The City of Valparaiso has provided free community art at Cumberland Crossing since 2011. On display until the Spring of 2025, the Art Walk at Cumberland Crossing is the current home of 17 pieces by Indiana artists Greg and Alex Mendez.
Residents of Decatur, Indiana, both artists work in metal to craft their unique sculptures.
Many of the pieces use metal manufactured in Northwest Indiana, and all pieces are crafted entirely by hand. Seven of the pieces were crafted by Greg Mendez while the other 10 were made by Alex Mendez.
Although the brothers use the same medium, their artistic styles are very different.
“Classical sculpture, especially Greek mythology, has always been a big influence on my work,” said Greg Mendez. “I often create figurative sculptures out of steel that are reminiscent of these classical ruins.”
Alex Mendez, on the other hand, derives inspiration from his life and hopes that connection creates an emotional reaction in his audience.
“I used to be under the impression that artists had to have these big, deep meanings in their work,” said Alex Mendez. “Within the last year or two, I realized that that's not necessarily true. If your artwork elicits even the slightest emotion, you've done your job right.”
Connecting close to home and keeping it personal is also evident in the use of metal in their sculptures. Both artists honor the importance of steel and welding throughout Indiana and the Midwest by using it and the skills behind it in their sculptures.
“My Midwest influence is clear in my craftsmanship,” said Alex Mendez.
Hoping to stay true to the art that is welding and steel manufacturing, Alex Mendez finds some of the highest praise comes from metal workers themselves.
“I will never forget a worker who came up and told me, ‘I'm really glad to see your weld because it tells me that you did this yourself—that you didn't pay a welding shop to do it,’” said Alex Mendez. “My intent is to make sure that it's apparent that I'm from Indiana and that I respect the trades that exist here.”
This desire to honor Indiana is essential to both Mendez brothers, and it’s a major reason that supporting public art is so important to them.
“Public art is where the majority of my work is focused,” said Greg Mendez. “Public artwork is accessible for everyone on a day-to-day basis and allows viewers to develop their interpretation of the art.”
In addition to the accessibility of the Valparaiso Art Walk, Alex Mendez noted the effect that public art can have on the community as a whole.
“I am a champion for public grant walks like this one because I'm a product of sculpture programs rather than art school,” said Alex Mendez. “Art walks are great because they grow communities in a way that one wouldn't expect.”
The Art Walk at Cumberland Crossing is possible due to the Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission with additional support from local businesses, private donors, and community groups. The artwork is selected by a volunteer art advisory committee.
To learn more about the art walk and the City of Valparaiso, visit Valparaiso’s public art website.
