The various artistic pieces will be guided by specific narratives tailored to fit each space on each level of the Fieldhouse and will be located on the Main Concourse, KeyBank, and Balcony levels as well as the Team Store. Visitors will be able to enjoy art that highlights key people, events and moments through the history of both the Fieldhouse and Indiana at-large.
Those narratives include:
- Indy Past, Present and Future
- Indy’s Rise as the Amateur Sports Capital of the World
- Crispus Attucks and The Dust Bowl
- Milan Miracle
- Fever 2012 Run
- ABA Champions
- Pacers 2000 Season
- Gainbridge Fieldhouse: So Much Bigger Than Basketball
- The Moments That Saved The Pacers
- Hall of Famers and Retired Numbers
- Hoosier Hysteria: In 49 States It’s Just Basketball
Almost immediately upon opening in 1999, the Fieldhouse quickly became the most versatile event center in the state while emerging as a cornerstone of the developing Indianapolis skyline. This most recent $360-million dollar renovation to revitalize an already beloved and iconic arena will reestablish the Fieldhouse as the heart of downtown Indianapolis for years to come.
Gainbridge Fieldhouse has been the home to memories for thousands of visitors who have come to visit us for a game, a concert or other event. Those memories tell a unique story, one only possible through the marriage of the Fieldhouse, our incredible visitors, the City of Indianapolis and the State of Indiana. The story we have asked these local artists to recapture as part of the Fieldhouse of the Future redevelopment will highlight those memories, those moments, and those emotions for future visitors to relive.
MEET THE ARTISTS:
Tasha Beckwith, Indianapolis
Tasha is a graduate of Herron School of Art & Design, IUPUI, where she studied painting and drawing. She works in both digital design and traditional hand techniques, using a kaleidoscope of patterns with a recognizable figurative style. Her current fine art works are Afrocentric with hints of Afrofuturism. See more of Tasha’s work at https://tashabeckwith.myportfolio.com
JD Bills, Indianapolis
JD graduated from the Herron School of Art & Design, IUPUI, and spends his time doing commissioned work for various commercial and residential clients. He exhibits his pop-art-inspired work locally at art fairs, restaurants, and other community-based venues, and teaches Painting at Ivy Tech Community College. See more of JD’s work at https://www.jdbills.com/
Pamela Bliss, Indianapolis
Pamela studied studio art as an undergraduate and also received a master’s degree in arts administration. Working almost exclusively on commission and specializing in realistic portraiture using a traditional oil painting technique, she is best known for her large-scale mural work, as is aptly illustrated by her five-story Reggie Miller mural in downtown Indianapolis. Learn more about Pamela and her work at https://pamelabliss.gallery/
Derrick Carter, Indianapolis
Derrick attended The Art Institute of Indianapolis and graduated with a bachelor's degree in graphic design. Turning more towards fine art, today he is a mixed-media artist specializing in the unusual technique of painting with colored sand to tackle contemporary themes and scenes from his own imagination. Learn more about his work at https://www.theartincarter.com/
India Cruse-Griffin, Richmond
India earned her B.S. in Art Education from Ball State University and has taught public school art ever since. In addition to teaching she creates boldly layered collage work with overlays of different materials and paints. Her bold colors, shapes, and patterns interact with her figural style to illuminate stories of love, pride, and family inspired by her Indiana childhood. She exhibits frequently around the tri-state area and her work is held in prominent museum collections (including the Indiana Governor’s Residence) and civic venues like Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis and Reid Hospital in Richmond. Learn more about India at http://www.indiacruse-griffin.org/
Jingo M. de la Rosa, Indianapolis (born Manila, Philippines)
Jingo is a commercial illustrator, art educator, and fine artist. In addition to his commissioned work, Jingo teaches at the Herron School of Art & Design, IUPUI and at Butler University and is associated with Urban Sketchers and Arts for Learning as a teaching artist. Learn more about Jingo at https://www.jingodlr.com/
James Wille Faust, Indianapolis (from Lapel)
