The incorporation of public art
in the redevelopment of the Midtown Greenway Corridor has
been a top priority of the Midtown Community Works Partnership
since its inception. Consistent with the overall design
and development of the Corridor, public art will bring
forth the history of the Greenway and emphasize the individual
characteristics of the neighborhoods while allowing them
to be uniquely tied together.
A Plan with Purpose
As a critical component of
the Greenway’s development design, the integration of
pubic art required a formalized plan and implementation strategy.
The MCW Partnership received a $100,000 grant from the Bush
Foundation and hired the Freeman Whitehurst Group, a Phoenix-based
consulting team specializing in the planning, policy and management
of public art and local arts agencies, to develop a public
art master plan. “This project has a national audience,” stated
Gretchen Freeman. “The opportunity that exists in the
linear and bridged nature of the Midtown Greenway exists in
no other American city that we’re aware of.”
The Public Art Master Plan is an encompassing framework model
that provides detailed thought and recommendations for every
area of focus along the Greenway. It captures the essence,
and embraces the history, of the Corridor while integrating
the distinct needs of the various investors, local officials
and community members involved in its planning. “The partnership
between the public and private stakeholders in this project
was vital,” Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin
acknowledged. “Each person at the table on this was instrumental
in its success.”
One of the most unique opportunities and intensive recommendations
of the Public Art Master Plan is the redesign of the 40 bridges
that cross the Greenway and connect its neighborhoods. The
proposal, spanning 30 years, states that the bridges represent
the literal and figurative “bridging” of the communities
and neighborhoods of the Corridor and is the single-most significant
public art and design opportunity within the Greenway. “The
bridge design plan is the perfect example of combining pure
function with aesthetic beauty,” said Nate Garvis. “This
is an incredible opportunity with uniquely definable and identifiable
purpose.”
Building on History, Planning for the Future
The plan stresses the importance
of preserving rare urban amenities, and highlights the significance
of public art in urban design and development. “The Public
Art Master Plan sets an important precedent for public art
policy,” said Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton. “It will
serve as an educational tool as well as a guide of implementation
for public art well into the future.”
Bestowing a voice upon both the Greenway and its residents,
the Public Art Master Plan provides the communities and neighborhoods
of the Greenway with the opportunity to create visual representation
of their rich diversity and history. “The Office of Cultural
Affairs intends to use this plan as a ‘primer’ for
all other projects within the city,” stated Noel James,
Director. “That’s how good we think it is.” |
This photograph from the Public
Art Master Plan of a family at the Powderhorn Farmer’s
Market is one of many used to illustrate the Greenway's
history and reflect the many cultures of people that live
there. Photo by Tim Francisco
|
