Collaborative project puts local artists' work on city buses

Late Friday morning, Bloomington Transit bus number 553 rolled by the Indiana Memorial Union. Upon first glance, it looked like any other bus. However, the bus the riders boarded was much more than a means of transportation; it was a study in public art, with a reproduction of Ron Firebaugh's "Little Five" acrylic painting adorning its side.\nBus 553 is part of "Stories in Motion," a collaborative project between public art nonprofit Your Art Here and Bloomington Transit. This effort is geared toward recognizing the contributions of local artists and fostering community togetherness, according to a press release from Your Art Here. \n"I think it is doing a lot of good in the community," said Lew May, general manager of Bloomington Transit. \nYour Art Here has traditionally promoted the display of public art through usage of billboard space, according to www.yourarthere.org. In the past, the foundation has also had gallery showings and fundraisers in both Bloomington and Indianapolis. The organization saw buses as a prime target to expand its initiative. \nBuses are a critical method of transportation in Bloomington, as well as a community symbol, said Julie Hardesty, codirector of Your Art Here. In addition, they are the means by which many people are first introduced to the town. The buses are a good way to be seen, she added.\nEarlier this year, Your Art Here asked members of the Bloomington Community to submit artwork expressing "the spirit of Bloomington" to be considered for the project. The call was fairly well answered, with entrants ranging from three years old to adults. \n"The submissions were pretty widespread," Hardesty said. "The community was so open ... so willing to share." \nA jury comprised of staff members of both Your Art Here and Bloomington Transit selected nine pieces to fill ad space on both the insides and outsides of Bloomington Transit buses. Currently, commuters can find artwork on the exterior of two buses and the interior of an additional eight. With the support of the Bloomington Community Arts Council, Your Art Here was able to purchase ad space from Bloomington Transit, which, in turn, also donated additional space to the organization. \nHardesty speculates that Your Art Here and Bloomington Transit will sponsor similar projects in the future, as it has met with a positive response. \n"Why not show something not trying to sell something?" she said. \n"Stories in Motion" will continue on city bus routes 1 through 5 and campus bus routes 6 and C through the end of October.