Wille earned his BFA in Sculpture from the Herron School of Art & Design, IUPUI, and his MFA in painting from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. Born in 1949, he grew up on a farm in rural Lapel, Indiana. Wille has been a professional artist since 1978, and his award winning artwork has been exhibited in galleries, universities and museums, locally, nationally & worldwide. His work is well known for its brilliant color, illusionistic effects, and compact, iconic storytelling. See more at http://www.jameswillefaust.com/
Matthew Filer, Indianapolis
Prior to launching his own freelance graphic design firm, Invictus Designs, Matt Filer attended Ball State University for his BFA with a focus in Visual Communications and Digital Media. His highly identifiable style combines text and accurately drawn portraiture to highlight the life, character, and accomplishments of his subjects. See more of his work at https://invictusdesigns.com/
Mike Graves, Indianapolis
Equally accomplished in visual art and music, Mike, co-founder of the locally-based BRIDGE Collective, combines text, images, and cultural references into works that pack many layers of sub-content into their unique designs. Read more about Mike at https://bridgecollective.org/section/149643-Mike-Graves.html
Dan Handskillz, Indianapolis
Dan Handskillz (aka Invisible Hometown, aka Dan Thompson) studied fine art at the Herron School of Art & Design, IUPUI and began his career with illustration and board game design. Moving into digital content, he spent several years working in illustration, concept art and storyboarding for a respected creative studio specializing in advertising and interactives. He is currently a freelance illustrator and graphic designer. Dan’s street-informed style and sense of color and character will lovingly recreate the experience of the stands. Follow Dan’s Instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/invisible_hometown to see more of his work.
Becky Hochhalter, Terre Haute
Born and raised in Terre Haute, Indiana, Becky Gropp Hochhalter is a self-taught, lifelong artist who has been creating art since childhood. She spent 17 years working for a flexible packaging company, and now creates large-scale dynamic public works of art in a wide range of styles, but always with an emphasis on storytelling and community connections. Her work frequently includes hidden elements, giving the artwork an interactive quality and a personal touch. See more of Becky’s work at https://www.beckyhochhalter.com/
Erik Lundorf, Indianapolis
Erik, an illustrator and cartoonist, graduated from DePauw University as an oil painter but turned to illustration shortly afterwards. Focusing now on graphic novels, illustrated educational content, and one-off comics, he also creates commissioned murals. Learn more about Erik’s work at http://www.eriklundorf.com/
Amiah Mims, Indianapolis
Amiah is a designer and a painter who is equally comfortable creating illustrations and fine art. She graduated from Kent State University, where she also was a MAC-champion intercollegiate gymnast. Until recently, she was a full-time graphic designer for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway; her need to take a leap of faith led her to her current role as a freelance designer, artist, and muralist. See more of her work at https://www.instagram.com/worksbymimsy/
Ismael Muhammad Nieves (Ish Muhammad), Hammond (born in NYC)
Ish is a self-taught artist who splits his practice between graffiti-inspired abstract expressionism and public murals. He is the force behind the CISA (Crazy Indiana Style Artists) graffiti crew, and curates exhibitions of their work and that of other street artists. Ish’s work is in many public collections across Indiana and the midwest. Learn more about Ish at http://www.ishmuhammad.com/
Kyle Ragsdale, Indianapolis (born New Mexico)
Kyle grew up in Texas and New Mexico, witnessing from a young age a mix of vibrant cultures and large wild spaces. Since earning degrees at Baylor University (BFA) and Southern Methodist University (MFA), Kyle has been painting full time, working periodically as a decorative painter and stage set designer, and making fine art. He has served as curator for exhibits in Texas and Indiana and currently is curator for the Harrison Center in Indianapolis, where he is part of a synergistic community of 36 working artists who share ideas, tools, and life. See more of Kyle’s work at https://kyleragsdale.com/
William Denton Ray, Indianapolis
William is an artist and designer based in Indianapolis, but working nationally. He received a scholarship to the Columbus College of Art and Design where he focused on Ad Design, later transferring to the Herron School of Art & Design, IUPUI where he concentrated on painting and drawing. He has had solo shows in Indianapolis and Boston as well as numerous group exhibitions throughout the country. His quirky and funky, almost abstract illustration style has graced paintings, sculptures, murals, stickers, and even beer cans. See more of William’s work at https://www.whimsicalfunk.com/
