The concept for this artwork originates from the hub of the Ford Model A. Although the building housing the artwork never produced that specific vehicle, its former use was as an assembly plant for Ford vehicles, and the shape is an homage to that history.  The artists simplified the wheel hub’s overlapping spoke pattern and added a bright and crisp color palette within the negative spaces. The reuse of the building for housing and office space changes its history, just as Henry Ford did for the history of industry when he developed the moving assembly line. In addition, the artwork metaphorically relates to the building’s neighborhood location:  Near Eastsiders are known to embrace a culture of biking, and the spoke pattern also refers to bicycle wheels.  The contemporary pattern and color palette is a metaphor for the many different types of people who call this neighborhood home. Interior lighting helps the artwork glow after dark.

Owens + Crawley is the public art joint venture of Indianapolis-based artist Quincy Owens and Luke Crawley, a math and science teacher at University High School in Carmel, Indiana. They met while they were both teaching at Herron High School and found they had complementary skills and interests.

The artwork was created as part of the building developer’s contribution to the City of Indianapolis’ Public Art for Neighborhoods program.