2021 PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Getting artists back to work was a top priority in our 2021 programs and projects. The COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing systemic racism disproportionately impacts artists, whose voices and perspectives deserve amplification. With an emphasis on BIPOC artists, we focused on creating, curating and facilitating opportunities for artists to get back to work in major projects, including bridge designs, mural festivals, state fairs, light rail stops, new housing developments, and more, reaching thousands of people.
CITY OF BLOOMINGTON SOUTH LOOP MURAL
We partnered with the City of Bloomington to design and manage a process to hire a community curator and designer to develop an expansive 9000-square-foot mural by and for the local community. Ua Si Creative has designed the WE mural for the South Loop neighborhood. Ua Si brought additional BIPOC artists and art groups into the mural process, expanding who is included in the curatorial role in public art. This follows a commitment by Forecast to build capacity in the communities with which we work. Artists: Andrés Guzmán and Xee Reiter, City Mischief featuring Thomasina Topbear and Tom Jay, Marlena Myles, Martzia Thometz, Reggie LeFlore, and Ua Si Creative.
ARTISTS HIRED
8
WASHINGTON D.C. 11TH STREET BRIDGE PARK
Forecast was selected through a national competition to join internationally recognized firms OMA and OLIN along with engineers at Whitman, Requardt & Associates on the celebrated 11th Street Bridge Park, a project of Building Bridges Across the River, in Washington D.C. This project is repairing the deep, persistent racial and economic inequities that separate DC communities, while helping residents remain in place to benefit from new investments and amenities. Our team is facilitating a selection process to commission artwork for the Park, with a focus on amplifying the stories, culture and heritage of neighboring Black residents.
ARTISTS SUPPORTED
12
PUBLIC ART LIBRARY DONATION TO JXTA
After becoming a remote organization, Forecast donated our internationally-recognized Public Art Library to Juxtaposition Arts (JXTA), a Black-led art and design organization in North Minneapolis, MN. With this donation, we help Juxtaposition to create a significant resource library to support the next generation of Black and Brown public art practitioners. The collection of over 2,000 print, digital and multimedia materials will soon be a part of JXTA’s new facility. “This donation ensures that this beloved resource lives on to inspire the next generation of public artists, designers and urban planners here in our home communities and I know it will continue to build with the energy and contributions of JXTA apprentices, educators and youth.” - Theresa Sweetland, Forecast Executive Director.
MATERIALS DONATED
2,000+
LARRY COHEN RECOGNITION PROJECT
The Larry Cohen Recognition Project at St. Paul City Hall was established by Ramsey County and the City of St. Paul, MN to honor, remember and carry forward the legacy and work of Judge Larry Cohen, who devoted his life to promoting diverse and inclusive leadership as Chair of the Ramsey County Board, Mayor of St. Paul, and Chief Judge of the Second Judicial District (Ramsey County). Designed by artist Marjorie Pitz, the project will serve as a welcoming place where people can learn about St. Paul’s rich immigrant history and the values and work of Judge Cohen. A diverse group of citizens and elected officials from the city, county and judicial branch came together under the leadership of Commissioner Jim McDonough to give life to the project. Forecast provided project management direction for the project.
EMERGING ARTISTS ENGAGED
4
Jen Lewin at LUX Doral
Forecast was hired to curate new permanent works of public art for LUX Doral, a large-scale dynamic art initiative in Doral, Florida. One of the first artists to complete and install works is international artist Jen Lewin. Trained as a dancer, musician, and architect, Lewin combines these disciplines in her visual work. The interactive sculptures she created, Andante and Helix, combine mathematical, musical, and dance principals to stimulate multiple senses, and they have been a major hit with visitors. An interactive beacon of light, Helix generates light effects as you move beneath it, while Andante is an interactive light and sound wave that you can compose with your motions.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ENGAGED
20,000
CREATIVE ENTERPRISE ZONE MURAL FESTIVAL
Forecast worked with the Creative Enterprise Zone to curate the 10 lead mural artists for their Chroma Zone mural festival. We provided the selected artists with ongoing technical assistance throughout, helping muralists move through design to implementation of their concepts. Our team follows a curatorial approach that brings attention to womxn, non-binary and BIPOC artists and the topics most pressing in this moment for muralism. This year we were proud to have half of our artists identify as Indigenous as we continue to strive to build deeper relationships with and support Indigenous artists.
