Through a partnership with Williams Creek Management funded by the Kresge Foundation, Reconnecting to Our Waterways (ROW) worked with local artists and community members to create rest stops that give people a chance to pause and see the power of art and the beauty on the Near Eastside. Led by artist Eric Nordgulen, students from Herron School of Art and Design, a team of professional artists, local residents, and stakeholders collaborated on the design and implementation of public art installations centered on waterway issues and inspirations. Grid Currents, created by Herron student Kevin Bielicki, is inspired by the aerial view of Pogue’s Run and its intersection with people and the park.

Kevin Bielicki is an Indianapolis-based artist inspired by forms found in nature. Bielicki received his bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the University of Delaware and is currently working on a master’s degree in sculpture from Herron. Bielicki is interested in the progressive qualities of botanical forms and how they find ways to grow despite many obstacles. His most recent works exploit tree rings to explore time, history, and space.

Reconnecting to Our Waterways (ROW) is a grassroots initiative designed to catalyze and bundle neighborhood quality-of-life initiatives, neighborhoods assets, and opportunity for residents living in disadvantaged neighborhoods. The goal is to enrich the livability of Indianapolis and the well-being of residents by generating new and sustainable opportunities to learn about and experience art, nature, and beauty along targeted natural waterways and the neighborhoods around them.