Planning Grants 2010

SMAHC
Southwest Minnesota Arts and Humanities Council

SMAHC / Forecast Public Art
Planning Grants Awarded

SMAHC has partnered with Forecast Public Art in offering grants to artist for the purpose of providing artists the chance to develop and create projects for a public audience while receiving recognition and advancing their careers. This activity is also funded, in part, by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.

The recipients of these $2,000 planning grants are:

Andrew Nordin
Andrew will conduct aesthetic study and research into the feasibility of a public art mural on the Glacial Ridge State Trail near New London. He will concentrate his studio practice on the idea of creating a mural that incorporates some of the aesthetic features both natural and man made. His goal will be to use the resulting images and other products of the research to engage the public (and possibly enlist high school and college students) in creating a work that makes a dialogue with the trail.

Barb Hawes
Barb will create a set of large pinwheels installed for one year around the new Marshall Lyon County Public Library building. She will research materials to use in the project, the use of color for the pinwheels to create unique visual effects, and conduct meetings to gain the support and permission of the library.

Tom Wirt – Hutchinson Public Arts Commission
The support of Forecast Public Art and the SMAHC will enable the City of Hutchinson’s Public Arts Commission to plan and select an artist to design a three-dimensional public art installation for a major intersection in Hutchinson. The arts commission will work closely with Forecast to facilitate an artist selection process that will support the creation of a piece for which they have already secured city funding. Working with Forecast will enable them to learn the process so that they can replicate it on their own as the commission develops.

Michon Weeks
Michon will create mosaics based on traditional textile designs from diverse populations living in Marshall. The mosaics will be installed on outdoor benches at the new public library in Marshall. Michon will begin by studying the craft of mosaic making and meeting with community members to learn about traditional textile design. She will continue by researching location, feasibility, funding, design, fabricators, and configuration of the project. Her work will result in a plan and model for the project.

Congratulations to these artists for receiving the awards!