One year ago Kimberly and I travelled to an unusual destination- Columbus, Indiana 🇺🇸(not Ohio) that observe the incredible collection of mid- century architecture in this modest sized Midwest city. I am going to repost that travelogue below as many of you were not in the group then and I think you will be truly astounded at this story.

Having said that, this is not a musical repeat. This August, instead of my eyes, my ears are attuned to Indiana.

Mandy, Indiana, that is…

MANDY, INDIANA is a band, not a town…

They hail from Manchester UK 🇬🇧 and Berlin Germany 🇩🇪. The music is electronic noise rock. Most of it is sung in French. [Ed. Note- Makes perfect sense doesn’t it?]

To some of you it will be thrilling listening (as it is for me). Others of you won’t care what language is used for the vocals and may decide that you will never step foot in the state again as a form of symbolic protest! I figure most current residents of the State of Indiana would like to commence legal action over the egregious misappropriation of the name!

Anyway, here is ‘Alien 3’ and the DANIEL AVERY remix for those in the first camp.

SPOTIFY- https://spotify.link/DSnA0ytQtCb

(SONG 598)

SPOTIFY- https://spotify.link/YDeLXzLRtCb

Play Very Loud or Perish

8/22/2023

[Ed. Note- Here is the replay of the Columbus, Indiana post from a year ago-

ENDLESSARCHITECTURE

Columbus, Indiana (that is not a typo) is a city of 40,000 or located about 45 miles south of Indianapolis, Indiana.

In 1919, a local mechanic/chauffeur by the name of Clessie Cummins convinced his banker boss/ banker Mr. William J. Irwin, to start a company to make diesel engines. The headquarters of the global company Cummins Engines is still located in Columbus.

After WWII, Irwin Miller, the great nephew of the original William Irwin concluded that something needed to be done architecturally to address a surge in post- war population. Schools and other public buildings were required. But he didn’t think these should be just any buildings.

He told civic leaders if they would select architects from a list he would provide to build public buildings, the Cummins Foundation would pay those architects fees.

And so bean a now decades old community partnership. Today, this somewhat bucolic little city is home to a mind-numbing collection of Mid- Century Modern architecture so significant it ranks as the 6th most significant architectural city in the USA. There are well over 50 such structures including 19 educational facilities. Fully 7 of these structures are listed on the Register of National Landmarks!

I could go on for hours but…

If you are interested click on this link.

https://columbus.in.us/guide-to-the-architecture/

My wife Kimberly and I are here for two days following our mutual passion for architecture. We were inspired by not only the breathtaking structures but the sense of community that has been nurturd out of this public- private partnership. Here are just 3 we toured yesterday.

First Christian Church

Eliel Saarinen, 1942

Cleo Rogers Public Library

I. M. Pei, 1969

Irwin and Xenia Miller House

Eero Saarinen, 1957

Our two days of utterly inspiring architecture (and art) reminded me of two songs in my collection.

“Endless Art” is by Irish 🇮🇪 outfit A House.

(Song 231)

By rather unfortunate oversight (and a shocking example of unconscious bias) the band also did “More Endless Art” after an understandable hue and cry went out.

(Song 232)

[Ed. Note. I must confess that while I was immediately reminded of this great song during our 1st full day of architecture, that included this piece by sculpture artist Henri Moore out front of the library, I had forgotten he was mentioned in the song!]

This is all underscoring why my little mantra is

PLAY LOUD OR PERISH

Off the see more buildings today!