Patronicity Campaign Launches to Light Up Columbus’ InterOculus
Columbus, Indiana — Landmark Columbus Foundation (LCF) has partnered with Patronicity to launch “The InterOculus Update: Lighting Up the Crossroads of Columbus” campaign. The initiative will raise funds to ensure the 40‑foot‑tall structure InterOculus looks great far into the future. Donations will be used to repaint the structure, to have a complete structural engineer report completed, and to launch the 3rd annual Rock the Block event on September 6—all together allowing the art piece to remain a vibrant civic landmark at the center of the city.
About InterOculus
InterOculus was a J. Irwin and Xenia S. Miller Prize installation in the Exhibit Columbus 2023 Exhibition. PAU (Practice for Architecture and Urbanism) designed the temporary structure in response to the 2022–23 Exhibit Columbus’ theme, Public by Design. Working with the City of Columbus and incorporating feedback from residents, business owners, and students, PAU created a dome that sits at the intersection of Washington and Fourth Streets—literally the crossroads of Columbus—and encourages pedestrians to linger, meet neighbours, and host events.
According to PAU, the canopy’s celebratory form and equitable invitationdraw on influences ranging from Rome’s Pantheon and the Indiana State Fair’s arched gateway to wigwams of the Shawnee and Miami peoples. InterOculuscreates a welcoming destination that revitalizes downtown day and night through suspension and illumination.
InterOculus has become more than an installation; it is a gathering space, a beacon, and a source of community pride. Since its opening, it has hosted dance parties, served as the finish area for races, and become integral to longstanding community events such as Pride Week, Latin Heritage celebrations, the Festival of Lights Holiday Parade, Rock the Block, and hot‑rod shows.
Why an Update is Needed
InterOculus was originally intended to be a temporary installation, but community enthusiasm led to it being reinforced and retained as a long‑term structure. The success of the pavilion also means its lights, fabric canopy, and projection equipment have endured use. The InterOculus Update seeks to raise $50,000, and if that target is reached, LCF will receive a match from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority of $50,000.
Funds will accomplish the following tasks:
Structural assessment and maintenance upgrades;
Repainting & protective coating; and
Support for producing the 3rd Annual Rock the Block Dance Festival on September 6
The outcome of this project will be to re-energize downtown nightlife with a safe, well-lit public space. InterOculus is an iconic gateway, linking many communities' aspirations to the downtown center.
“InterOculus has become a part of our community’s living room—a place where people of all ages and backgrounds come together to dance, celebrate, and simply enjoy being in downtown Columbus,” said Richard McCoy, Executive Director of LCF, the organization that commissioned InterOculusand donated it to the city. “This campaign is about maintaining the sense of wonder and pride that brought this artwork into existence. Every contribution, large or small, helps us keep this beacon glowing and ensures that future generations experience the magic of meeting under this new Columbus icon.”
How to Support
Contributions to the InterOculus Update campaign can be made through the Patronicity crowdfunding platform. For more information and to donate, visit the Patronicity campaign page at this link.
For Press, visit this link to download photography of InterOculus. Credits are: Hadley Fruits for Landmark Columbus Foundation.
Media Contact
Jamie Goldsborough
jamie@landmarkcolumbus.org
About Exhibit Columbus
Exhibit Columbus is a program of Landmark Columbus Foundation and an exploration of community, architecture, art, and design that activates the modern legacy of Columbus, Indiana. It creates a cycle of programming that uses this context to convene conversations around innovative ideas and commissions site-responsive installations in a free, public exhibition. exhibitcolumbus.org
