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Can a detour sign or detour barrier become something of interest? Even entertaining? Artistic?
The Grand Marais Art Colony, in collaboration with the Creative Economy Collaborative (CCE), thinks so.
Ruth Pszwaro, Artistic Director for the Grand Marais Art Colony, appeared before the Grand Marais City Council on Wednesday, March 10, with a request for the city to act as a fiscal agent for a $5,000 grant the Art Colony is seeking.
With the second phase of the Highway 61 road construction project resuming this spring and running through the summer, Grand Marais will have plenty of detour signs routing vehicles and walkers who navigate through downtown.
If approved, the Rural and Community Art Project grant would fund a City Artist project for the summer of 2021. The artist in mind is Amanda Lovelee, who has been a City of St. Paul artist in residence and now works for the Met Council. Pszwaro said there is a verbal agreement to work with Lovelee if the grant is approved.
One of the goals of the project is to “provide an experience for people that includes curiosity and delight and potentially interweaves with their love for Highway 61 as a place.
Another goal is to “help people re-energize from the experience so that perhaps when they leave and return to walking around trying to find food, etc., they are in a refreshed mood.”
The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council (ARAC) will make the decision on which Rural and Community Art Project grants get approved.
Mayor Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux voiced support for the request. Councilor Michael Garry and Anton Moody also approved. Councilor Craig Schulte and Councilor Kelly Swearengen were not in attendance at this virtual meeting.
The city will write a letter to ARAC in support of the grant and the city will act as a fiscal agent if the grant is approved.
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