ArtHouse, Indiana

Introduction

ArtHouse is a culinary incubator in the City of Gary, Indiana that offers culinary training, kitchen rental and business development workshops.  Nadi Group was selected as one of three design teams tasked with creating a light-based sculptural public art installation.

Project Summary

Gary’s downtown, like so many other cities, is suffering. The abandoned businesses and vacant lots could be described as empty, but we wanted to flip the negative connections surrounding the word ‘empty’ and classify the downtown lots instead as ‘open’ for opportunity. Our design centered around the humble ‘open’ sign found at every small business. We proposed a large-scale light installation composed of many simple open signs, each symbolizing a potential new business to get their start at ArtHouse.

Our Role

Nadi Group’s design proposal titled ‘Open Not Empty’ was presented to a panel of community members including the Gary Economic Corporation and representatives from the Mayor’s office.