Since 1721, newspapers in the United States have shared reports of sightings and interactions with beings we call Bigfoot. In Indiana, these sightings have been reported from as close to Indianapolis as the Morgan Monroe State Forest and continue to occur today. The Hairy Man, a historical cryptozoology exhibit curated by author and Sasquatch expert Christopher Murphy, will open Feb. 3 from 6-10 p.m., at Tube Factory artspace, (1125 Cruft St). The exhibit will run through April 15 and admission is free.

The Hairy Man, features artifacts, stories and evidence of Bigfoot’s existence with a focus on the creature as a part of cultural conversations through the centuries. This includes an emphasis on the indigenous people of North America. Murphy, who is regarded as one of the top researchers of the history of Bigfoot, originally assembled this collection that contains a 400-pound, 9-foot-tall iron human skeleton, model of a Bigfoot skull, footprint casts, and more. The Museum of Vancouver, British Columbia, exhibited much of this collection in 2004 and 2005. And it has since traveled all over the west coast.

The Hairy Man explores the facets of what Murphy describes as “a cultural phenomenon on the fringes of science.” Some people believe Sasquatch to be mythical, while others see this as an elusive hominid relative of humans and other higher primates. Either way, people have a lengthy history of creating and sharing Sasquatch lore. The exhibit addresses ancient legends from North America and Asia (where it is known as Yeti or the abominable snowman) as well as recent evidence and sightings.

Big Car is excited to be part of bringing this exploration and related conversations to Indianapolis. “Tube Factory is about people and place,” said Big Car CEO Jim Walker. “And the human activity of exploring and examining the mysteries of life are a vital part of our culture — in the past and today.”

Made possible by the Efroymson Family Fund