The resulting lighting installation, which crowns the building, comprises a 257-foot-long stretch of wire scaffolding hung with 2,000 solar-powered lights made from acrylic tubing. To create a daytime effect, Ripple lined the lanterns with dichroic film, which changes colors depending on the viewing angle. Protruding above the roof, the artwork acts as a modern “false front” and creates a beacon for the neighborhood.

Working with the designers, the ArtHouse team made the transformation a community project. As work progressed, they held workshops for foster youth that focused on public artwork, and they invited community members to furniture-making classes, enlisting them to build outdoor benches. Since ArtHouse’s opening last November, hundreds of people have attended its weekly events and 20 individuals are enrolled in the culinary business program. “As with a lot of other Rust Belt cities, the narrative in Gary has been about the decay of the city—but we’re showing that there’s a really rich network of ambitious entrepreneurs here,” says Michele Larimer, ArtHouse’s project manager. L.L.

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