Comprehensive design students from the IU Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design will showcase their innovative designs for rural southern Indiana communities from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 27, at The Mill at 642 N. Madison Street in Bloomington. The event is presented by the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement and the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design.
Rural community partners include Black Vulture Project, the City of Charlestown, Daviess County Economic Development Corporation, Discover Downtown Washington, INergize Linton, Martin County Alliance for Economic Growth, Pekin Community Betterment Organization, Spencer Pride, the Town of Lynnville, Warrick Trails and the Town of Elberfeld. For a full list of projects, visit go.iu.edu/ruralplacemakingstudio.
Over the past two months, students working through the Rural Placemaking Studio have dedicated their talents to creative placemaking and reimagining public spaces in rural communities. The event will feature an inspiring showcase of their final designs through a rolling photo slideshow and posters.
“Our job this summer was to translate the ideas of the community into built form,” said Jon Racek, program director of comprehensive design and director of the ServeDesign Center. "The reason that this studio worked was it was a partnership between the students and the communities. Without a solid partnership, this kind of work falls flat. Happily, we all share common goals.”
The Rural Placemaking Studio connects IU faculty and students with rural Indiana residents who seek to enhance their communities through art and design. The studio collaborates with communities to foster the development of vibrant, accessible public places that can be maintained and sustained for future generations. Community-identified projects include murals, wayfinding signage, architectural and park design and downtown revitalization efforts.
This initiative expands a partnership between the Center for Rural Engagement and the Eskenazi School’s ServeDesign Center and Indiana’s rural communities that included an artist residency program and placemaking projects in Huntingburg, Holland, Salem and Jasper.
“The Rural Placemaking Studio makes the creative talents of IU’s students accessible to rural communities developing placemaking projects, and these projects provide an impactful learning experience that bolsters students’ professional skills,” said Denny Spinner, interim executive director of the Center for Rural Engagement. “The initiative is an investment in Indiana’s beautiful rural places and our state’s talent development.”
The August 27 design showcase is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.