FLOW making its mark on Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - Taking shape the way they imagined, a crew works to raise strips of silver material which will help define a plaza at the corner of Logan Ave North and West Broadway. This is the latest community project thanks to a grant awarded to the FLOW Northside Art Crawl.
“The idea is we want to learn what our community wants from a public space. It's a demonstration space. it's a trial. The community will shape what it needs,” says FLOW artistic director Dudley Voight. “Every Friday night in August there is going to be a concert and community BBQ people can come too, drum circle, I think someone is working on community yoga class.”
The crew hired for the installation says a positive gathering place is exactly what the area needs.
“You can always look back at this and say I built that. You can tell all the kids. I built this for you,” says Mark Devine.
“It's just good to be able to help the community when you are from the community. We should have this opportunity to build this community up. Why have some people that's not from here build us up. We can do it ourselves,” says Marcus Lewis
“I think it's a wonderful idea,” says Jerry Steele, owner of Enviro Tech construction. “The community is going through a stressful time and this is a good thing for this time.”
The plaza is just one element of FLOW. Since the art crawl started 11 years ago FLOW has grown to be a three day festival going on through Saturday with 35 sites, 300 Northside artists, and 10 thousand people attending.
“I definitely think it's great because I am from North Minneapolis," says artist Brittany Moore. “People I know from the area, it's good to be able to show your art and be able to come see.”
In addition to all the artwork and events going on this weekend there are several pieces of FLOW work that have stayed on the Northside through the years. This year, 40 pieces of permanent infrastructure are being added along West Broadway including benches, bike racks, trash and recycle containers, and an information kiosk.
“It's always been about the people and places on West Broadway and the Northside at large. And really shining a light about great things here in the community,” says Voight.
Perhaps more than anything FLOW celebrates community pride and that the best work of art of all.
“I feel it's going to be something that is going to help bring the community together,” says Zach Adams. “I'm really looking forward to seeing what comes out of this.”