Stunning 15-Ton Stylized Sculpture of a Cardinal, Representing the Indiana State Bird, Is Installed Downtown Indianapolis.

I'm anxious to get back to Indianapolis for any number of reasons, but the installation of a stunning sculpture at the new Marriott Place, in downtown Indianapolis, is close to the top of my list.

Just a short 10 minute walk from my downtown home, the Marriott Place -- a complex that includes the new high-rise JW Marriott and two smaller hotels -- sits between White River State Park and downtown Indianapolis, across the street from Bush Stadium, and is a beautiful new addition to our city.

The sculpture is featured in the multimillion-dollar plaza which was designed by Claire Bennett Associates (Claire Bennet did the design for the two green spaces outside my home), and was designed by Jeff Laramore of 2nd Globe Studios.

It took six months of cutting, shaping, and welding -- by Linell Signature of Mooresville, Indiana -- to fabricate this stunning sculpture out of 15,000 pounds of steel and 15,000 pounds of aluminum, all of which is covered in 22 gallons of colored paint, 7 gallons of primer, and 12 gallons of clear coat.

Kudos to the brilliant design skills of Jeff Laramore and his wonderful Young and Laramore firm, as well as to friend Paul Knapp, who's been the CEO of Young and Laramore for more years than I can remember.

Thanks, also, to White Lodging Services and REI Real Estate Services for an outstanding job bringing this new hotel complex to our downtown during one of the worst financial environments this nation has ever seen.  Special thanks to Dean White and his son Bruce White, for a job well done -- especially for the $5.4 million donation to promote Indianapolis' tourism and convention business, recently made from the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation Inc.

More information can be found in today's Indianapolis Star, here, on the IBJ website, here, and in this wonderful video by WISH TV, here.

Note: photo of the unveiled sculpture at the Marriott Place (above)courtesy Gary Moore/The Star, below, courtesy Young and Laramore 

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