Autumn Prairie Morning

Autumn Prairie Morning is a stunning homage to the magnificence, bounty and order found in Midwestern landscapes. Gay incorporated a soaring eagle into the design upon learning that eagles often nested north of Indy, and ensured that flora and fauna shown in the piece, including goldenrod and purple coneflowers, were native to Indiana's landscape. Travelers who spend even a few moments gazing at the colorful mural–which depicts towering plants and prairie grasses, oversized flowers and huge birds and other living creatures–at close range feel as if they've fallen down a rabbit hole, an impression that Gay deliberately incorporates into her work.

• Artist: Dixie Friend Gay, Houston, Texas
• Installation: 2008
• Materials: Glass tile; 32 feet by 17 feet
• Location: Concourse A security area

The tiles–all 50,000 of them–capture and reflect light from different angles, giving them a jewel-like quality. They were made by artisans at Mosaicos Venecianos de Mexico, or MVM, a specialty in Cuernavaca, Mexico. The owner personally created and donated the intricate goldfinch tiles as a gift to both Gay and the people of Indianapolis.