COLUMBUS, Ind.–Colorful new sculptures began popping up Tuesday in the Exit 76 Shopping District, off of Interstate 65. It is the latest manifestation of the Destination Neighborhoods Project initiated in 2017 by the Columbus Visitors Center with support from the Indiana Office of Tourism Development, the Heritage Fund, and the city of Columbus.
The five, 20-foot-tall metal sculptures were designed by Bud Rodecker of Thirst, a Chicago-based firm hired for the Destination Neighborhoods Project. The artwork incorporates whimsical visual elements from the identity for Exit 76, including suns, starbursts, hearts, 76 icons, and Dancing C’s.
Visitors Center Executive Director Karen Niverson said, “We wanted to create visual cues for visitors to this area to signify that they are entering a distinct destination within our community. These eye-catching sculptures give charisma and identity to the district.”
A team of stakeholders, including area business owners, worked with Thirst to develop the design and placement of the sculptures. Previous examples of Destination Neighborhoods Project implementation include welcome banners on Washington Street, streetscape elements on State Street, and new signage at AirPark Columbus.