While we work as embedded artists at the table for citywide
initiatives, we most often focus hyper-locally as active
collaborators in these neighborhoods:
Lafayette Square (where Service Center, our demonstration space
and workshop is located)
Downtown (where we are part of teams working to better utilize
public spaces)
far eaStSiDe (a neglected suburban area on the eastern edge of
the city where our project leader for that neighborhood lives)
near SouthSiDe (an asset-rich area where four of our staff
artists live and where Big Car started in 2004)
Were focusing this document on the Near Southside specifically
the Shelby Street commercial corridor (see map) that connects
Fountain Square three miles south to the University of Indianapolis
and the University Heights neighborhood. The center of this area,
Garfield Park, has the strongest need and best potential for
impact.
We view Shelby as the Main Street for the Near Southside area
that functions, in many ways, like a small town. To borrow
terminology from Deveron Arts in Scotland (www.deveron-arts.com),
we see this town as our venue and all of the work we do here as
part of our practice as long-term resident artists.
B ig Car CoLLaborative is an artist-led nonprofit organization
based in Indianapolis that brings art to people and people to art.
We use creative placemaking, design, social practice art, and
public programming to help invigorate shared places, encourage
creativity and social interaction, and strengthen communities.
Our WOrk On the near SOuthSide/ShelBy Street COrridOr
615 N. Alabama #119 | Indianapolis, IN 46204 |
www.bigcar.org
Neighbors pose and celebrate at the Garfield Park mural after a
group walk, May of 2013.
P h a S e 1 e x P L o r i n g a n D L e a r n i n g
get to know the place: Ideally, the artists leading the work
live in the area. Even if we do before projects start we repeatedly
drive, bike, and walk the area; photograph and map it; attend
existing meetings and events; research history, demographics, and
other data.
Connect and communicate: We meet with and survey residents,
stakeholders and other potential collaborators; listen to and note
their larger, abstract wishes.
P h a S e 2 g i v i n g a n D D e m o n S t r at i n g
offering the gift of good design: As a way to begin our
relationship in a positive way, we offer the neighborhood graphic
design, marketing support, documentation, and other skills we have
to offer.
Participate in planning, visioning, and organizing: Once were
part of the neighborhoods leadership team, we contribute to the
planning process with input and ideas and as project managers,
grant writers, fundraisers, communicators, community organizers,
and artists skilled at public engagement.
intervention and demonstration: Using tools of tactical
urbanism, we help the neighborhood see (and show others) how their
ideas have moved from abstract to concrete. And how future,
long-term projects may or may not work.
An important aspect of the demonstration phase is creating bonds
between people by doing physical work together. This builds trust
and connections in ways that simply meeting and talking do not.
P h a S e 3 m a k i n g a n D S u S ta i n i n g
Doing the work: We collaborate with residents, stakeholders,
local and out-of-town artists, and other cultural partners to
maintain and develop successful projects and programs all dedicated
to the goal of using art and culture to help build a stronger
community from within.
evaluation and revision: Part of all three phases, we work with
our collaborators (neighbors and partners) and examine whats
working and whats not and revise the approach along the way. All
projects and programs remain flexible and organic.
Our multi-phaSe apprOaCh (We are currently in Phase 2 in the
Near Southside)
615 N. Alabama #119 | Indianapolis, IN 46204 |
www.bigcar.org
The Manual High School art club works with kids at Garfield Park
Better Block, October of 2014.
Pa S tEstablished an art gallery that operated continuously
in
Fountain Square for 7 years with exhibits and events that
brought thousands of new visitors to the area
Led the effort to create and promote the lasting First Friday
tradition, leading to significant commercial revitalization
Organized and built Masterpiece In A Day, supporting artists and
demonstrating a people-centered cultural area
Encouraged including Fountain Square as part of The Cultural
Trail and the addition of the Pleasant Run connector
With residents, organized Garfield North Better Block; brought
Andrew Howard from Better Block to Indianapolis for a community
workshop and to see the neighborhood
Completed, with residents, neighborhood-designed Welcome to
Garfield Park mural funded by a grant we received from Keep America
Beautiful
Brought positive media attention to the neighborhood with Better
Block and mural projects
Helped form a neighborhood nonprofit organization (two Big Car
staffers on the founding board of nine people)
Helped complete a neighborhood strategic plan Created, printed
and distributed T-shirt using mural design Supported effort to
(successfully) find funds for faade
improvements to neighborhood hardware storeLed an exploratory
walk with 75 people from Garfield
Park to Fountain Square
P r e S e n tHelping bring the north and south Garfield Park
neighborhoods
together into one association (the park is in the
middle)Planning Garfield South Better Block in a struggling
commercial area Planning an exploratory walk from Garfield Park
to the
University of Indianapolis Reaching out to the City to advocate
for safer streets for
walking and biking including requests for crosswalks, signals,
and protected bike lanes
Working on Garfield Alive, an interactive, self-guided audio
tour of the park in partnership with the Friends of Garfield
Park
Helping reach out to owners of vacant and underutilized
commercial buildings to begin finding better uses possibly
including a space for us
Hosting neighborhood meetings in the co-working space we use in
the Fountain Square area of the corridor
Participating in Pleasant Run Reconnecting to Our Waterways
planning
Participating in the planning process for Red Line bus rapid
transit on Shelby Street
Designing attractive faade element for the front of the
neighborhood hardware store
f u t u r eOperate a low-power FM radio station based in,
connected to, and reaching the area (we recently received our
license from the FCC for this)
Design a website for the neighborhood and its strategic
planCreate a neighborhood map and guide that highlights
assets, opportunities, stakeholders, leaders, etc.Celebrate Big
Cars 10th year with an interactive exhibit
at the University of Indianapolis galleryTeam teach a social
practice art class at University of
Indianapolis linked to our exhibitSupport filling vacant
buildings with attractive businesses
on Shelby Open a storefront social practice/engagement space
on Shelby Facilitate and organize artist/expert/resident led
neighborhood learning/social walksUse Walk Your City signs and
other tactics to encourage
walking, biking and bus useBring in Montreal street artist Peter
Gibson to complete
and facilitate intersection and street paintings, including
working with neighborhood volunteers
Work with University of Indianapolis to create temporary
demonstration transit options for students and residents to get to
Garfield Park and Fountain Square especially for special events
Work with neighbors to establish a block-party program
(including a shared tool and supply kit) and a regular block-party
schedule
Create an artist-in-residence program for the area/park with
resident artists possibly teaching and working at the Garfield Park
Art Center
Bring art experiences to the park in surprising places, helping
make it the citys art park
Support theater, live music and other events that have started
happening in the park
Bring our mobile DoSeum to the park on a regular basis, making
the playground/Pagoda area (already a vibrant spot full of a very
diverse group of people) more creative, and fun for people who
speak English and Spanish
Advocate for and help the City with needs in the park: creek
cleanup, public restrooms, better design and signage, better
neighborhood and visitor engagement, and better marketing for
events and programs
Our WOrk On the near SOuthSide Past, present and future
615 N. Alabama #119 | Indianapolis, IN 46204 |
www.bigcar.org
