8. 200429 Resolution relating to a Certificate of Appropriateness for placing a mural on the south wall of 229 E Wisconsin Avenue, the Railway Exchange Building, in the East Side Commercial Historic District, for Patti Keating Kahn.
During the growing Black Lives Matter movement, and a pandemic that has been brought many artists’ careers to a halt, it’s disturbing to see Milwaukee power brokers going to bat for a wealthy, white, non-resident aiming to create a backdrop for the DNC. The message does not outweigh the process; the intent does not outweigh the impact. What would Milwaukee be like if we were as quick to invest in local BIPOC artists? Please give more time for community dialogue around this, and invite BIPOC artists to be decision makers.
In this particularly difficult time for local artists, I urge you to withhold approval until Milwaukee’s artists of color have been consulted with and listened to.
As a Milwaukee resident and artist, I want to be able to look at public art with pride knowing that it was created by and amplifies OUR community. I want our city to gain attention not because an "internationally acclaimed" outside artist with no connection comes to put art here, but because our city amplifies our community and allows us to represent and speak for ourselves. Let's amplify LOCAL voices and local BIPOC voices at that!!
It is absolutely imperative that projects and institutions in Milwaukee begin to understand how projects like this one cause harm to our community of BIPOC artists. The true way to reflect our community's “cultural, social, economic, political and architectural history” is to look to our own community leaders and stakeholders by encouraging the representation of Milwaukee voices in this project. At the bare minimum, this project needs to be postponed to open up space for community dialogue. BIPOC leadership, involvement and artists should not be left out of this project.
I am a Milwaukee resident and I strongly support approval of the mural. I believe the message of the art is more important than where it came from. Is there criticism of the image and message? I would encourage that local artists of color be invited to create additional important messages through art in downtown Milwaukee and elsewhere. I think it is good this can be done in time for the publicity of Milwaukee around the stripped down DNC. I read controversy around the Obama Hope poster but what stuck with me is that it was done and has become something we love. I hope the same for this mural
I was born and raised in Milwaukee County, but live in Madison now. I co-run an arts nonprofit here called Communication that supports many Milwaukee artists. I have seen art worlds grow in every city I've lived in, but growth can only occur when we all acknowledge the work that needs to be done. This public art project should to be given to local BBIPOC artists, and the voices of BBIPOC should be intentionally included during the planning process. Postpone the approval of the Certificate of Appropriateness for the Shepard Fairey mural. Give more time and space for community dialogue.
In my opinion, approving this mural would be valuing a narrative that is not Fairey’s to tell and erasing the voices of talented local BIPOC artists that can speak about their experiences from their perspectives. Centering the voice of a non-local white artist to speak on behalf, and about, issues that affect BIPOC people, especially Black communities, during a pandemic that is disproportionately affecting BIPOC folks and during the very active backdrop of the BLM movement is tone-deaf and an act of white supremacy. Mrs. Kahn has a conflict of interest and should recuse herself.
There are many amazing national or international artists that I would love to see make work in Milwaukee. Shepard Fairey is not one of them. Just because someone has international attention doesn't mean we should give them a platform. Fairey's career is riddled with controversy. He is a white man who steals from BIPOC artists and movements. The Obama Hope poster, that we all love, ended in a lawsuit with Associated Press and Fairey being sentenced to 2 years of probation and a $25,000 fine for committing criminal contempt of court. Let's attract international artists who work ethically.
This projec lacks sufficent guidance and leadership from local Black Indeigenous and People of Color. While the artist is well known and the peace has a strong message, there needs to be more public discussion on the matter. This is a majority minority city and minorities are not hearing enough about it. I know I do not speak for all POCs but I can say confidently that other POC artist are also taken at bak by the lack of public knowledge. Additionally I believe that Ms. Patti Keating Kahn should recuse herself from this decision as a memberof the HPC it is a conflict of interest. Thank You.
Shepard Fairey is an internationally known artist and will significantly add to Milwaukee’s public portfolio of local, national and international artists’ work.. As Milwaukee becomes more visible on the national stage, our reputation will grow as a community that attracts and values internationally known artists and architects including Santiago Calatrava, Jim Dine, Robert Love, Alex Katz, Michelle Grabner, Beverly Pepper, Carlos Rolón, Radcliffe Bailey, Andreas von Chrzanowski, Mary Miss and Walter Hood.
National attention to our art scene creates a portal for recognition of local artists.
