Design + Build + Public Art + Social Engagement
Swede Hollow Park, St. Paul MN
The Knight Foundation, 8-80 Cities & City of St. Paul, MN
2015-Present
In 2015 I submitted the project proposal "the Viewfinder" and was selected as one of 25 Emerging young leaders from 8 communities throughout the country to receive a $5,000 grant from the Knight Foundation and 880 Cities.
The Viewfinder project effort aims to enhance access and way finding into Swede Hollow from Payne Avenue for residents on the East Side of St. Paul by creating an intriguing and interactive viewfinder that allows people to see into the park from above, explore the park’s past and invite them to use the park for recreation. This effort will begin the process to create a stronger relationship between the park and the neighborhood, create more opportunities for interactions with the natural world, increase awareness of the value of this space and then eventually attract more visitors.
This project includes two parts:
1. The View Finder as public art to be installed as part of the City of St. Paul's upcoming project to create an overlook on Payne Avenue to overlook Swede Hollow Park in 2017. Project is currently in the development phase.
2. Pop-up events in Swede Hollow Park which included two events. One, puppet show the park by Open Eye Figure Theater in July 2015 and a puppet show and community drumming session led by community artist and teacher Mr. J. in May 2016.
Viewfinder allows you to look into the Swede Hollow Park, learn about it's past and creates visual access to nature
Encouraging new use of the Swede Hollow Park through puppet show in the park by Open Eye Figure Theater. Summer 2015
From the 1850's to the 1950s newly arrived immigrants from Sweden, Italy and lastly Mexico made the ravine their home. It was declared a health hazard in 1956 by the city, it's residents forcibly removed and the buildings were burned. The site was mainly used for dumping and homeless encampments until 1976 when it was declared a nature center and cleaned up. It now is one of the last remaining large areas of natural area in the city, housing the 7 mile Bruce Vento Trail.
Viewfinder allows you to look into the Swede Hollow Park, learn about it's past and creates visual access to nature