Reclusive artist Robert Indiana doesn’t show at HOPE Day
LOVE Park in Philadelphia’s JFK Plaza features a Robert Indiana sculpture. Image by Smallbones, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
The event was called International HOPE Day and took place in cities across the world. Indiana was expected to make a public appearance outside his home and studio on Vinalhaven Island, where dozens of fans had hoped to get his autograph on commemorative prints that they purchased from event organizers outside his home.
Kathleen Rogers, Indiana’s publicist, said he is in poor health and isn’t used to being around large groups of people.
“We’d envisioned a much smaller event” when Indiana initially agreed to appear, she said. “I think he was just overwhelmed with all the people.”
The artist is best known for his “LOVE” sculpture, in which the L and a leaning O sit atop the V and the E. His “HOPE” piece was done in the same arrangement.
Indiana is known for being reclusive. He once stood up President Barack Obama at the White House. Another time he made a crew from NBC’s Today show wait three days on the island before he would let them interview him.
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ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE
LOVE Park in Philadelphia’s JFK Plaza features a Robert Indiana sculpture. Image by Smallbones, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
