Day and Night Where the Sidewalk Ends

Inspired by the classic children’s poem “Where the Sidewalk Ends” by Shel Silverstein, local artist Charity M. Counts and her 5-yr-old son, Max Hopkins, collaborated on a design to transform the north and south sides of the 29th Street and I-65 underpass into two whimsical worlds.

The north side depicts a child’s transition to imaginary lands from a dreary reality, a relatively literal interpretation of the experience as described in Silverstein’s poem and featuring elements designed by Max. The south side answers the question Charity and Max posed: What happens when the sun goes down where the sidewalk ends? It takes the viewer on a journey with the moon-bird who, after resting during the day, takes flight over a moonlit fantasy landscape.

In addition to being an artist, Charity Counts was the Executive Director of the Association of Midwest Museums at the time of the Artwork’s creation, and the former Associate Vice President of Exhibitions at The Children’s Museum in Indianapolis.  She and Max have collaborated on artistic projects for most of Max’s life. The artists live in Fishers, IN.