During the growing Black Lives Matter movement, and a pandemic that has been brought many artists’ careers to a halt, it’s disturbing to see Milwaukee power brokers going to bat for a wealthy, white, non-resident aiming to create a backdrop for the DNC. The message does not outweigh the process; the intent does not outweigh the impact. What would Milwaukee be like if we were as quick to invest in local BIPOC artists? Please give more time for community dialogue around this, and invite BIPOC artists to be decision makers.
In this particularly difficult time for local artists, I urge you to withhold approval until Milwaukee’s artists of color have been consulted with and listened to.
Beautiful contribution to Milwaukee
As a Milwaukee resident and artist, I want to be able to look at public art with pride knowing that it was created by and amplifies OUR community. I want our city to gain attention not because an "internationally acclaimed" outside artist with no connection comes to put art here, but because our city amplifies our community and allows us to represent and speak for ourselves. Let's amplify LOCAL voices and local BIPOC voices at that!!
It is absolutely imperative that projects and institutions in Milwaukee begin to understand how projects like this one cause harm to our community of BIPOC artists. The true way to reflect our community's “cultural, social, economic, political and architectural history” is to look to our own community leaders and stakeholders by encouraging the representation of Milwaukee voices in this project. At the bare minimum, this project needs to be postponed to open up space for community dialogue. BIPOC leadership, involvement and artists should not be left out of this project.
I am a Milwaukee resident and I strongly support approval of the mural. I believe the message of the art is more important than where it came from. Is there criticism of the image and message? I would encourage that local artists of color be invited to create additional important messages through art in downtown Milwaukee and elsewhere. I think it is good this can be done in time for the publicity of Milwaukee around the stripped down DNC. I read controversy around the Obama Hope poster but what stuck with me is that it was done and has become something we love. I hope the same for this mural
I was born and raised in Milwaukee County, but live in Madison now. I co-run an arts nonprofit here called Communication that supports many Milwaukee artists. I have seen art worlds grow in every city I've lived in, but growth can only occur when we all acknowledge the work that needs to be done. This public art project should to be given to local BBIPOC artists, and the voices of BBIPOC should be intentionally included during the planning process. Postpone the approval of the Certificate of Appropriateness for the Shepard Fairey mural. Give more time and space for community dialogue.
In my opinion, approving this mural would be valuing a narrative that is not Fairey’s to tell and erasing the voices of talented local BIPOC artists that can speak about their experiences from their perspectives. Centering the voice of a non-local white artist to speak on behalf, and about, issues that affect BIPOC people, especially Black communities, during a pandemic that is disproportionately affecting BIPOC folks and during the very active backdrop of the BLM movement is tone-deaf and an act of white supremacy. Mrs. Kahn has a conflict of interest and should recuse herself.
There are many amazing national or international artists that I would love to see make work in Milwaukee. Shepard Fairey is not one of them. Just because someone has international attention doesn't mean we should give them a platform. Fairey's career is riddled with controversy. He is a white man who steals from BIPOC artists and movements. The Obama Hope poster, that we all love, ended in a lawsuit with Associated Press and Fairey being sentenced to 2 years of probation and a $25,000 fine for committing criminal contempt of court. Let's attract international artists who work ethically.
This projec lacks sufficent guidance and leadership from local Black Indeigenous and People of Color. While the artist is well known and the peace has a strong message, there needs to be more public discussion on the matter. This is a majority minority city and minorities are not hearing enough about it. I know I do not speak for all POCs but I can say confidently that other POC artist are also taken at bak by the lack of public knowledge. Additionally I believe that Ms. Patti Keating Kahn should recuse herself from this decision as a memberof the HPC it is a conflict of interest. Thank You.
Shepard Fairey is an internationally known artist and will significantly add to Milwaukee’s public portfolio of local, national and international artists’ work.. As Milwaukee becomes more visible on the national stage, our reputation will grow as a community that attracts and values internationally known artists and architects including Santiago Calatrava, Jim Dine, Robert Love, Alex Katz, Michelle Grabner, Beverly Pepper, Carlos Rolón, Radcliffe Bailey, Andreas von Chrzanowski, Mary Miss and Walter Hood.
National attention to our art scene creates a portal for recognition of local artists.
A landmark work of global importance. Definitely a good thing for Milwaukee!
Would be a loss to the City of Milwaukee to miss out on this opportunity.
Good project
A thousand times YES!
Support
Good project