Community Art Projects
TMA brings art outside the museum walls! Engaging the Fox Cities in community-wide art projects; our goal each year is to engage thousands of residents in fun, educational art projects that leave a visual impact and a lasting impression on our community.
Thank you to our three-year program kick-off sponsor, SECURA Insurance.
2023 Community Art Projects
Project Purpose with Neo & Valerie Medina
Sat, July 29 at Appleton East
TMA partnered with artists Neo & Valerie Medina and Appleton East Special Education, Autism and ID (Intellectual Disability) departments to form Project Purpose.
Project Purpose is a collaborative mural experience that focuses on uplifting and highlighting students in the Special Education Program. This project will gave students the ability to use art as a form of expression to emphasize their own unique abilities.
“Peace of Paper Quilt” with visiting New York Artist, Talo Kawasaki!
10am – 2pm at Art at the Park, July 22 & 23.
“Peace of Paper Quilt” is an interactive experience where community members learn how to make their own origami wish spinners with New York artist Talo Kawasaki. Your spinner will then be added to a larger installation “peace” quilt, which represents the unity of our community through each participant’s quilt “patch.”
Through the art of Origami, participants will explore Japanese culture by learning how to become at peace with the paper.
Sculpture Welding with Miller Electric
All day at Art at the Park, July 22 & 23.
Miller Electric returns with their pop-up welding stations at Art a the Park this summer. Art at the Park is the Trout Museum of Art’s annual arts festival in City Park. Each year the event hosts 180 fine art vendors, live music, youth activities, food, drinks, and community art projects.
Try your hand at welding with the Miller Electric team and watch live sculpture welding with a guest artist!
Truth Booth with Valerie Medina
Ongoing
Most people under the age of 30 have never been in a phone booth. Inside TMA find the Truth Booth, a safe and anonymous space for community members to write down their truths and place them in a locked box. Participants may unload personal and emotional weight safely, creating a stepping stone for self healing.
Artist Valerie Medina will gather the messages into an installation artwork in the Trout Museum of Art’s Atrium entrance and gallery. The piece will celebrate our community’s bravery and healing.
Survivor Beads with Jennifer Dins
At the American Cancer Society Sole Burner 5K Run/Walk.
City Park, Appleton | May 12
Cancer survivors and their supporters may create a personalized necklace, bracelet, or keychain incorporating a sterling silver survivor bead or our special golden bronze supporter bead with other leather or bead adornments. Jennifer Dins of Dins Designs (a breast cancer and ovarian cancer survivor) will lead the project. Sign your name on the special survivor and friend bead board to honor survivors.
Thank you to Johnson Financial Group
2022 Community Art Projects
Survivor Beads with Jennifer Dins
Jennifer Dins of Dins Designs leads a project at the American Cancer Society Sole Burner 5K Run/Walk.
Cancer survivors and supporters created personalized necklaces, bracelets, or keychains incorporating a sterling silver survivor bead or a special golden bronze supporter bead.
Meet Your Neighbor with John Nance
A downtown Appleton exhibit walk! Celebrating culture and community, photojournalist John Nance interviewed and photographed 25 Appleton individuals and their stories.
25 downtown locations featured different neighbors and audio stories.
Sculpture Welding at Art at the Park
With Miller Electric and guest artist Nathan Hatch, Art at the Park visitors tried welding for themselves at Miller’s pop-up welding center and watched as Nathan welded a future public sculpture live.
Truth Booth with Valerie Medina
Ongoing
Most people under the age of 30 have never been in a phone booth. Inside TMA find the Truth Booth, a safe and anonymous space for community members to write down their truths and place them in a locked box. Participants may unload personal and emotional weight safely, creating a stepping stone for self healing.
2021 Community Art Projects
What You’ve Got? with Katie Ries
Artist Katie Ries created one thousand clay seedballs with regionally-specific wildflower seeds. Guests exchanged a seedball for an item in their pocket.
Katie took the left-behind items and created an art piece, now in TMA’s permanent collection.
21st Century Dream Catcher with Oneida Storyteller Debra Morningstar and artist Kay Kobussen
The community helped create a beautiful and HUGE Dream Catcher and learned about the history and stories associated the Native tradition!
The final project hung in the Museum’s Atrium in recognition of Native American Heritage Month (Nov 2021).
Sculpture Welding at Art at the Park
Year one of our partnership with Miller Electric and guest artist Nathan Hatch! Art at the Park visitors tried welding for themselves at Miller’s pop-up welding center and watched as Nathan welded a future public sculpture live.
Steamroll Printing at Art at the Park with Tyla Hilfreich
Artist Tyla Heilfrich created GIANT prints in the image of City Park using ink, paper, and a steamroller!
Art at the Park visitors and families could try their hand at printmaking using stamps, foam sheets, and paint in the Kids Creative Area of the festival.