Waupaca’s community art project underway

By Angie Landsverk

Two downtown Waupaca crosswalks have new looks.

They were painted by volunteers on Sunday, June 2.

“Murals at Your Feet” is this year’s community art project.

It is anticipation of the 13th annual Arts on the Square (AOTS), set for Aug. 16-17, in Waupaca’s downtown.

“Our dream is to do a mural, so this is practice for that,” said Marci Reynolds, president of the Waupaca Community Arts Board (WCAB).

WCAB organizes AOTS and chooses a community art project each year.

Artists were invited to submit designs for this year’s project.

Rachel Hart’s design was chosen for the East Union Street crosswalk, while Becca Eckhardt’s design was chosen for the East Fulton Street crosswalk.

“I was so honored and excited to have my crosswalk design selected,” Eckhardt said. “I’ve always loved mosaics and interesting designs and have dreamed about displaying my art outside, in a big way.”

She said she was “blessed with a wonderful group of volunteers who all deserve credit for making our lovely city of Waupaca a little lovelier.”

Eckhardt extends her appreciation to WCAB for all it does to make “artists’ dreams come true.”

Hart thought the project was a fun way to do something art-related that got others involved as well.

About 20 people helped paint her design on the crosswalk, she said.

“Rachel’s design was perfect for kids,” Reynolds said.

Hart said she chose quilt blocks for her design because of the popularity of barn quilts and the simplicity of painting a square or triangle.

“It’s a great way to get fun colors together,” she said.

Hart said her mother is a quilter, so that was also part of her inspiration.

“It felt like a huge honor, and to be right off Main Street is special,” Hart said. “It’s a nice addition to the downtown landscape.”

Reynolds was joined by Jan Gray and Mary Phair in heading up the first painting day.

“It was very intense,” Reynolds said. “Some people just showed up and helped. It was very cool. A lot of families came down with kids.”

The city powerwashed the crosswalks and provided barriers for closing the streets.

“A lot of people came down after church, strolling to see it,” she said. “After today, people will be like, ‘When did that happen?’”

Five more crosswalks are set to be painted before AOTS.

The next painting day is Sunday, July 7.

The crosswalks scheduled to be painted that day are the Granite Street crosswalk at Main Street, the West Union Street crosswalk at Main Street and the Cooper Street crosswalk to Rotary Riverview Park.

Reynolds asks those interested in volunteering that day email info@waupacaarts.org or send a message through Facebook Messenger.