The Genesis Convention Center opened in 1981 in downtown Gary, Indiana, as a beacon of hope and ambition. City officials envisioned it as a catalyst for economic rejuvenation and a hub for live entertainment and conventions. Yet, that vision soon dimmed as the center became a financial burden rather than a boon.
Over the years, the 45-year-old building became a drain on city resources. In April, Mayor Eddie Melton announced plans for its demolition. He stated, “I made this decision, let me be clear about that,” taking full responsibility for the choice. The site is intended for future development.
The Fusion Sculpture
Near the Genesis Center stands a striking 40-foot statue known as The Fusion. This artwork is tied to the center’s impending fate but will not face demolition. Commissioned in 2006 to commemorate the city’s centennial, The Fusion could be relocated to optimize the block’s development potential, according to Gary redevelopment director Chris Harris.
Created by Chicago artist Omri Amrany, the sculpture combines steel, bronze, and glass. U.S. Steel donated the 75,000-pound steel ladle that anchors the piece. Amrany’s work symbolizes the cultural unity of Gary’s ethnic groups who worked in the steel mill. It features three 9-foot-tall workers pouring molten steel, masked to represent unity beyond racial lines. Flames of cast glass and granite butterflies surround them, celebrating global cultures.
“They’re standing next to hot steel, so if they weren’t covered, they’d die. But also, because they’re covered, you don’t know if they’re black, white, Hispanic or what,” Amrany remarked in a 2006 interview.
McKenya Dilworth-Smith, director of the Gary Historical Society, suggests public input should guide The Fusion’s potential relocation. She appreciates the artwork’s reflection of the city’s identity and proposes the Gary Land Building or Midtown as plausible new homes.
History of Neglect and Mismanagement
The Fusion has weathered its share of difficulties over the years. In 2007, a granite piece fell, requiring repairs that were completed the following year. Another incident in 2013 left granite fragments unattended for months before further repairs. Throughout these trials, the sculpture stood as a silent sentinel over the Genesis Center’s decline.
The center itself faced significant challenges. Two former directors, Deborah Black and Victoria Wilson, embezzled funds in 2017 and 2018, leading to their guilty pleas on federal charges. Black was ordered to pay $16,000 in restitution, while Wilson agreed to repay $12,000.
Struggling with few bookings, the Genesis Center closed its doors in 2020. Once a venue for concerts by Whitney Houston, Prince, and Donald Trump’s Miss USA pageants, it fell into neglect. It hosted its last major event in 2019, the funeral of Richard G. Hatcher, the former mayor responsible for its construction. In its final years, vandalism plagued the center, prompting the city to install a $9,000 security camera system.