By Kathleen Angelone 

Dawn Bakken’s “On This Day in Indianapolis History delights from the collage of pictures on the front cover to the last page.  

The introduction gives a brief overview of Indianapolis history.  Then comes the substance of the book. Each day of the year is featured in bold print. The years, however, vary immensely. After each listed date there is a paragraph full of history related to that date.  

The first entry is Jan. 1, 1970, the day Unigov took effect. The next is Jan. 2, 1910, when a newspaper headline highlighted an interurban accident. Bakken uses the headline as a segue way to discuss the story of interurbans in Indianapolis. 

Many of the entries start by referencing a headline or advertisement from a central Indiana newspaper. Even the names of all the papers are interesting. After the headline, Bakken writes a couple of hundred words that gives the historical background of the subject.  

I looked up my birthday and learned that on Dec. 21, 1928, Hinkle Fieldhouse was dedicated. Then there is a short history of the fieldhouse, including high school basketball tourney games played there.   

By reading another date I learned that Indianapolis’ first mayor sought gold in the California Gold Rush after completing his term of service. Bakken doesn’t say whether he found gold.  

Another entry tells about the Soldiers and Sailors Monument.  
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Everyone will learn new and interesting facts about our city by reading this exceptionally readable book. Meet Bakken and discuss Indianapolis history with her at Bookmamas, 9 Johnson Ave., at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6.

While leveraging sports to raise Indianapolis’ profile, city leaders since the 1960s also have employed the arts in their revitalization efforts. 

On Feb. 5, the past, present and future of public art in American cities will be the focus of discussion through the Building Vibrant Cities Through Art at the University of Indianapolis.

Featuring local and national arts leaders, the event will run from 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., opening with lunch at Schwitzer Student Center, 1400 E. Hanna Ave., and closing with a reception at the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center. Admission is free, but seating is limited. Attendees must register at uindyfairbankssymposium2016.eventbrite.com. Info: 788-2196.

Participants will include Jim Walker, executive director of Big Car Collaborative; Mark Ruschman, chief fine arts curator of Indiana State Museum & Historic Sites; and Joanna Taft, executive director of the Harrison Center for the Arts. 

In conjunction with the event, the exhibit “Public Art in Indy: Roland Hobart and a New Era in the City” will be displayed through Feb. 12. Spotlighted in the show is the work of Hobart, designer of one of the city’s first substantial public art projects: a towering outdoor mural along Delaware Street commissioned for the Indianapolis Urban Walls Project in 1973.