The city of Madison and artist Michael Ford want to know what you want to see in a major mural planned for Madison’s South Side, and you can let them know at a virtual meeting at 5 pm today.
The City is building a large parking structure at the corner of South Park Street and Hughes Place, adjacent to the new Black Business Hub, The Villager Mall, Urban League of Greater Madison and Madison Public Library Goodman Branch. The City has contracted Ford, better known nationwide as the Hip-Hop Architect, to adorn the outside of the structure with a mural.
Ford said the mural won’t just be painted on the outside of the ramp, but actually be made of metal panels built directly into the structure. That means the design needs to be done before construction begins in April 2023. Ford said his deadline is fast approaching: the City expects schematics for the mural to be completed by July 27, 2022.
Ford said he will present a few ideas at the meeting tonight, but is open to whatever folks on the South Side might envision. There are a few restrictions in terms of the structure, but not in terms of the content.
“My whole goal is making something that people on the south side see as representing the City,” Ford said. That could be photos and names of community members, affirmations, poems — just about anything.
The meeting, which is scheduled to last two hours, is intended for South Side residents. Those interested can register at https://www.hiphoparchitecture.com/southsidemural.
Ford said he and the city will provide and share a link to submit additional ideas for those who can’t make it to the meeting, and another meeting will be held the week of July 18.
