INDIANAPOLIS — Nearly 600 visual artists, musicians, dancers, spoken-word artists, curators, and other creative-industry professionals will turn downtown Indianapolis into a sidewalk art gallery and a three-week cultural festival when Swish tips off Saturday, March 13. All experiences are free and open to the public and will take place outdoors. Swish is funded through a Lilly Endowment Inc. grant received by Indiana Sports Corp to create a safe, welcoming environment for residents and visitors during the tournament.
Among the highlights visitors can expect:
• In-the-paint, immersive murals. Four visual artists with iconic styles created basketball-themed 3D murals that invite people to step into and be surrounded by artworks inspired by stories of childhood basketball games, players’ “court vision,” a determined female athlete who overcame cultural barriers, and an astronaut shooting for the stars. The 10x10x10-foot murals will be showcased at Lugar Plaza, Monument Circle, Georgia Street, and the Majestic Building (47 S. Pennsylvania St.).
• Street & sidewalk galleries. Nearly 50 vibrant visual art and poetry installations will be displayed in storefronts in key areas downtown and greet visitors at Indianapolis International Airport. Visitors can stroll Monument Circle to see vinyl reproductions of original works by artists, and stop by 10 W. Washington St. to catch Paint, a 3D installation of 64 brightly colored basketballs strung vertically, and Mona With Cats, a feline-friendly parody of Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous painting. Other “galleries” will be located along Georgia Street and around the exterior of Circle Centre Mall.
• A public art crawl. A 60-foot-tall mural of Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller in mid-shot. Portraits of Indiana Avenue jazz legends. The Murals for Racial Justice, a series of temporary murals painted last summer on boarded-up storefronts. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of these and other public artworks highlighting sports, historic landmarks, famous Hoosiers, and works by artists of color.
• Music & performance series. A diverse lineup of Indy’s top performance talent will bring the city’s outdoor civic spaces to life, including 11 pop-up locations along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick. The series will feature 500+ musicians, DJs, spoken-word artists, and dancers delivering performances starting March 13, and continuing Thursdays through Sundays with the big finale on April 6. The series’ main locations are Lugar Plaza, Georgia Street, and Davlan Park; additional locations and partners include the Indianapolis Artsgarden, Monument Circle, and Indianapolis International Airport.
Details, including information on Swish artists and a map of artwork locations, will be available on the Arts Council of Indianapolis website and on social media at @artscouncilindy.