CARMEL -
Opinions are mixed on more than a dozen statues that are coming to life in Carmel.
They live in a world frozen in time, their world is speechless.
"I talk to people that bump into them and say 'Excuse me'," said one woman.
They do not make music and their efforts are motionless, stopped in their tracks.
"Probably mine is the police officer. That one is creepy. I have actually stopped and thought it was a police officer," said Grant Goodman of Carmel.
The current population is 14 statues. Two more residents recently moved into the neighborhood, a lady and her dog.
"We will add a little bit of flair, a little modern style, but it is very cute. We love the dog," said Rebecca Hanson.
There is also a man sitting on a bench, reading a book.
"Personally, I think they are a little creepy," said Goodman. "I guess it adds a little life."
The last two to move in complete the neighborhood.
"There are two women that come around and keep those clean and painted. They get a lot of touching and there has been some damage on them," said Jerry Points of Eye on Art.
The statues started showing up in the Carmel Art and Design District a couple years ago. The Roth family of Carmel had just finished dinner when Eyewitness News caught up with them. Part of the taxes collected on their bill from dinner pay for the statues and their upkeep.
"I'm wondering how much money we are all spending on them. They are nice and really pretty, but I don't see why we need them personally," said Alison Roth.
The cost of each statue is close to $80,000.
"I would like them a lot more if they were made by Indiana artists," said Barb Roth.
"I mean, if they are from Indiana, then I'm cool with it, but I think we should be supporting the artist here," Alison Roth said.
The neighborhood is complete, capped off at 14. All silent, but creating quite a buzz in town.
"It makes people stop and notice it, too. It attracts attention," a man said.
It is not the first time the city has used tax money for statues. It spent money to put a statue in the middle of the roundabout at 136th Street and Rangeline Road.
Some have raised concerns over the city spending so much money for cosmetic reasons and that the sculptures could be a distraction to drivers.
