After a year of planning and community design work, the creation phase of a 19-foot tall mosaic mural is underway at Bayview’s International Center for Education and the Arts on Madison’s south side. To date, approximately 100 residents have participated in the design and creation of the new mural. The design process involved 70 residents in 40 hours of brainstorming and drawing exercises.
Bayview Foundation, Inc. built Bayview Townhomes, subsidized housing for low- to moderate-income residents, located within the heart of Madison’s historic Greenbush/Triangle Neighborhood, in 1971. The Bayview community annually hosts the Triangle Ethnic Fest, a gala event that brings together people of every ethnic background for a day of cultural and social exchange.
Community artist Marcia Yapp led a committee made up of three residents (two teens and one elder) and one staff to create the final composition. The mural takes the form of two wings joined by flowing threads or waves. The design elements that make up the interior of the wings reflect themes of migration, education, protection, wisdom, transformation and community.
The artwork, to be installed in mid-September 2017, will be an impressive 19×18 feet. Residents, guests, and members of the public who turn onto Braxton Place from South Park Street will see the new mural, and Bayview visitors will gain a deeper understanding of the histories, values and visions of the people who live at Bayview.
Funding for this project is provided by Madison Community Foundation, Dane Arts, City of Madison Neighborhood Grant Program, as well as individual donors.
The Bayview International Center for Education and the Arts, the housing development’s centrally located community center, was constructed in 1985 with the purpose of offering high quality and free supportive services for Bayview’s diverse community of residents.
