Talk about a world of discovery.
That’s much of the idea behind many of the 13 temporary architectural installations currently taking shape for the Exhibit Columbus’ exhibition opening Aug. 20 with a ticketed, gala gathering and a day-long slate of activities Aug. 21.
A spirit of international exploration will prevail in one Christopher Columbus-inspired pop-up piece titled “Columbus Columbia Columbo Colón” in Mill Race Park. Design firm Dream the Combine’s effort, highlighting 58 of the globe’s cities named for the explorer, is just one of the works of all those currently coming together locally and in architectural offices worldwide, according to exhibition organizers.
Exhibit Columbus alternates between an exhibition one year and a symposium the next. It is an exploration of art, architecture, design and community that highlights the city’s global legacy in Modernist architecture, and promotes creativity and fresh ideas about that for the future. This year’s theme is “New Middles: From Main Street to Megalopolis — What is the Future of the Middle City?”
Dream the Combine’s married Minneapolis duo consisting of Jennifer Newsom and Tom Carruthers already have the base of what will be aluminum poles in the ground near the amphitheater at the park. Ideally, they expect to finish with their multi-symbolic project maybe as early as Aug. 7.
“Architecture is like a long race,” Carruthers said, adding that he and his partner got an early start on their piece.
“Because of some shortages for items in demand this year, it has taken us a little extra effort to thread the needle.”
Newsom said ample, well-timed planning makes all the difference.
“We have tried to harness some of our knowledge from previous installations while having an awareness that things can sometimes get backed up due to forces beyond your control,” Newsom said.
Exhibit Columbus Director Anne Surak said she understands.
“Everyone is doing everything they can to get their materials in a timely fashion,” Surak said.
She mentioned that work is progressing well on the exhibition that attracted an estimated audience of 40,000 the first year in 2017 and about 30,000 in 2019 with different builders and creations. Both years, international publicity also was the benefit.
Moreover, a number of the exhibits gained a second life at other exhibitions, and parts of some of the installations went on to enhance existing landscapes at everything from the Miller House and Garden to the Bartholomew County Public Library.
Connected to this issue, Surak said that she is especially proud of what she termed “great fabricator partnerships” that have formed with the design teams to make the temporary creations possible. Those include the Chicago-based Future Firm’s assistance from Gaylor Electric in Columbus for the installation “Midnight Palace” at the former Sears building-turned Cummins Inc. offices at 323 Brown St.
Plus, Surak mentioned that Gaylor’s Noblesville office will be fabricating some of the elements for Future Firm’s creation meant to give the local night-shift population something of a relaxing respite.
Indiana University’s Jei Jeeyea Kim and Dorian Bybee, among the exhibition’s University Design Research Fellows, mentioned that they began construction on the installation “LaWaSo Ground” slightly early before moving their efforts to a site at the corner of Fifth and Franklin streets. The piece’s name comes from mixing letters from (La)nd, (Wa)ter, and (So)il and piece is meant in part to salute native Americans place in Indiana’s history.
The installation will be made of locally-sourced Indiana limestone and will feature carved, symbolic patterns found in indigenous cultures. It is being created in collaboration with Katrina Mitten, a local artist of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. Kim has been able to get materials on time, but has faced another challenge.
“Some of the prices have gone way up,” Kim said, citing a 200 percent boost in the cost of some metal and also jumps in wood.
Helping offset that added expense has been the support of installation material sponsors IU Arts and Humanities Council, Bybee Stone Co., SYNLawn Indiana, and Additive Manufacturing Team of Cummins Technical Center.
“So, it has worked out,” Kim said.
