I had the great pleasure of attending the opening party for 100 Acres: the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park a couple of weeks ago. It was a very festive celebration for Indy’s newest cultural attraction and all of the hard work and dedication it took to take it from concept to reality. With the exception of a little soggy ground, due to the record June rains, the party went off without a hitch. The Park is lovely!
The path from the IMA Main Building over to the park is short and sweet as it meanders through the gardens along the way.
A day visit to the Museum can easily include a stroll through 100 Acres no matter what you are wearing. The pretty sundress and sandals I wore the night of the event fit in perfectly with the atmosphere of the party, but didn’t facilitate fully exploring the park. Something occurred to me as mucked up my sandals and watched a few women struggling around the park in high heels (ouch)…
A visit to 100 Acres is not your ordinary museum visit.
A photo I snapped while looking up at Type A’s Team Building (Align)
I’m already planning my next trip to 100 Acres and this time I’ll be prepared to explore the nature as well as the art. Clothing choice is weather dependant, of course, but all terrain footwear is a must! (An aside- If you dropped me on a deserted island and gave me a choice between a sweat-wicking, quick-drying, technical fabric outfit or an attractive, Soccer Pro companion… I’d pick the clothes every time. Well… maybe.)
Here’s a quick rundown of the essentials I plan stuff in my backpack:
Sunglasses, sun screen, bug spray, camera, a picnic lunch, binoculars (for checking out birds), a bottle of water, a plastic bag for any trash I might produce (LNT!), a notepad and pencil, something to trade with Jessica and Michael out on Andrea Zittel’s Indianapolis Island, and maybe a book to enjoy.
My list reminds me more of gear requirements for summer camp than a museum trip. But hey, I want to have everything I’ll need to spend a day going over, under, around and through the Park on an artful adventure.
Filed under: Art, Art and Nature Park, Guest Bloggers
July 7th, 2010 at 8:07 pm
Katie:
The Ground is very DRY now down there in the Park! I mean DRY. So unless we have another torrential downpour don’t worry too much about those shoes.
July 7th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
We finally found the lake, but we couldn’t figure out how to trade what we brought for Jessica and Michael. I love the feeling of abandon of all materialism. Such a beautiful layout and I can’t wait to go back to see it all. Definitely need everything you suggested.
July 7th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
We finally found the lake, but we couldn’t figure out how to trade what we brought for Jessica and Michael. I love the feeling of abandon of all materialism. Such a beautiful layout and I can’t wait to go back to see it all. Definitely need everything you suggested. What is your favorite part of the entire 100 acres?
July 9th, 2010 at 10:37 am
Fan,
I’m very glad to hear that the ground has dried out in the Park. On my next visit I hope to be able to make it all the way around the lake, dry trails will certainly help with that. Thanks for your comment!
Lynette,
Check out Jessica and Michael’s blog (there is a link to it in my blog), you can get info there about when they are doing tours of the Island. I believe they trade during the tours. I like your point about materialism. Michael just wrote an interesting blog about how things are valued on the Island. You should read it!
My favorite part of 100 Acres is Alfredo Jaar’s Park of Laments. I really wanted to just lay in the grass and enjoy the peaceful feeling the symmetrical space creates. I also think that the space will provoke different feelings in the dead of winter, which will be interesting to experience.
July 9th, 2010 at 11:53 am
I just pictured Alfredo Jaar’s Park of Laments in winter and I imagine it will be an almost emotional experience. I can’t find much on what was behind his vision or if it honors someone, but it feels very much like a holocaust memorial.
July 31st, 2010 at 1:09 pm
i like how you guys designed the gardens. nice coming from a nature person.:<}
August 12th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
Hi Katie this is all so interesting and exciting! I’m a little annoyed that I only now have discovered the ‘Give and Take’ project and am a bit late to participate in it all :/ Did you ever make it on the island? and if so, what did you trade/receive? Did you leave a message and was it ever posted on the website? I most definitely have 100 Acres on my radar now and will take your backpack suggestions under serious consideration -with personal modifications of course. Love your photo’s as well. Thanks for sharing! I love discovering new worlds right in my own backyard!
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