Jammin' on the Avenue
Encyclopedia
Jammin' on the Avenue is an outdoor sculpture by American artist John Spaulding. It is located on the border of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
(IUPUI) campus, which is near downtown Indianapolis
, Indiana
and is on the corner intersection of Indiana Avenue
, North Street, and Blackford Street. The historic Lockefield Gardens
Apartments flank the sculpture on its back sides, and Madame Walker Theatre Center
is located across the street. This sculpture is documented in the Smithsonian's Save Outdoor Sculpture!
database, which is the inspiration for this project.
s, sousaphone
s, trombone
s, trumpet
s, and tuba
s. The sculpture sits in a fountain basin, which has non-chlorinated running water and illumination for the sculpture. The fountain basin is a large trapezoidal shape and the sculpture is set in its most central point. The basin is made of cement and tile. The dimensions of the sculpture are 9'6" × 4' × 4'. The dimensions of the fountain basin are approximately 26 in. × 35½ ft. × 70 ft.
and musical heritage that was a part of the Indiana Avenue district.
, and reminds all those who pass the of the rich cultural heritage that was and is part of this area of the IUPUI Campus.The sculpture also stands in front of the Historic Lockefield Gardens Apartments. This is significant due to the fact the artist himself was born here. Lockefield Gardens was a low income housing project built in Indianapolis that mainly housed African American families. Today Lockefield Gardens has been renovated and is home to IUPUI students, staff, faculty, and anyone wishing to live in this tapestry of culture.The sculpture can be found at the southern entrance to the complex.
1989 campaign organized by Heritage Preservation: The National Institute of Conservation partnered with the Smithsonian Institution, specifically the Smithsonian American Art Museum
. Throughout the 1990s, over 7,000 volunteers nationwide have cataloged and assessed the condition of over 30,000 publicly accessible statues, monuments, and sculptures installed as outdoor public art across the United States.
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis is an urban campus of Indiana University and Purdue University in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Indiana University is the managing partner...
(IUPUI) campus, which is near downtown Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and is on the corner intersection of Indiana Avenue
Indiana Avenue
Indiana Avenue is a historic area in downtown and is one of six designated cultural districts in Indianapolis, Indiana. Indiana Avenue was, during its glory days, an African American cultural center of the area....
, North Street, and Blackford Street. The historic Lockefield Gardens
Lockefield Gardens
Lockefield Gardens was the first public housing built in Indianapolis. Built during the years of 1935 to 1938, it was built exclusively for low income blacks in Indianapolis. The complex was closed in 1976, and a number of structures were demolished in the early 1980s...
Apartments flank the sculpture on its back sides, and Madame Walker Theatre Center
Madame Walker Theatre Center
The historic Madame C.J. Walker Building, which houses the Madame Walker Theatre Center, has long symbolized the spirit of creativity and community pride in the City of Indianapolis. Named after America’s first self-made female millionaire, Madam C.J. Walker, the site represents the achievements,...
is located across the street. This sculpture is documented in the Smithsonian's Save Outdoor Sculpture!
Save Outdoor Sculpture!
Save Outdoor Sculpture! is a community-based effort to identify, document, and conserve outdoor sculpture in the United States. By fostering awareness and appreciation, SOS! aims to advocate proper care of a nationwide public resource....
database, which is the inspiration for this project.
Description
The sculpture is a collage of brass wind instruments welded together and arranged in a square column. Instruments consist of saxophoneSaxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
s, sousaphone
Sousaphone
The sousaphone is a type of tuba that is widely employed in marching bands. Designed so that it fits around the body of the musician and is supported by the left shoulder, the sousaphone may be readily played while being carried...
s, trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
s, trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
s, and tuba
Tuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
s. The sculpture sits in a fountain basin, which has non-chlorinated running water and illumination for the sculpture. The fountain basin is a large trapezoidal shape and the sculpture is set in its most central point. The basin is made of cement and tile. The dimensions of the sculpture are 9'6" × 4' × 4'. The dimensions of the fountain basin are approximately 26 in. × 35½ ft. × 70 ft.
Information
Jammin' on the Avenue was fabricated in 1989 and was commissioned by the Sexton Companies. The sculpture stands at the Southern entrance of the new section of Lockefield Gardens Apartments. It is a tribute to the rich JazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and musical heritage that was a part of the Indiana Avenue district.
Location history
The location of Jammin' on the Avenue reflects the spirit of this sculpture. It faces out over Indiana Avenue and also Madame Walker Theatre CenterMadame Walker Theatre Center
The historic Madame C.J. Walker Building, which houses the Madame Walker Theatre Center, has long symbolized the spirit of creativity and community pride in the City of Indianapolis. Named after America’s first self-made female millionaire, Madam C.J. Walker, the site represents the achievements,...
, and reminds all those who pass the of the rich cultural heritage that was and is part of this area of the IUPUI Campus.The sculpture also stands in front of the Historic Lockefield Gardens Apartments. This is significant due to the fact the artist himself was born here. Lockefield Gardens was a low income housing project built in Indianapolis that mainly housed African American families. Today Lockefield Gardens has been renovated and is home to IUPUI students, staff, faculty, and anyone wishing to live in this tapestry of culture.The sculpture can be found at the southern entrance to the complex.
Documentation
A Museum Studies course at IUPUI in collections care and management recently undertook the project of researching and reporting on the condition of 40 outdoor sculptures on the university campus. This documentation was influenced by the successful Save Outdoor Sculpture!Save Outdoor Sculpture!
Save Outdoor Sculpture! is a community-based effort to identify, document, and conserve outdoor sculpture in the United States. By fostering awareness and appreciation, SOS! aims to advocate proper care of a nationwide public resource....
1989 campaign organized by Heritage Preservation: The National Institute of Conservation partnered with the Smithsonian Institution, specifically the Smithsonian American Art Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
The Smithsonian American Art Museum is a museum in Washington, D.C. with an extensive collection of American art.Part of the Smithsonian Institution, the museum has a broad variety of American art that covers all regions and art movements found in the United States...
. Throughout the 1990s, over 7,000 volunteers nationwide have cataloged and assessed the condition of over 30,000 publicly accessible statues, monuments, and sculptures installed as outdoor public art across the United States.