A giant mobile 40 feet across and almost equally as tall, Dream Maker is a sight to behold (even if you’re not laying flat in front of the ticketing counter as I was today to snap the above photograph). As you approach the Museum you can see the brightly colored structures floating in the entrance. Even when viewing it from the parking lot, the piece generates a sense of wonder and awe. But it isn’t until you walk under the structure that the true joy of Dream Maker hits you. It’s just unbelievably happy. Honestly, you can’t help but smile as it smiles at you. And who doesn’t want to see something that’s going to make them smile.

Friends With You is an artist collective based out of Miami. You can look up more information about them on Wikipedia (that’ll make Richard happy), but I thought I would tell you a little bit about the group right here in the blog. Created in 2002 by Sam Borkson and Arturo Sandoval, the group promotes its message of magic, luck, and friendship in popular culture by creating and sharing designer toys, multimedia, paintings, sculptures, performances and art installations. Check out their Web site to see more about their work. You can also stop by the IMA Store or Gnosis in Indy’s Fountain Square to purchase some of their art toys.

I’m a huge fan of these guys for several reasons. First, I think everyone needs to believe in magic, luck and friendship. They all seem like pretty good things to me. Second, all the works of Friends With You are really fresh, vibrant and cool. It’s just a great aesthetic. Finally, while I love all art, I especially love works that inspire child-like joy. It’s rare to feel like skipping or giggling or doing cartwheels once you reach a certain age, but the works of Friends With You make me want to do all of those things.

Need a little more joy? Stop by the IMA and check out Friends With You’s Dream Maker in the Efroymson Family Entrance Pavilion. I recommend lying down in the middle of the floor and staring up at it, but that’s just me.