The installation comprises a lightweight stainless steel mesh structure that opens up at eye level, creating an intimate enclosure that houses a street library.

The design of Gary's Eye aims to open Arthouse Gary to its surroundings, creating a connection between the activities inside the building and the outside, facilitating meaningful encounters between visitors and passers-by. Its shape playfully challenges the notion of surface, utilizing a surface to expose the building's program to the street instead of enclosing it. The sculptural opening defines a space that promotes conviviality, celebrates community, and serves as a gathering place. The inhabitable sculpture of Gary's Eye warmly welcomes both passers-by and Arthouse Gary visitors, inspiring a sense of togetherness and a feeling of protection.

Outside of Arthouse Gary, the interactive façade invites visitors to take a seat on the wooden bench. The long shared bench, featuring different heights, offers various possibilities for sitting or lying down. This unified form reinforces the sense of community and shared experience, creating a contrast with separated seating areas. Integrated into the bench is a street library, stocked with books sourced from the local neighborhood. Within the opening, visitors can read, share books, or simply enjoy the company of others and the community. Existing lighting will be augmented with additional lights integrated into the wooden ceiling, extending the usability of the artwork into the evening hours, allowing people to read or socialize after dark.

Inside Arthouse Gary, the steel mesh cladding of the façade enhancement dynamically frames the views from the five windows on Delaware Street. The upper part of the façade enclosure also serves as a functional replacement for the five metal awnings, which are temporarily removed during the installation. The distinctive openings in the steel mesh filter incoming light, creating captivating patterns of light and shadow that inspire and surprise.

As a whole, Gary's Vision connects Gary's past, present, and future, imbuing its local context with meaning. It is materially rooted in Gary's history, transmitting a sense of community and identity to both current and future users. Steel has been chosen as the primary material due to its special role and significance in Gary's history. Additionally, steel is highly flexible and sustainable, making it well-suited for contemporary sculptural cladding and providing a forward-looking perspective for Gary's steel heritage. The wood used in the enclosure of the façade further reflects Gary's history. Sourced from local abandoned buildings, it breathes new life into forgotten narratives of Gary's built environment. Through the innovative combination of wood and steel, materials familiar to the people of Gary, the installation pushes the boundaries of local identity and inspires the community to strive for new achievements.

Public engagement is at the heart of Gary's Vision. By hosting a space for book-sharing within the façade, the installation emphasizes the concept of creating room for shared experiences. The street library will consist of books donated by the local community, and a team of local youth will be empowered to embody Gary's vision. This team will utilize the installation to host events that spark meaningful dialogue within the local community and foster an active public life. The production of the steel mesh structure will be carried out in consultation with local steel workers, establishing a connection between them, the façade, and the youth team who embody Gary's vision. The envisioned outcome is that the people of Gary will take ownership of the artwork, actively participating in and shaping its development, transforming it into a dynamic and ever-evolving cultural hub.

Gary’s vision