City Hall to Exhibit Indiana University Themester Project

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 13, 2010

For more information, please contact:

Miah Michaelsen, Assistant Economic Development Director for the Arts, City of Bloomington, 349.3534

City Hall to Exhibit Indiana University Themester Project

BLOOMINGTON, IN - During the month of January, visitors to City Hall will be able to view a collaborative project by artist Joe LaMantia and members of the Bloomington community which was created as a part of Indiana University's 2010 Themester on Sustainability. Filling the lower lobby of the atrium at City Hall, the exhibit entitled "Neighborhood" consists of six reconditioned car hoods displayed on easels made of recycled materials. In the first phase of the project, October 11 through November 18, the hoods were installed in three buildings on the campus of Indiana University, and members of the university and the community were invited to address the topic of sustainability using the hoods as a blank canvas. In the second part of the project, the exhibit is traveling to different venues in the region beginning at City Hall and then traveling to Columbus East High School in February.

LaMantia says of the choice to utilize non-traditional materials as canvas for the project: "I selected very large car hoods not only because they gave more artistic area but also because they called attention to the size of an unsustainable vehicle." The Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington joined the project by creating the informational banner that accompanies the exhibit.

The exhibit will be in the Atrium of City Hall until February 1. The exhibition hours are 8:00am to 5:00pm on Monday through Friday, as well as additional evening and weekend hours when City Hall is open for meetings.

The City of Bloomington is committed to providing opportunities for Bloomington and area artists to exhibit artwork in the City Hall Atrium. For more information on the exhibition program, contact Miah Michaelsen, Assistant Economic Development Director for the Arts, at michaelm@bloomington.in.gov or (812) 349-3534.