The 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 is one of the most anticipated events in Indiana for 2016. With more than 300,000 people expected to attend, it is safe to say the Circle City will indeed be dominated by race fans from all over the country and beyond.
Big Car Collaborative and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) recently partnered to present The People’s 500, the chance to give 100 Indiana racing fans an opportunity to share their memories of one of the city’s greatest traditions, all while capturing the moments through photos and video, and even making new memories by driving an IndyCar around the famous 2.5-mile oval track. The art project, done by interdisciplinary artist Jesse Sugarmann, is now on display in the new 12,000-square-foot Tube Factory art space located at 1125 Cruft St.
Shauta Marsh, Big Car co-founder and curator of this exhibition, said the project is all about connecting people and places.
“We’re looking at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway almost as if it’s a monument. Almost anything that could possibly happen to a person happens in that space. Right there, you can witness death, total excitement, people propose there, and I’m sure people have babies there,” explained Marsh. “It’s a sacred space, and because of our attachment and how the rest of the world sees us attached to that space as well, it makes it special. We wanted to showcase the relationship fans have with that space.”
In 2015, Big Car called for fans to submit essays about how they connect to the IMS; within seven days, more than 300 pieces had been submitted. Sugarmann later narrowed them down to 100 diverse residents.
“The Indianapolis Motor Speedway serves as a cultural beacon within Indianapolis, a location of shared history and civic identity for all strata of Indianapolis society. Members of the Indianapolis community feel ownership of the Speedway,” Sugarmann said in a statement. “In this exhibit, the pace car is the vehicle through which this mutual connection is furthered, the civilian/citizen being able to immerse him or herself in the environment of a professional IndyCar driver. The People’s 500 uses pace cars to bridge the viewer and professional driver and create an even stronger sense of civic ownership.”
Fans can visit the exhibit now through July 16, Monday through Friday 9 a.m.–6 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
For more information, visit bigcar.org.
