History and Mystery

William T. Wiley

1981 (unveiled 1984)

Site-specific mural

Columbus City Hall Council Chambers

Two arcing canvases form a semicircle across the chamber’s tympanum. On the left, the phrase “YOU MAY BE IN Columbus” overlays sketches of buildings, landscapes, and local figures. On the right, a starry sky frames the Indiana state torch and the enigmatic words “BUT WHERE IS THE MIND &.” A central map of Bartholomew County anchors vignettes from community history.

William T. Wiley

1981 (unveiled 1984)

Site-specific mural

Columbus City Hall Council Chambers

Two arcing canvases form a semicircle across the chamber’s tympanum. On the left, the phrase “YOU MAY BE IN Columbus” overlays sketches of buildings, landscapes, and local figures. On the right, a starry sky frames the Indiana state torch and the enigmatic words “BUT WHERE IS THE MIND &.” A central map of Bartholomew County anchors vignettes from community history.

William T. Wiley (1937–2021), Indiana-born and SFAI-trained, mixed humor, wordplay, and moral inquiry. He taught at UC Davis and influenced artists including Bruce Nauman and Deborah Butterfield.