Divine Light

Divine Light was added to ‘Blake’s Garden,’ located next to the Conservatory in Garfield Park, in 2019.  The painted metal piece, which features a deep blue sphere with colored flames rising from it, is a tribute to Blake Bowell, the son of Mark Bowell, the executive director of Friends of Garfield Park.  The artist calls it a “representation of Blake Bowell’s life and his commitment to the Divine Light that will echo through eternity.”  Blake Bowell died of brain cancer in 2017, at age 25. He had loved going to Garfield Park with his father during his lifetime.

The plaque by the sculpture states:  “The occurrence of Divine Light is the aspect of divine presence.  An ability of universal divinity or human beings to express themselves through spiritual means.  Everyone has this light within them; once revealed it leads to a life filled with spiritual purification.”  Additional text on the plaque describes Blake and his life.

Generous donations from Friends of Garfield Park and many individuals transformed an area next to the conservatory into a special garden for children, named for Blake. The sculpture was dedicated on July 31, 2019.

The artist, Kenzie Funk, attended Franklin Central High School with Blake’s sister, and then the Herron School of Art & Design at IUPUI.