Jasper Johns in Indy: On a Telephone Pole Opposite North Central High School

I found these roman numerals reminiscent of the artwork 

of Jasper Johns. Various incarnations of the numerals 

encompass a large volume of his work, from paintings 

and drawings, to lithographs and etchings.

Although not strictly a "pop artist," his work often employs 

imagery from popular culture, so he is very often included

among the artists from that movement. Johns conceived

of his most famous painting, Flag, after having 

a dream about the American flag. As a student, I became 

enamored of his drawings of numbers and spent 

a great deal of time poring over images

in art history books.

Flag, encaustic, oil and collage on fabric mounted
on plywood, 1954- 1955

Jasper Johns enjoys taking familiar objects, such as the flag

and numbers, and using them to explore how viewers' perceptions 

of them changed as his use of various media converted

them into objects of great beauty and finesse. 

Ten Numbers (Detail), 1960- 1971. Lithograph

Jasper Johns in Speedway

So far, I've been unable to find the Roman numerals 

I thought were so evocative of Jasper Johns' work. These numbers 

were spray painted onto a section of concrete traffic barrier placed

along Crawfordsville Road during construction work.

I'm certain they mean something to the workmen responsible

for grading, laying the foundation, and paving the road bed, but they

mean nothing to me, except as color and pattern in an odd place.