Artists: Kao Lee Thao, Marlena Myles, Aaron Johnson-Ortiz, Missy Whiteman, Holly Miskitoos Henning, Katrina Knutson, Thomasina Topbear, Peyton Scott Russell, Alex Smith and Rock “Cyfi” Martinez.
ARTISTS HIRED
10
ARTS & TRANSPORTATION RAPID RESPONSE
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Smart Growth America has led an initiative for transportation agencies to partner with artists to address COVID-related challenges and longstanding inequities in transportation. Forecast facilitated the pairing of artists with selected agencies for the first and second round of Arts & Transportation Rapid Response (A&TRR) and provided training for both so they could learn how to work together. The projects took place across the country—phase one took place in San Francisco, CA, Oakland, CA, Las Vegas, NV, Fergus Falls, MN and Detroit, MI in 2020 and we completed round two in July 2021, working with MARTA in Atlanta, Port Authority in Pittsburgh, and Quaboag Valley Community Development Corporation in Ware, MA.
CITIES AFFECTED
8
JOYFUL WORLD MURAL PARK
We were thrilled to be working with the Minnesota State Fair this year to produce Joyful World Mural Park. We worked closely with the Fair’s team to equitably curate 12 muralists who delighted over 50,000 fair-goers of all ages with new large-scale artworks that reflect the world artists want to live in. The beautiful works of art will find permanent homes on the state fair grounds and will continue to be viewed by over one million people every year. Artists: : Leslie Barlow, Jennifer Davis, Jose Dominguez, Hibaaq Ibrahim, Tom Jay, Maiya Lea, Geno Okok, Shade Pratt, Xee Reiter, Joy Spika, Kao Lee Thao and Thomasina Topbear.
ARTISTS HIRED
12
THE ALVERA
Working with the Ackerberg Group, we curated a national artist to design and install a one-of-a-kind mural on the exterior of a new building in St. Paul, MN. The building, called the Alvera, will be the largest modular construction project built in the Twin Cities. Aaron de la Cruz has designed and hand-painted a 7,500-square-foot mural that covers much of the building’s upper exterior. Utilizing his unique “Zera” painting style (influenced by the weaving threads of a Mexican serape blanket), Aaron created a design that symbolizes the original inspiration for the building: the feeling of being wrapped in care. The nearby healthcare facilities and hospitality industry in the neighborhood are acknowledged through this theme. Forecast’s Tricia Heuring also coordinated with City Mischief to paint concrete barriers in front of the building while it was under construction, creating a more attractive environment for the neighborhood.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS IMPACTED
11,000
WE mural in Bloomington's South Loop neighborhood images: (from left to right) Photo by Andres Perez; Photo courtesy Theresa Sweetland; Photo by Andres Perez. 11th Street Bridge Park images: (all three) Renderings courtesy OMA and Olin. Library donation images: (left to right) JXTA crew at Minneapolis Open Streets 2019. Photo by Ryan Stopera; A workshop group in the Public Art Library in fall 2019. Photo by Ne Dah Ness Rose Greene. Larry Cohen Recognition project series images: (left to right) Jean Krueger, County Property Manager, artist Marjorie Pitz, and Jen Krava from Forecast pose in front of part of Marjorie Pitz's design for the Larry Cohen Recognition project; Dove Chair artists (left to right): Connor Rice, Tomas Arratti, Pa Na Lor, and Gracie Horne. All photos by Shun Yong. Chroma Zone images: (left to right) Thomasina Topbear painting on Missy Whiteman's Chroma Zone wall for the 2021 festival's final performance; Holly "Miskitoos" Henning's mural; Thomasina Topbear at work. All photos courtesy Theresa Sweetland. A&TRR images (left to right): Atlanta artist Franco Bejarano worked with MARTA HOPE and Artbound to create portraits of unsheltered riders; Franco’s large scale artworks bring out the soul of the individual while connecting people with much needed resources. Still image from video by On the Grid Creative. First two photos courtesy Smart Growth America; Artist Janel Young worked with the Port Authority of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh, PA to develop innovative ways to better use space at some of its crowded bus stops and rail stations. According to the artist's survey, people wanted something: colorful, uplifting, and complex to make their wait go by quicker. Photo by Ray Carrington Photography. Joyful World images: (left to right) Joyful World Graphic by Patricio De Lara; Hibaaq paints their mural. Photo by Andres Perez; Leslie Barlow paints their mural. Photo by Andres Perez. Alvera Building images: Photos by Drew Arrieta.