Indianapolis Museum of Art Blog » Smoke Signals http://www.imamuseum.org/blog The IMA blog is a space to discuss everything related to the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:51:08 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Sleep with IMA Art http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2008/02/17/sleep-with-ima-art/ http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2008/02/17/sleep-with-ima-art/#comments Sun, 17 Feb 2008 21:44:30 +0000 Noelle Pulliam http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2008/02/17/sleep-with-ima-art/ Greetings to the readers of IMA Blog. As a member of the IMA Marketing department and a downtown Indy resident, I’ll be sharing my thoughts and insights on work and play – connecting the IMA to the heart of the city.

Made popular by the movie “Night at the Museum” starring Ben Stiller, a hot trend is sweeping the country in which museums are opening up their doors for visitors to spend the night among relics, robots and live animals. The IMA manages to stay open until 9:00 pm on Thursdays and Fridays, which doesn’t exactly allow for a gallery slumber party among the priceless works of art, but does give visitors the unique opportunity to stick around after most museums are closed to enjoy art, music and people.

Michael James, American (b. 1949). Smoke Signals, 2001

The Indianapolis Marriott Downtown now offers the experience of sleeping with art in its King Guest Rooms, featuring beds with headboards that are reproductions of an IMA work of art titled Smoke Signals, by American Michael James. The hotel reopened on February 10, after a $9.5 million makeover by Dallas-based interior architectural design firm Vivian Nichols Associates. The firm found inspiration for the redesign at the Indianapolis Museum of Art (many thanks to Ruth Roberts, rights and reproductions coordinator at the IMA) and at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, using checkered carpet that mimics the Speedway’s victory flag. Queen-sized beds feature a companion work of art by the same artist.

I was full of pride for our city when I read the recent list of trendy “Art Hotels” in the March issue of Frommer’s Budget Travel magazine. Though not yet on the list, Indy has joined the ranks of some very forward thinking cities. Each hotel creates a unique and interactive experience by surrounding guests with art and design (We’ll see if I can squeeze one of these into next year’s Marketing travel budget!).

Top on the list are:

 

What a novelty to have an art hotel right here in our city. So book a room, and drink in the modern, creative ambiance. Or visit the IMA. You never know what we’ve dreamed up for you next. Just don’t touch the art.

]]> http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2008/02/17/sleep-with-ima-art/feed/ 5 Michael James, American (b. 1949). Smoke Signals, 2001