Art Project
Art Project
Creative Crosswalks
Cheri Buzzeo: theater, music, The Barn Theatre administration, Willmar Main St participant; Jessica Welu: writing, music, SW Regional Development Commission; Anna Johannsen: fiber artist, art teacher, Remick Gallery board, president of Windom Women's Investment group, treasurer of Cottonwood County Animal Rescue, officer of Cotton Quilters; Georgette Jones: literature teacher, theatre actor/director/teacher; David KelseyBassett: visual artist, musician, Hinterland Art Crawl board; Shawn Kinsinger: theater director, actor, musician, Palace Theatre executive director, Green Earth Players vice president, Luverne Street Music board member, Luverne High School Theater artistic director; Darlene Kotelnicki: theater, city council, library board. Kristen Kuipers: musician, private lesson and K-12 classroom music instructor, theater, writing, volunteer with Jackson Center for the Arts; Cheryl Avenel Navara: education, Worthington Public Arts Commission chair, SW MN Opportunity Council volunteer; Alison Nelson: art, music, and dance teacher, KMS Community Ed director, Kerkhoven Fire Department Auxiliary fundraiser; Anne O'Keefe-Jackson: human resources director, bead and quill work; Betsy Pardick: musician, actor, Dept. of Public Transformation committees; Michele Knife Sterner: theater (actor), SMSU Associate director for Access Opportunity Success program; Louella Voigt: music, fiber art; Blue Mound Area Theatre board; Erica Volkir: performing arts, Pipestone Performing Arts Center board, Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB director; Janine Teske: music, theater, Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley school board; Mark Wilmes: Lake Benton Opera House board president, actor/director, musician, reporter;
Cheri Buzzeo, theater, SMAC Board; John Ginocchio, music, education; Beth Habicht, music; Joyce Meyer, visual art, education; Alison Nelson, music, dance, theater, education, SMAC Board; Ron Porep, arts admin, folk/traditional arts; Sheila Tabaka, theater, education.
ACHF Arts Access
We hope our residents and tourists will be inspired to imagine new and different ways to infuse art, storytelling and community into their own lives and spaces, and feel invited and compelled to join community and City events and gatherings. If the project is successful, we feel the City will be open to increasing its arts programming and supporting more and more local initiatives. We are also hopeful the stories themselves that emerge in the crosswalks will fire imaginations and increase awareness of a diversity of stories. We hope artists are able to expand their practice and ideas, as well as reach new audiences and increase their networks. We aim to encourage local and regional businesses and non-arts organizations to increase their relationships with artists and the arts. We plan to gather both qualitative and quantitative data, from artists and residents alike. Each artist will complete a survey on their experience, and we will offer an ear should they wish to engage in conversation. The participation of residents in shared spaces will be documented at public events, and at the June 3rd unveiling public surveys will be circulated about the project. We will do a follow up, once monthly, thru the summer, with in person surveys at public gatherings, to allow for time for additional thoughts and for the word of mouth to spread.
The transformation of crosswalks into these open call, locally-sourced street murals has opened a floodgate in the community. We have received overwhelming positive feedback, by local community members as well as by tourists, according to local businesses, who have not only seen an increase in foot traffic but have registered new visitors coming solely to view the crosswalks. Several local organizations and neighboring communities have been inspired to generate their own art projects, or shift their methodologies to incorporate public art, citing the Crosswalks project as their impetus. Most recently, the Chamber of Commerce is working on a public street mural project inspired by the Crosswalks.
Other,local or private