The Milwaukee Public Library has announced four finalists for a public art project to be erected outside its East Branch, which is slated to open in fall 2014.
The project will aim to engage visitors with art themed along the lines of community, literature, story and learning.
A public art selection committee chose project finalists from a pool of 22 submissions, following a call for artists that the library made in November. Each finalist will present their concept at a public meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
The art project, which has a budget of $25,000, is being funded in part by grants from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Mary L. Nohl Fund, Marvin W. Haesle Fund for the Arts, and the Jean Hutchinson Fund. Additional dollars will come from the Milwaukee Arts Board and from the sale of the former East Library Eames furnishings.
The project will be installed nearly the library’s entrance on North Cramer Street in Milwaukee.
Project finalists are:
*Ray Chi, an artist whose work ranges from furniture to film to public art. Chi is an associate lecturer at UW-Milwaukee and is also a 2013 Mary L. Nohl Fellowship recipient in the established artist category.
*Susan Falkman, an artist who specializes in sculpture. Falkman recently published a book titled “Body Memories” about marble breast sculptures she created following a friend’s mastectomy.
*Catherine Lottes, an artist and glass fabricator. Lottes’ pieces are primarily created out of recycled glass. Among her artworks is a public art installation titled “Life’s Garden” at the City of Milwaukee’s Lapham Park Senior Housing.
*Colin Matthes, an artist whose work incorporates interactive features. Matthes is a 2012 Mary L. Nohl Fellowship recipient in the established artist category.
