Care/Don’t Care

Question: is this really art? Yes, because art makes you think & feel. This installation is a litmus test for your attitude. It says, «Wake up people! Do you, or do you not care? & about what?» It’s like a mini therapy session right on Mass Ave. But not only can you push the button to change the message; you might, instead, flip your mood to match it. I’ve never looked at it without applying it differently to the day’s circumstances or my train of thought at that moment. That’s what it’s doing! It’s bringing you into the moment, your moment; & asking you to stop, think, & take a stand about something important to you. Or, decide it’s NOT important & move on. Maybe most people don’t notice it along the Avenue, but it still draws my attention & asks me…?

Kudos to the person who started this review page!
I have to admit that when I lived on Mass Ave, I always got a big kick out of hitting the button until it read «care». It’s the quirky public art pieces like Care/Don’t Care that make Mass Ave an extra-​special place to live, work and play. Everyone can use an extra dose of quirk in their day to day scenery. I look forward to seeing more art pieces that really push the envelope. BIG! CRAZY! Have at it, Indy.

I’ve been trying to think of other verbs we could do this with around town.
Bike/Don’t Bike (bike hub)
Bus/Don’t Bus (IndyGo new headquarters)
Eat/Don’t Eat (City market)
Love/Don’t Love (IMA)
I think it’s not well enough known to even the citizens of Indy. It’s a bit too far removed from the main drag of Mass Ave to draw you in, but it’s something else once you find it. I often wonder who tripped the switch before I did and whether they were feeling un-​care-​ful.

This piece is located at least 20 yards from the intersection of Mass/​St. Clair/​College. But for some reason, the sign was disconnected for a longish period of time. It made me wonder, were people so stupid that they were pushing the button on this art piece and waiting until «don’t care» before they crossed the street. Was some moron that couldn’t appreciate good art or good safety signals mowed down in the street after he pushed the button and crossed? The entire situation just makes me sad.
I know it’s probably not the artist’s fault (heck, maybe the scenario isn’t even real and they had some other perfectly reasonable reason turning it off for a while that didn’t involve vehicular manslaughter). But I still just do not like it. Don’t like my opinion on this? DON’T CARE!

don’t care

Imagine if the button on this terrific art piece was on every person’s forehead… every time we encountered someone who «Don’t Care,» you could smack the button and say to yourself, «No Whammies!» and yawp outwardly, «Care!» Then, magically… they begin to care about everything, especially Indianapolis. A ferocious idea? Yes.
I walk by this nearly every time I go anywhere… it’s located on The Cultural Trail outside of the Art Bank, just North of St. Clair Street. The button is short enough where elves or kids are able to show whether they care or not.
It’s not a crime to hit that button when you «Don’t Care.» In fact, it’s a good catharsis.