Lela Simmons Chief Learning Officer | Indianapolis Public Schools Website
Lela Simmons Chief Learning Officer | Indianapolis Public Schools Website
Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) unveiled two sculptures at Crispus Attucks High School and George Washington High School this week as the district prepares to start classes for 2024-25.
Originally created for the recent NBA All-Star Weekend in downtown Indianapolis, these sculptures are part of the “Hoosier Historia” project, featuring 24 super-sized basketballs painted by local artists to honor significant moments, people, and places in Indiana basketball history.
The “Hoosier Historia” initiative, which debuted during the NBA All-Star 2024 festivities, brought together 24 diverse artists from across the state. These artists created 6-foot basketball sculptures, each representing a chapter of Indiana’s storied high school hoops legacy.
On Monday, IPS crews moved the sculptures to their new permanent homes.
The Crispus Attucks High School Museum is now home to a piece created by artist Kevin James Wilson. “Crispus Attucks and a Culture Shift in Indiana Basketball” honors the historic 1955 victory of Oscar Robertson and his Crispus Attucks teammates, the first black team in the nation to win a state basketball championship.
This achievement marked a significant cultural shift, highlighting the growing influence of urban teams, said Robert Chester, the museum’s curator.
“This sculpture is a stark reminder to anyone who walks through the doors that we are legendary champions,” Chester said. “Not just in basketball but in character, dignity, citizenship, respect, and sportsmanship. We showed America how to win with class. This awesome statue epitomizes that legacy.”
The lobby of the George Washington High School Gymnasium is now home to a sculpture created by Mirvia Eckert.
“One of the Very Best Ever: George McGinnis, Steve Downing, and the 1969 Indianapolis Washington Champions” celebrates the 1969 team which produced legendary players who shaped basketball in Indiana for decades.
Stanley Law, principal at George Washington High School explained that these sculptures are more than just art; they symbolize the enduring legacy and impact former IPS high school players have had on basketball both in the state and nationally.
Both institutions plan to hold formal ceremonies dedicating these sculptures during the school year.
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