Kyng Rhodes, Indianapolis
Kyng has been in love with creating art his entire life. He attended college to obtain a degree in graphic design, but his true love is embedded in illustration, street art, and fine art. During the pandemic of 2020, Kyng made the decision to become a full-time creative. His work uses saturated colors and a technique of visually combining photograph-like figures and graphic imagery into compositions that are as much conceptual-symbolic as narrative. He is a member of The Eighteen arts collective. Learn more about Kyng and his work at https://www.kyngrhodes.com/
Beth Clary Schwier, Indianapolis (from Peru)
Beth hails from Peru, Indiana, where she performed with the Peru Circus from age 9 until she moved to Muncie, Indiana, to study at Ball State University. A former actress and model, she began seriously studying art in 2012 with renowned Indiana artist C.W. Mundy. After several years’ residency in the Stutz building, Beth now has her own gallery/studio space in Irvington, where she spends her days painting and meeting new clients. She has been a featured artist on the HGTV series “Good Bones.” See more of Beth’s work at http://www.bethschwier.com/
Artur Silva, Indianapolis (born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil)
Artur is a visual artist and filmmaker, originally from Brazil and residing in Indiana since 2002. He received his BFA from the Guignard School of Art, Belo Horizonte, Brazil and his MFA from the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). He is a Visiting Assistant Professor at DePauw University in Greencastle, IN, but he has also taught at the Herron School of Art & Design, IUPUI; CalArts, and Franklin University. He has pursued numerous residencies, including at Mass MoCA. Artur’s bold digital collages combine drawn, photographed, and found images into dynamic and exciting compositions. See more examples of Artur’s work at https://artursilva.com
Chris Silva, South Bend (born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico; grew up in Chicago)
Chris’ creative pursuits are firmly rooted in Chicago's urban culture. Chris was an innovative figure in Chicago’s early graffiti and skateboarding scenes and from that foundation proceeded to play a significant role in the development of what is now commonly referred to as "street art". Chris splits his time between working on large-scale commissions, producing gallery oriented work, and leading community-based public art projects. As a self taught sound artist with roots in DJ culture, Chris also produces music under the alias, LC Rivers. Learn more about Chris and his work at https://chrissilva.com/
Kevin Smola, Greenwood
Kevin learned to draw by studying comic book characters as a kid and selling his drawings to neighbors and classmates. He graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a BS in Graphic Design, initially taking up painting before realizing design and illustration allowed him to express himself more freely. His design and illustration work draws from his own childhood experiences and the absurdities of daily life. His work often travels between personal, hand-drawn pieces to linear and refined executions, but all contain a hallmark of an artist at play. Learn more about his work at https://www.instagram.com/thesmolastudio
Israel Solomon, Avon (born/raised in Kokomo)
Israel, an Indiana native, studied art education at Ball State University and taught middle-school art before turning full-time to his studio practice and teaching college-level drawing classes. He maintains a studio in the Harrison Center and creates large-scale, ambitious paintings and murals using sharp geometry and brilliant colors to infuse his subjects with energy and power. See more of Israel’s work at https://www.israelsolomonart.com/
Nekoda Witsken, Indianapolis (raised in Hamilton County)
Koda studied art at Purdue and Duke Universities and then navigated a career in corporate sales in the travel industry at TripAdvisor and Travelzoo. Her love for travel and tourism will always remain, but she ultimately found her true calling in opening her own mural business, Hue Murals. Hue now completes mural and art installation projects nationally, with projects in Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Texas, New York, California, and more. Her signature motto is “best energies and bright colors.” Learn more about Koda and her work at https://huemuralsbykoda.com/
ABOUT THE PIECES: