The artist’s goal in creating this mural was to express Fountain Square’s neighborhood character: old and new, with both rich history and evolving culture. She combined design inspirations from traditional still life paintings and colorful surrealistic landscapes, and studying precedents based on the fact that Fountain Square’s earliest residents were German. Inspired by the styles of Max Ernst, Felix Nussbaum, and Helene Cramer, to name a few, the artist worked to set Fountain Square in ... view more »
The artist’s goal in creating this mural was to express Fountain Square’s neighborhood character: old and new, with both rich history and evolving culture. She combined design inspirations from traditional still life paintings and colorful surrealistic landscapes, and studying precedents based on the fact that Fountain Square’s earliest residents were German. Inspired by the styles of Max Ernst, Felix Nussbaum, and Helene Cramer, to name a few, the artist worked to set Fountain Square in the greater context of the state of Indiana by including peonies and cardinals, the state flower and bird. Hidden details provide whimsy: the reflection of the fountain across the street is painted in the cardinal’s eye, the Indy skyline as seen from Fountain Square is painted on the horizon line, and several distinctive houses found in the neighborhood are disguised in the flower petals.
Since the painting was commissioned bySoutheast Neighborhood Development (SEND), the artist included the community in her process by encouraging people passing by to join her in painting it. The hope is that every time they walk past the mural they will be able to spot the contribution they made and feel even more connected to the neighborhood.
Alicia Zanoni is a full-time painter who moved to Indianapolis in 2016. She maintains a studio at the Harrison Center.
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