Seven windows of the former Carson Pirie Scott department store in Circle Centre now feature the works of Harrison Center artists, thanks to the organization’s collaboration with Simon Property Group to create an opportunity for a wider audience to engage with and experience the work of the city’s local artists.
Current window displays feature pieces of varying themes by Abi Ogle, Quincy Owens, Owens + Crawley, Kyle Ragsdale and Justin Vining. The works range from an ethereal white dress crafted from handmade paper flowers to stunning light installations that beckon passersby to stop for a moment.
Residents and visitors can enjoy the existing displays until late November 2018 when the windows will be transformed into a series of winter windows to usher in the holiday season. Holiday window displays in the former Carson’s department store will be created in conjunction with the Harrison Center’s annual Holiday Window Tour which gets under way at the Harrison Center during First Friday on Dec. 7.
In 2015, artists began transforming the Harrison Center’s exterior windows into imaginative displays during the holiday season. The activity has since become a tradition in the Old Northside neighborhood and past spectacles have included a working miniature Ferris wheel and a display which created a warm and snuggly home for live kittens in order to spur community adoption.
“Using space outside the walls of the Harrison Center, whether it be just outside our building or in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, is an entertaining way to discover place-based art and creates an accessible way for a broader audience to discover the talented artists living and working in our community,” said Joanna Taft, executive director of the Harrison Center. “Projects such as window displays allow Harrison Center artists to create something beautiful for their neighbors and connects residents with those who are exploring and repurposing a space that is still a vital part of our community.”
The winter-themed displays will be mounted in time for Downtown Indy’s Circle of Lights at Monument Circle. For more information on this project and the upcoming Holiday Windows Walking Tour at the Harrison Center, visit at www.harrisoncenter.org.
