Green Bay mayor contacts Waupaca mayor about art project

By Angie Landsverk

The “Murals at Your Feet” in downtown Waupaca are attracting attention from outside the community.

Mayor Brian Smith said the painted crosswalks are resulting in discussions in other cities about how the project was accomplished here.

Among those who have contacted him was Green Bay’s mayor.

Smith said Waupaca is one of the first communities in the area to actually do a project like this.

He described the interest as “pretty cool.”

Marci Reynolds has also been contacted by people from other communities, including Green Bay, Platteville and Wausau.

“They saw it on the internet,” she said. They’re amazed at the quality of the painting.”

Reynolds is the president of the Waupaca Community Arts Board.

The board organizes Arts on the Square and chooses a community art project for it.

It chose Murals at Your Feet for this year’s project.

Reynolds said people from other communities want to know how the board accomplished the project.

They want to know if there were any roadblocks and also about the board’s relationship with the city.

She sent them a copy of what she presented to the common council several months ago.

Reynolds also included information about their timeline and the various relationships that allowed them to do the project.

Designs were sought from area artists, and the board worked with the city to figure out the logistics.

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

Where to find painted crosswalks

Five crosswalks have been painted thus far.

They are the East Union Street crosswalk at Main Street, East Fulton Street crosswalk at Main Street, West Union Street crosswalk at Main Street, Granite Street crosswalk at Main Street and Cooper Street crosswalk to Rotary Riverview Park.

The final two are being painted in August, on days leading up to Arts on the Square.

The arts festival is Friday and Saturday, Aug. 16-7, with activities on North Main Street and in Rotary Riverview Park.
The Session Street crosswalk near Main Street is being painted on Sunday, Aug. 11.

The Main Street crosswalk at Session Street is set to be painted on Friday, Aug. 16.

“People are so happy to see the painting,” Reynolds said. “People are reacting with joy.”

She said it makes people feel good about the community.

“I’m really glad they (the city) allowed us to do this,” Reynolds said. “All the paintings are so joyful, happy. I’m happy it’s been well received. We appreciate (that) the city let it happen.”