(Batesville, IN) — We now know where the Batesville Sky structure is headed.
The Elmhurst City Center shopping center in Elmhurst, Illinois has purchased the structure, which is scheduled to be dismantled and moved from its current location in the Village Square parking lot on Tuesday.
Batesville Sky began with the Umbrella Sky Project installation from Agueda, Portugal.
Batesville Area Arts Council (BAAC) 2020-21 President Ethel Rodriguez had seen similar installations in Chihuahua, Mexico, and Coral Gables, Florida, and thought this would bring color to the community.
Planning for the interactive outdoor art installation began before the COVID-19 pandemic and the Umbrella Sky Project was seen as an enhancement to the Batesville Farmers Market.
A number of local organizations hosted events under the Batesville Sky.
“Once people started traveling again and our first installation was up in the summer of 2021, the BAAC took the opportunity to market the Batesville Sky Project in the Cincinnati and Indianapolis markets and beyond to get visitors to come and see it, but also to shop, eat and enjoy our wonderful town. Batesville saw a big boost in tourism because of the exhibit, which was one of only five of its kind in the United States. It was so well received, BAAC extended the installation to include two more Umbrella Sky exhibits and two holiday light displays. Many sponsors, donations, and grants made these displays possible, and BAAC is grateful to the community for their support and enthusiasm for this project,” the BAAC wrote in a statement.
The Batesville Sky has been the subject of an article in The Washington Post and its Facebook page has received over 150,000 visitors.
BAAC’s vision is to offer artistic engagement opportunities for students and community members in a variety of art genres, which include performances, public art, and the nationally recognized Arts In Education program that has brought over $1,000,000 in visiting artists, authors, and illustrators to work with local school children since its inception in 1998.
For those interested in getting involved or donating to BAAC’s mission, please visit baacindiana.org.
Original story published March 31, 2023 —
(Batesville, IN) — The Batesville Sky structure will be removed next week from the corner of the Village Square parking lot at Main and Boehringer streets downtown.
The Batesville Area Arts Council, which used the structure for the Umbrella Sky (pictured), Winter Wonder, and Color Rain displays over the past two years, is asking you not to park near the structure on Tuesday, April 4 so that crews will have plenty of room to tear it down.
Large trucks and lifts will be brought in as part of the process.
BAAC says it plans to announce soon where the structure will be relocated.
