The IND Foundation is currently raising funds to complete the proposed Indianapolis International Airport West Entry sculpture, designed by Evansville, IN native Joe C. Nicholson.
The sculpture consists of a set of six 30-ft. glass towers with internal LED lighting. The negative space between the towers spells I-N-D, the airport code for Indianapolis International Airport, and the first three letters of both Indianapolis and Indiana. The lighting will be programmed to project a wash of color patterns and enhance the landmark nature of the artwork. Visitors will see the sculpture as lettering when they approach the airport campus, and as they leave the campus, the sculpture will appear as a set of illuminated buildings referencing the skyline of Indianapolis.
As a part of a planned "metaphoric landscape", the sculpture refers to the technology hub that Central Indiana is fast becoming. Other landscape features of the seven-acre site will bring to mind additional aspects of the land and people of Indiana: for example, the sculpted mounds refer to the pre-contact Cahokian culture of the southwestern part of the state, while limestone elements will refer to the industry of south central Indiana. Plantings will be native to this region and will require little maintenance or excessive resource consumption.
The site and artwork will be visible from 3000 feet in the air, as planes land and take off. What an amazing welcome to the Gateway to Central Indiana!
