"Art in the Alley Pt II"
Diving deeper into the rejuvenation of Downtown Duluth alleyways.
Why was this alley chosen?
Art in the Alley Pt. I made such a big impact on the vibe in Downtown Duluth that a plan was set into motion to help revive more of the alley way. Several businesses were involved with planning ways to invigorate the spaces that were left unused and abused. The most obvious place to begin was the next alley over, and so Life House stepped into the field and became a major player.
Who did you need for this mural?
DSAI brought in two lead artists, Ann Lewis and MANA Bear Bolton, to take on the huge wall.
Ann Lewis is a multidisciplinary activist artist who uses painting, installation, social practice, and participatory performance in public spaces to explore societal-scale harm prevention through feminist pedagogy, community, and myth.
Dividing the work, Life House, DSAI, Ann and MANA came up with a plan on how to connect with the people walking by this space every day, and leaving a message with those who only get to see it when visiting.
The visions"You Already Know" and "We're Bridging the Gap" were brought to life.
What does public art mean to you
Having my art displayed in public settings connects me to my community and sets a piece of living history into play. The communities I speak for: BIPOC; women; LGBTQIA; the underrepresented; and the oppressed; see themselves in my work and feel the connection to something bigger than themselves.
We are a community of people who are colorful, bold and alive and sharing my story with those who have an inspired take away drives this dream.
