Let’s establish we already have an Art Walk with seven murals on Central Ave. There are nineteen public art pieces throughout the Arts District, featured on the Arts District website. Pick up a physical brochure at one of the 17 art buildings throughout the Arts District. However, the need for a more obvious entry into and out of the Arts District has been a goal for over two decades. Something that says you have arrived where artists are. Hence, the concept of a more established and omnipresent art walk that encourages art lovers to explore the Arts District’s diverse art scene.
The mayor Jacob Frey, Seth Stattmiller and Gustavo Lira talking about the Art Walk on the 28th of August
On Thursday, August 21st, and 28th Seth Stattmiller and Josh Blanc, members of the Arts District Central Avenue Art Walk committee, hosted the first two of three explorations to identify locations for Art Pads. Joel Sisson, Mary Barghout, and Jill Zimmerman joined the first group to help identify and discuss the possibilities and the challenges. The second group included Ingrid Restemayer, Declan Buhrsmith, Herman Milligan, Margo Ashmore, Layl McDill, Leslie Goddin, and Gustavo Lira attend the second walk. And we ran into the Mayor Jacob Frey as he was going to get a tamale at Maya Cuisine. We got to lobby him for the art walk, which of course he was in support of.
The most significant component is that MNDoT is redoing Central Avenue in 2028. The planning is going on currently. They are approaching 30% of the project’s design. MNDoT told Seth “that this is the time to get ideas and requests into the planning process.” MNDot states that within the next six months, they will complete the new idea phase.
There are two competing issues we are working through. First waiting until 2028 to have art installed on Central Avenue is a considerable delay. Building upon the current art walk before construction begins will help us learn how to develop the process. Josh Blanc said “The main point is that if MNDot builds an “Art Pad,” there would be dedicated art locations for the next 50 years.” Secondly, the Art Walk Committee aims to identify and develop relationships with private land or business owners on Central Avenue who are open to hosting and sponsoring sculptures on their sites. The Arts Districts strives to secure buy-in from business owners on Central Avenue and the broader public for this project.
Currently, Central Ave has eight feet for the sidewalk and seven feet for the boulevard, totalling fifteen feet on both sides of the street. The boulevard will have trees, electrical boxes, bus stops, and signs. Seth says, “A primary objective is to create an additional four feet of space for art and culture opportunities.” He also notes that the extra four feet bring several other benefits, including outdoor seating for restaurants and the ability to host pop-up events. Spaces available for tents at various community-oriented gatherings, including Open Streets, the NE parade, farmers’ markets, and art events. https://recovery.bike/artwalk/designs.html
Outside of the Art Walk itself, nine additional private property locations have been identified as potential art locations along Central so far. At Central and Lowry, Seth has talked about how these four corners could be the gateway into the Arts District. As we walked south down Central, there was an empty lot on 24th and Central. This space could be an excellent spot for a temporary site for sculptures. US Bank and Wells Fargo both have locations that the committee would recommend for Art Pads. There is an alley across the street from Wells Fargo that could be a chalk art gallery. At the Central Ave Library, there is space in front of their building, which, if interested, could make for an excellent location for art. At the New Boston building complex, there is a lot of open space in front of the building that is begging for some art to grace the entry. Seth also wants to see two massive gateways to the Arts District at Central & Lowry and Central & Broadway, something on the scale of Chicago’s bean (technically the Cloud Gate).
Join us for the next Central Avenue Art Walk! We will be meeting on Thursday September 4th at 5:30 at Recovery Bike Shop to continue identifying and brainstorming ideas for reimagining Central Ave’s future. We invite you to be a part of this process.
Written by Josh Blanc
Past articles on this subject