Cassandra Buck creates her pavement mural River of Color in 2020. Photo by Choochoo-ca-Chew.
Rochester artists Amy Krause and Tierney Parker have been selected to design and create street murals in downtown Rochester this Spring. This art will inject local culture into public infrastructure, calm traffic, and improve pedestrian safety.
The City of Rochester recognizes the importance of a high-quality pedestrian experience and cultural infrastructure to the continued success of downtown Rochester. The City has been awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to enhance public passageways - downtown alleyways and crosswalks - and encourage the public to pause to experience these places, rather than just using them to get from point A to B.
The murals will be designed with community input over the next several weeks, and installed in late May. The public is invited to participate in a community engagement activity with the artists on Tuesday, April 11 from 11:00 am - 12:30 pm at the Chateau Theatre in downtown Rochester. Each artist will share information about their background and artistic practice, present initial concepts for their mural, and seek community input through a series of facilitated activities.
“One goal of public art is to create a sense of connection to public spaces. Inviting the community to participate in the artistic process gives the artist an opportunity to gather information and ideas from individuals who frequent these locations or otherwise feel a connection to the space” says Naura Anderson, founder of Threshold Arts who is managing this project. “We all experience art and our environment differently. Considering another’s perspective gives us the chance to learn more about the community we live in, its history, and each other.”
COMMUNITY ACTIVITY WITH THE ARTISTS
What: Community engagement activity with artists Amy Krause and Tierney Parker
When: Tuesday, April 11, 2023 from 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Where: Chateau Theater, 15 1st Street SW, Rochester, MN 55902
Each artist will share information about their background and artistic practice, present initial concepts for their mural, and seek community input through a series of facilitated activities. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is appreciated for planning purposes.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Amy Krause is a Rochester-based artist whose body of work explores social justice issues, mental health advocacy, cultivating wholeheartedness, and connecting to her Korean American heritage. She earned her degree in fine art painting from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire in 2007 and went on to create her own small business, A. Krause Studio. Amy has a passion for creating more diverse and inclusive spaces so that others can feel seen and be known. Her mission is to use art to build connections, foster growth, and promote healing.
“Community and the feeling of belonging go hand in hand. It is vital for all members of a community to know they are welcomed and feel like they have a safe and inclusive place to live. It is my desire to create a mural that is a visual representation of this important message. I am honored to have the opportunity to use my art to celebrate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in our community.”
Tierney Parker aka Mixie Madness is a self taught mixed media artist based out of Rochester mn. Tierney grew up in rochester and has spent the last few years trying all different forms of art. She is heavily inspired by her own life experiences as a bi racial women navigating her individuality and the struggles in general we face as people day to day. Tierney is married to her biggest supporter and has 3 amazing children who love to help her create. Tierney strives to make art that opens up space for uncomfortable conversations to take place. Stay tuned to see what else is coming from this artist.
“I am so excited to be selected for this amazing community-driven project. The historical significance of all the sites is so intriguing and I am thrilled to put my stamp as a piece of Rochester's diverse history. I'm looking forward to honoring those who walked so we could run.“
The City of Rochester & DMC seek to create an innovative and empowering environment where all community members feel a sense of belonging. In our continued commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, we strive for public art to reflect the cultures and identities in our community.
This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.