Garfield Park Vista Markers

art + design

1.22.2015 client: Friends of Garfield Park / Garfield Alive! project: Garfield Park Vista Markers

figure 1: RCA Victrola Phonograph player, a design inspiration

arfield Park, flanking downtowns southern edge, is the oldest city

park in Indianapolis. An essential part of noted landscape architect
George Edward Kesslers Park and Boulevard Plan for the city, it is
also on the National Register of Historic Places.
At 128 acres, there are fascinating and important assets in the park of
which many visitors are not aware. This project aims to engage visitors by
identifying important park features and providing information in both visual
and auditory form.
Visitors who encounter these vista markers, with shapes abstracted from
classic RCA Victrola phonograph players (figure 1a), will be encouraged to
dial a phone number unique to each marker that will launch an audio history
of the relevant park feature. Visitors will be encouraged to place their
phones inside the metal cylinders of each vista marker to take advantage
of the natural amplification provided by the shape of the metal - which will
allow multiple visitors to share the experience simultaneously.

art + design

About Big Car :: vista designers

Big Car Collaborative is an artist-led nonprofit social practice/public art

organization and collective based in Indianapolis. We engage people
to participate in the arts as a catalyst for improving the livability of their
neighborhoods and city.

About iFab :: vista fabricators

Indianapolis Fabrications is a custom fabrication company specializing

in unique or small run projects. They specialize in fine art fabrication,
prototyping, limited run custom design products, art conservation and
restoration and vintage automobile restoration and customization.
Projects of note include:
the largest art work in Indianapolis, May/September, a 13,000 sq ft metal
sculpture on the facade of the New Wishard Hospital.
PUPstop Stadium Chairs / The Bush Stadium Seat Salvage Project
Mary Miss Flow Can You See The River - 200 sites across Indianapolis

1.22.2015 client: Friends of Garfield Park / Garfield Alive! project: Garfield Park Vista Markers

FRONT VIEW

SIDE VIEW

Site information,
phone number
and partner info
printed in this area
74

69

51
43
33.5
24

approx. 24

12

art + design

1.22.2015 client: Friends of Garfield Park / Garfield Alive! project: Garfield Park Vista Markers

Metal tube will be

set in ground
for extra strength

art + design

1.22.2015 client: Friends of Garfield Park / Garfield Alive! project: Garfield Park Vista Markers

Didactic

General Henry
Lawton Memorial

The dedication ceremony for this

statue, in 1906, was presided over
by President Theodore Roosevelt.
To hear an audio history, call:

12
diameter

317-432-5432

Place your phone inside the

speaker to amplify the sound.
This marker was made possible by the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust,
Friends of Gareld Park and Big Car Collaborative

art + design

1.22.2015 client: Friends of Garfield Park / Garfield Alive! project: Garfield Park Vista Markers