Documented artwork / monumental mixed-material sculpture
Cardinalis
Credit as documented: John Van Alstine
Cardinalis uses an uplifted red wing and a sweeping arch to evoke flight at Indianapolis International Airport. Van Alstine's statement treats the airport as a meeting point between earth and sky, with the sculpture's small ground contact recalling the precision of takeoff and landing. The work honors the Wright brothers and the people whose work sustains air travel. The project archive records an April 2008 installation, separately from the artist's explanatory statement dated 2006.
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At a glance
- Year / version
- 2008 (April installation)
- Materials
- granite, steel, titanium
- Documented setting
- outdoor
- Dimensions
- Approximately 40 ft high in project archive; 35 ft in artist biography.
- Dimensions apply to
- Conflicting published heights; no definitive engineering envelope established.
- Availability
- Unconfirmed
Places & versions
Installation history
Historical presentations. A past installation does not establish the current location or suitability for a new site.
2008
Indianapolis International Airport, Indiana
- Site
- New Indianapolis Airport
- Start date
- 2008-04
- Date meaning
- documented
Installation details checked 2026-10-17.
Materials and construction
The project page lists granite, steel and titanium. It gives an approximate height of 40 feet, while the artist's current biography lists 35 feet for the airport commission.
Presentation and site context
The arch joins the wing-like form to the ground, making the relationship between suspension and landing central to the airport presentation.
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Sources
- johnvanalstine.com ↗ · Checked 2026-10-17
- johnvanalstine.com ↗ · Checked 2026-10-17