To the studio artist, he’s an evasive, mysterious and romantic character.

To the college anthropology professor, he’s a hairy humanoid.

To at least one creative member of the spontaneous public — who picked up a pen and a piece of paper at September’s Oranje event — he is actually a she.

Few semi-supernatural subjects can capture the imagination like Bigfoot. And this possibly female, hairy humanoid has set its bipedal tracks toward Indy.

In the past month, Big Car Gallery in Fountain Square has invited the public attending several art events — Penrod, Oranje, First Fridays — to draw their interpretation of the legend. The 300-plus images, done in pen or pencil on 81/2-by-11-inch paper, will go on display tonight at the Murphy Art Center. Works by professional artists will also be shown.

A week later, on Oct. 9, iMOCA’s “Phenomenon Bigfoot and UFO” exhibit will go on display.

Both galleries have been working with the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library to organize a series called “Big Curiosities: A Miniseries of Mysterious Events.” The library hosted a Sept. 30 appearance by renowned sasquatchologist Jeffrey Meldrum, an anatomy and anthropology professor at Idaho State University.

Why the city’s sudden obsession with Bigfoot?

“Maybe there’s something special about this wild man who lives out in the forest that appeals to us on a certain level,” said iMOCA executive director Jeremy Efroymson. “Maybe artists have a better time about not being sure about something, about the whole nature of something being undefined.”

Local artist Casey Roberts says fantasy is part of the appeal. “I probably don’t believe in Bigfoot, but I like the idea of a wild creature,” he said. “There’s something about it being human, only hairier — we can relate to it, I guess.”

Roberts spent more than $300 on 50 or so greasy thrift-store wigs, which he hot-glued to a royal-blue jumpsuit. As part of his contribution to the iMOCA exhibit, he’ll show a video of himself dancing in the hairy suit in the woods.

He also created “Bigfoot,” a work incorporating cyanotype, a photographic printing process that uses chemicals and sunlight to change the canvas to blue. He put the pre-suit wigs in the shape of Bigfoot on the canvas, painted watercolor trees around it and collaged on a face.

“My whole idea of the show is natural versus supernatural, but really, what’s the difference?”