Jane’s Walk MKE leads art tour through Clarke Square

Participants met by the Cesar Chavez sculpture at Chavez Drive and Mineral Street. The sculpture commemorates the labor and civil rights leader. (All photos by Abby Ng)
Ian Bautista shows where Clarke Square’s artist in residence, Erick Ledesma, will install a mural reading “si se puede” (“yes you can”) in Spanish.
Bautista stands in front of the Health Equity Mural at Chavez Drive and Scott Street, a collaborative project among AWE, CSNI and the Milwaukee Diabetes and Oral Health Art Gallery.
Participant Jessie Moffat poses by the Health Equity Mural. Moffat said she appreciates that the art in Clarke Square is community based.
A participant takes a closer look at the mural by STITCH Milwaukee on the east side of Chavez Drive between Scott Street and Greenfield Avenue.
The STITCH Milwaukee Mural is one half of a two-part piece. The other part can be found in Alice’s Garden.
Kristine Hansen (left) and Jessie Moffat (right) bought some popsicles from Michoacana, 1224 Cesar E. Chavez Drive during the tour.
The tour group learns about the Cesar Chavez Mural onChavez Drive and Washington Street. The mural, created by True Skool, includes an Aztec calendar and a United Farm Workers flag.
The mural on the side of Vietnamese restaurant Phan’s Garden, 1923 W. National Ave., depicts a Laotian landscape. Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative is looking for funding to restore the mural to its original vibrancy.
CSNI is looking for ways to repair the Hummingbirds Mural on National Avenue and 22nd Street.
Artwork, like this sunflower, decorates the alleyways between 25th and 26th streets, and Scott and Pierce streets.
This piece is named the Handala Mural because it shows a mandala made out of hands. Created by Jennifer Espenscheid, it is the newest mural in Clarke Square.
The hands on the Handala Mural are modeled after real hands of Clarke Square neighbors. The small pieces of mirror were placed by local families at a neighborhood celebration.
A participant takes a picture of the Mandala Mosaic on 25th Street and National Avenue, a team project among artist Lucas Alamo, AWE and neighborhood youth. Its completion marked the opening of Canned Beatz Arts Space, 2435 W. National Ave.
The tour group made a surprise stop at the Tree of Life Earthworks ceramics studio, 1030 S. 26th St. Artist Lori Gramling shows one of her pieces.

About 15 participants strolled along Cesar Chavez Drive and National Avenue while stopping along the way to admire colorful murals during the first tour of Clarke Square hosted by Jane’s Walk MKE. The tour showcased art by community members and local organizations such as Artists Working in Education and TRUE Skool. The event was held in partnership with the Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative, ZIP MKE and Milwaukee Turners.

“This allows people to experience an urban environment first hand and from a more personal and intimate level than just driving through,” said Ian Bautista, walk leader and executive director of CSNI.

The installation of art in Clarke Square is part of the neighborhood’s Quality of Life plan, which includes neighborhood beautification, economic development, and improving health and wellness.

“This is an opportunity to say there’s beauty, there’s creativity and there’s talent here that we shouldn’t ignore,” Bautista said.

Related

Contact

Related

Hey Milwaukee — Let's catch you up!