Public art project brings color to Menomonee River Valley

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- An immersive public art project aimed at bringing beauty and education throughout one Milwaukee area has been completed.

The art installations can be seen throughout the Menomonee River Valley area, featuring various hometown artists.

"Looked at these walls, never thought it was going to be a mural, and then when I saw that there was chance for a mural, I was like I really hope they want me to do it," said Fred Kaems, an independent Milwaukee artist.

Kaems recently completed his latest masterpiece in a spot he says is often overlooked.

"It was an old, crusty, forgotten space," said Kaems.

Kaems, a part of a team of artists selected by the Menomonee Valley Beautification Committee, sought to bring life and wonderment to a place sitting on native land.

"Although they are fairly small in scale, they really do brighten up a lot of these spaces and just make the valley more welcoming and exciting place to be in," said Louie Glotfelty, project manager for Planning and Placemaking with Menomonee Valley Partners.

Louis Glotfelty said the organization wanted to show some TLC to a pivotal area in Milwaukee.

"Our approach was to really just to beautify the valley, and a little goes a long way," said Glotfelty.

Four new public art installations can be seen along the valley, each mural telling its own story.

Some of the artwork demonstrates both beauty and function. 

"We've put up about 300 feet of fencing screening to protect from that drifting debris from getting into the river from the recycling facility," said Glotfelty.

Artists with the project began their work in the fall, some having to paint through Mother Nature.

"Some days were really cold, to balance that with oh, what am I going to wear today - sometimes I started off, it was hot and so I would have to take off layers and put on layers if it got warmer out," said Mi Salgado, muralist.

Despite the difficult weather, it’s the lasting impact the artists are proud of.

"It makes the community more welcoming to be at, to be part of, too," said Salgado.

"I really hoped it maybe starts a conversation or bring some positivity to this world," said Kaems.

For more information on the beautification project, click the link here.