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[V. Eickmeier ] Public sculpture has so many opportunities for people to contemplate, to think, I mean, it really, it does challenge sometimes, just your normal, daily thought processes. Instead of looking down at the concrete as you\'re walking across campus, you really can start having other kinds of thoughts and responses to your environment.

[M. Anderson] While students are rushing from one class to another, the hope is that we can slow that down a little bit and give some context and a place for reflection that takes you out of the moment and to see something beyond yourself. And I hope that changes the atmosphere for everyone on campus: staff, faculty and visitors alike.

[V. Eickmeier] The sculptures that are on loan from the IMA are hugely important to our campus and the reason that I\'m such an advocate for art on our campus is that it really represents a possibility for engagement with students, to develop dialogue, and to increase communication. Also, the diversity of aesthetics, and I think that\'s very important too. Sometimes I think it\'s controversial and I think that\'s a good thing and I think it provides a lot of opportunities for students to learn about cultural amentities that they may not get in their other curriculum. So it really does help develop critical thinking and analytical skills.

[M. Anderson] I would say Indianapolis is a bit behind in looking at public art as part of our identity, as part of our potential, and I\'m hopeful that in the coming months and years we can be much more assertive as an arts community in making a case for the arts as part of civic life, and that\'s something we have a lot of work to do to accomplish.

[V. Eickmeier] It also becomes a congregation point too, I think students do gravitate to interesting focal points, and I think sculpture probably has that ability, as well as sort of raise intrigue about what is it, what does it mean, so I think it is an entry point, and hopefully, they\'ll make their way inside of the school, and Eskenazi Hall provides several galleries where they can have other experiences with art.

Herron has started a program that I think is very unique, and benefits our students, their educational experience, it\'s unique nationally, and it really benefits the community, and that is our public art program, through our sculpture program, and the students have been so successful in the kinds of public commissions that they\'ve done; we\'ve worked with Eli Lilly and Co., Community North Hospital, we\'re working with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful right now. The concept behind this is that the students are competing for sculptures.

[M. Anderson] In every great American city, the leading art schools are key incubators of talent. They both nurture and provide creative opportunities for people, but they also keep a lifeline, I think, for people in the city to see that creativity is at the core of education, of an engaged public, and as we see Herron students graduate and make their way in the world, they are wonderful ambassadors for Indianapolis. So we\'re very excited to have an historic relationship between the IMA and Herron rekindled in this way, and we very much hope to be good partners in the future.