Clarke Square participants show off a fractal sculpture that they created with artist Jenie Gao. (From left): Jeysi Castro, Karen Armenta, Eduardo Castro, Maria Anai Cortez, Miguel Teran and artist Azzael Gonzales. (All photos by Sue Vliet)
Young people participating in A.W.E.’s 5×3 Artist-in-Residence program displayed their design concepts for public art at a recent exhibit at RedLine Milwaukee, 1422 N. 4th St.
The A.W.E. program, which began in 2016, allows youth to experience the process of creating public art in five target neighborhoods over a three-year period. The target neighborhoods are Clarke Square, Harambee, Layton Boulevard West, Lindsay Heights and Washington Park.
Students from a variety of schools and nonprofit organizations worked with a professional artist on their projects. Lead artists included George Jones, Anwar Floyd-Pruitt, Gabrielle Tesfaye, Mikal Floyd-Pruitt and Jenie Gao.
The youths spent two months selecting a site, theme and artist for a public art project that will be created and installed during the next three months.
Participating organizations included: Our Next Generation, La Luz Del Mundo Family Services, Escuela Verde High School, COA Holton Center, and NEU-Life Community Development. Neighborhood and community partners included Safe & Sound, the Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative and Layton Boulevard West Neighbors.
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