ProjecT Overview
ARCY was invited by Indiana Dunes Tourism and the National Park Service to create a permanent, site-specific mural installation on the grounds of the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center in Porter, Indiana.
Originally debuting in 2016 with a live mural art walk at the Visitor Center, ARCY was later asked to return in 2024 to reimagine and rebuild the project as part of a broader, long-term initiative: the Indiana Dunes Indigenous Cultural Trail. The updated installation expanded the original concept into a cohesive educational experience rooted in Indigenous history, environmental stewardship, and regional ecology.
The result is a permanent outdoor art walk that allows visitors to engage with the land, its wildlife, and its cultural significance through large-scale, hand-painted works.
Indiana Dunes Indigenous Cultural Trail
Permanent Public Art Installation
Location & Audience Experience
The murals are installed throughout the grounds of the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, forming a walkable loop that encourages visitors to explore the space in its entirety. Each piece functions as both a visual landmark and an interpretive element within the broader trail system.
The Visitor Center serves as a gateway for travelers entering Indiana Dunes National Park, welcoming thousands of visitors annually. Because the installation is permanent, the artwork is experienced year-round by tourists, educators, families, and local community members, extending the project’s reach well beyond the original live painting period.
The placement transforms the Visitor Center itself into a destination, encouraging longer stays, repeat visits, and deeper engagement with the surrounding environment.
Artistic Approach & Cultural Context
The mural series features native wildlife and plant life significant to the Indiana Dunes region, including species such as Sandhill Cranes, Monarch Butterflies, Rainbow Trout, River Otters, Owls, Deer, and Bison.
Subjects were selected collaboratively to reflect both ecological importance and cultural relevance to the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi. Each piece was created using 100% spray paint, combining photorealistic rendering with ARCY’s signature paint-splashed style.
Hidden visual details are embedded throughout the work to encourage close viewing and discovery, making the installation engaging for visitors of all ages while reinforcing educational storytelling through art.
Community Collaboration & Impact
This project represents a multi-layered collaboration between Indiana Dunes Tourism, the National Park Service, and Indigenous partners, built on trust, consultation, and shared storytelling goals.
Beyond its visual presence, the Indigenous Cultural Trail serves as a platform for education around Indigenous history, native ecosystems, sustainability, and the cultural significance of the land. The installation has been featured by regional and national media outlets, including the Chicago Tribune and The Times of Northwest Indiana, and continues to be promoted as a cultural attraction within the park system.
By merging public art, environmental education, and cultural recognition, the project demonstrates how large-scale murals can function as lasting civic infrastructure rather than temporary visual moments.
Why This Project Matters
The Indiana Dunes Indigenous Cultural Trail stands as a milestone in ARCY’s career, marking both his first permanent public art installation and a full-circle return years later to help evolve the project into a nationally recognized cultural initiative.
It reflects the power of long-term partnerships, community-driven storytelling, and art’s ability to create meaningful connections between people and place.
