Fountain Square’s artistic alleys

Earlier this year, real estate agent and Fountain Square resident Phil Barcio began the Fountain Square Mural Project, an effort to transform the neighborhood’s alleys to help prevent crime and graffiti. So far, local artists have painted 20 murals on privacy fences, retaining walls and garages. “It’s an attempt to clean up the alleys and make them a destination,” Barcio said. Many of the murals have required approval from the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission (eight are scheduled for a hearing next week). Thirty more should appear in the Spring. This painting shown here, by William Denton Ray, is at 1048 Virginia Avenue. You can check out more examples here. What do you think?