The Arts Corridor

Art Spaces was invited by the City to place outdoor public sculpture along the Terre Haute Arts Corridor. Gatekeeper, by Sally Rogers of Penland, North Carolina, signals the entrance to the Arts Corridor and is located on the property of the Vigo County Public Library at Poplar and 7th Streets.(Tribune Star article)

Spirit of Space by Bob Emser of Eureka, Illinois is located in front of the Sheldon Swope Art Museum. The three remaining sidewalk bumpout areas between Wabash Avenue and Walnut Street designated for public sculpture are expected to be completed over the next several years.

Also planned for the Arts Corridor is a life-sized bronze sculpture of Max Ehrmann. Art Spaces is working with other members of the Terre Haute Cultural Trail Coalition (Downtown Terre Haute, Inc.; Vigo County Historical Society; City of Terre Haute; Indiana State University; Arts Illiana; Terre Haute Tribune-Star and others) to commemorate this renowned poet. Born in Terre Haute in 1872, Max is known internationally for his poetry and philosophical writings, and fondly remembered here. He often sat near the Crossroads of America (7th Street and Wabash Avenue) observing people and writing. His renowned poem, Desiderata, was penned in Terre Haute and is known and cherished throughout the world.

The sculpture will be created by Bill Wolfe, a well-known area artist. Ehrmann will be seated on a bench with pen and paper in hand. Excerpts of the Desiderata will be embedded in the sidewalk leading up to the sculpture; and the entire poem will be mounted nearby. People are encouraged to contribute to this project which has already received support from the Wabash Valley Community Foundation, Vectren Foundation, and the City of Terre Haute. For further information or to make a donation, please contact Art Spaces, Inc.

For more information on Max Ehrmann and the plans for this project:

Tribune Star Articles:

Directing Energy to a Worthy Cause Could Produce Something Wonderful by Mark Bennett

Finding Inspiration in Terre Haute: Discovering the City with Max Ehrmann's "Desiderata" by Cormac O'Duffy

Further north on the Arts Corridor, on the campus of Indiana State University, is a sculpture by internationally known artist Chakaia Booker. Emanating Connections is fabricated with steel and rubber from used tires. It is located in front of ISU's New Theater and is also part of the permanent collection of the university.

Art Spaces will continue to work with the City to enhance the Arts Corridor with unique and site specific sculptures, contributing to the thriving art scene and the downtown street life.

HUX CANCER CENTER AT UNION HOSPITAL

Meg White, of Stephensport, Kentucky, is currently busy creating Light of Hope and Healing, a bronze, black granite and acrylic resin sculpture planned for installation in the Hux Center in the late fall. She was selected through a national competition which generated 168 responses from 37 states. Art Spaces is pleased to be entering into this partnership with Union Hospital, Inc., to bring site-specific sculpture to the Union Hospital campus.

Future Projects

Arts Spaces plans to work with the new Terre Haute Children's Museum to place a sculpture in front of their new building in downtown Terre Haute, as well as continuing to enhance the Arts Corridor witha variety of new works.

Art Spaces is also a participant in discussion about the Riverfront Development currently in planning for Terre Haute. This community-wide effort to reconnect the city with one of its prized natural resources, the Wabash River, will include a re-established wetlands area and many other exciting amenities. Public art will be apart of the new riverfront.

We are also continuing discussions with Clark Landsbaum Holly Arboretum. This is a destination site, with a unique and thriving collection of holly trees, and the Heritage Trail extension scheduled to pass through there within two years. Along with a public sculpture, this will further enhance the area.