Airport might not remove artwork for digital billboard

The airport is reviewing whether to remove "Chrysalis," a piece by James Wille Faust (right). Jan Martin (left) was the engineer who built the metal components for the artwork. / Michelle Pemberton / The Star

Indianapolis International Airport officials are reconsidering their plan to remove a prominent, three-story sculptural painting inside the terminal and replace it with a digital screen full of advertisements and scrolling art.

The move follows an outcry from the arts community -- and a nudge from Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard -- after the proposed removal of the piece, "Chrysalis," was reported earlier this month.

Last week, a representative for artist James Wille Faust, officials from the airport and the Indianapolis Museum of Art, and other concerned parties met, many arguing that the metal sculpture should remain.

"We are looking into that . . . to see if it's feasible to have the video wall placed somewhere else," airport spokesman Carlo Bertolini said Tuesday.

It probably didn't hurt that Ballard, who has been an advocate of public art in the city, expressed his own disappointment.

"Our office expressed the mayor's support that visitors to Indianapolis be greeted with a high-profile, appropriate public art," said city spokesman Marc Lotter. "We were obviously working with the airport, the IMA to basically maintain the mayor's strong commitment to public art and have that be a welcoming feature at the airport."

The Indianapolis Museum of Art recently signed on as the airport's art consultant.

The proposed removal of "Chrysalis" was especially disconcerting to those in the arts community. They said it didn't jell with the special attention airport officials gave to public art when the terminal opened in 2008. At that time, officials said the terminal would serve as a "visual gateway" to Indianapolis culture. Read more here and here