I wanted to publish this work by Felicitas Maria Sokec for the FORECAST Public Artworks Grant Proposal because of the Project need area. If she does get this grant I will be happy to publish photos etc. Her writing describes our experience as consumers, artists, and community members...it's brilliant writing.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Project Need, Targeted Community and Perceived Benefits to the Community

Throughout history, from ancient times to modern, the open air market has existed as a cultural crossroads. On the surface, the open air market appears merely to be about the act of buying and selling products; a fun, entertaining, mindless weekend thing to do and you get some fresh veggies, besides. Every hour of every day we are bombarded by the media with impersonal images intended to sell us something: it numbs our minds to the human behind the product. The market possesses a much broader and deeper role than that, however. As in ancient times, today's open air market vendors come from all over the globe, bringing with them not only art and other products from their country of origin, but also a cultural education for any market visitor stopping long enough to catch a glimpse into their world. This market is a community, an entity; a microcosm of global citizens working harmoniously together toward a common goal. The vendors and visitors at this market come from China, Nepal, Thailand, Africa, India, Greece, Cambodia, North and South America, and some I haven't even uncovered yet. One need only peruse paintings of the great masters to see this same theme captured on canvas over and over again. The significance of the open air market is much greater than simply the purchase of goods... it is a sharing of ideas, cultures, hopes and dreams by individuals who represent global humanity.

This project is more than a pretty wall. It is intended to educate vendors and visitors alike, thereby, raising awareness, cohesion and value of the open air market as regards its peoples, as a social and cultural entity valued from ancient times to modern and the richly diverse community, education, business and social opportunities it has to offer. With this raised awareness, weekend shopping at the open air market will never be a numb, purely entertaining, mindless task again.

Site Location

Farmer's Market Annex building, located on the edge of downtown Minneapolis, MN at Lyndale Avenue North and Glenwood Avenue.

The intended exterior wall of the building faces out into the market, so it would be visible to all vendors and visitors at the market. It is publicly and wheelchair/differently-abled accessible, as it does not have any fence or other physical barriers which would prevent viewing of the mural. Additionally, the site where the mural will be located is open to public viewing during hours even when the market isn't open for business.

This is a high traffic site. From end of April through end of October, this site is visited on the weekends by thousands of people from all over Minnesota, out-of-state and, sometimes, out of the country. Additionally, the site is open during some Winter months for sale of holiday greenery (flowers, wreaths, trees, etc.).

This site has been secured for this project, should the grant be awarded to this applicant.

Project Development

The project will begin with interviews with market vendors to find out their interest and/or willingness to participate. As I have already established relationships with many of these vendors, this should not be a difficult task to accomplish. The identified participants will then be further interviewed as to their country of origin, things which are particular to their country and culture, etc. The identified participants will then be asked permission to photograph them and the photo will serve as a model for their portrait within the mural. Each participant's country of origin will be further researched by this artist as to geographic visuals, etc. The information gathered by the artist during the interviews will be utilized either in the mural as part of the painting, or will be incorporated as part of an information board which will be attached to the building and which will serve as an educational tool, including the history of open air markets from ancient times to modern. The overall effect of the mural shall be this: in heart (center) of the mural shall be the market as it exists today with portraits of the participating vendors (and visitors) in their respective vendor spaces with their goods. Surrounding this core, shall be the roads that lead in and out of the market, to and from the countries (also depicted) from which these vendors originate. Once the interviews are complete, a draft drawing of the mural shall be executed, from which, then, the actual painting of the mural shall commence.

Value of Project to Applicant and
Meeting of Criteria as an Emerging Artist

Although, I have exhibited my canvas and sculptural work in various galleries in the Twin Cities, during various themed shows over the past ten plus years and continue to produce work which stretches as well as pleases me, I cannot say I have "arrived". While it's true I've had a few commissioned pieces over the years, it's also true I am not a household word and most of the world does not know I exist. I still have to work at another job which has nothing to do with producing real art in order to produce an income. I consider myself to be inbetween emerging and mid-career, keeping in mind that has nothing to do with my age or how many years I've been producing or exhibiting, but more to do with having developed my work beyond "acceptable" to "exceptional" and making a living at it.

This project would allow me to produce what would be, to date, my magnum opus. It would not only be my largest (scale) piece, but also would establish me as an artist utilizing my art toward social change (which I am). I have great interest in peace in this world and wish to utilize my art toward that end. I have read enough about public art to know that research shows that places with much public art have less crime and more community cohesion. I believe that education and familiarity is the key to peace and I believe projects like this one are the catalyst. I can only see this project resulting in future educational community collaborations and private/public commissions between myself and people/organizations who share this vision.

Use of Funds

The funds will be applied toward materials needed to complete the project such as paint, scaffolding, brushes, etc. The funds will also be applied toward the artist's time. The anticipated amount of time spent on this project begins with the interviews and ends with the final brush stroke on the mural. The anticipated amount of time spent on this project is approximately 20-30 hours weekly, over a 6 month period. Some of the funds will also be applied toward a public reception at the end (completion) of the project.