host Committee,” said Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Inc. Executive Director, Kären Haley. “The Trail provides a beautiful connection through all of our downtown and this piece allows us to welcome race fans and visitors as well as pay tribute to the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500.”
Booker’s work was selected for the 100th Running celebration because of her use of tires. People are encouraged to continue along the Cultural Trail to the Mass Ave and Fountain Square Cultural Districts to see additional art made from tires and created by local artists as a part of Artful Tread, which has been featured on Mass Ave for over ten years.
Like is composed of rubber tires and stainless steel. Chakaia Booker is acclaimed for her innovative use of tires as a sculptural material. She cuts, shapes, folds, and then weaves the rubber onto armatures, turning a once mundane material into dynamic, highly textured artworks. Conceptually, her works can be interpreted as connecting to issues around automobile culture and mass transit as well as issues around the perception of the color black and sustainability. All of these topics are relevant to our city today.