Community Art Projects
We’re bringing art outside the museum walls! Let’s engage 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.
Ongoing & Upcoming Projects!
Truth Booth with Valerie Medina
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 | Race begins at 9am
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.
Attendees can create additional beads that will be distributed to local cancer centers to spread hope and unity.
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!
Past 2020 – 2022 Projects
and artist Kay Kobussen
You 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).
Artist Nathan Hatch welded live at Art at the Park! Festival visitors and families could also try welding for themselves at Miller Electric’s pop-up welding center. This project will return to the 2022 Art at the Park event, July 23 & 24.
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.
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, currently on display in Selections from the TMA Collection on TMA’s third floor.
If you planted you clay seedball, tag us in your photos of your seeds growing! @troutmuseumofart on Facebook and Instagram.
Art organizations from around Wisconsin took to the sidewalks! In July of 2020, community members chalked sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots to create bright, joyful art and spread positive messages.
TMA and Appleton’s Farm Market guests chalked with artist Irineo Medina, covering Houdini Plaza and the Museum windows.
2022 Meet Your Neighbor with John Nance
A photo journalism series launched at Rhythms of the World on Sept 10 and continuing through fall of 2022. In partnership with Appleton Downtown Inc.
Downtown Appleton visitors will have the opportunity to “meet your neighbor” in an interactive photo series. Photographer John Nance has captured the many communities that exist within the Fox Cities through photography and audio recordings.
Leading up to the Sept 10 kick-off, Nance provided a platform for individuals to share a piece of themselves through his photography and recordings. These will be on display at 25 local restaurants/shops starting Sept 10 through Nov, allowing patrons to “meet their neighbors” and hear stories of others who call the Fox Cities home.
Learn more and find the stops!
Photos: John Nance
