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| By Jeff Sherman OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writer E-mail author | Author bio More articles by Jeff Sherman |
| Published May 12, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. |
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I walk along the Milwaukee Riverwalk almost daily. Its growth and expansion throughout the Downtown neighborhoods have been impressive, and every season there's more development, public art and plantings.
Yet, the river wall directly under the Chase Bank Building bothers me. It's ugly, an eyesore and in dire need of, at the very least, a paint job. How hard could it be to slap a funky design upon the wall? Heck, I'd even accept an ad or two there. Anything is better than ugly gray concrete.
The classic 1982 James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling article / theory on broken windows (became a book in 1996: "Fixing Broken Windows: Restoring Order and Reducing Crime in Our Communities") applies in our Downtown, too. This excerpt crystallizes the theory well:
"Consider a building with a few broken windows. If the windows are not repaired, the tendency is for vandals to break a few more windows. Eventually, they may even break into the building, and if it's unoccupied, perhaps become squatters or light fires inside.
Or consider a sidewalk. Some litter accumulates. Soon, more litter accumulates. Eventually, people even start leaving bags of trash from take-out restaurants there or breaking into cars."
I say, consider a river and its Riverwalk. If any parts look ugly, weathered and worn, they sadly reflect on the entire area.
Downtown Milwaukee is better than this. Let's paint this wall now! Any takers? I'll help buy the paint.
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16 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review. |
Posted by nan on May 20, 2008 at 3:35 p.m. (report)
Perhaps a contest would bring in some interesting designs... either way...a paint job would go along way.
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Posted by steven595 on May 20, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. (report)
Here is a good story about him: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-560358/Move-Banksy--meet-new-graffiti-artist-stunning-murals-transforming-drab-buildings.html
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Posted by steven595 on May 20, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. (report)
Milwaukee! The man we need to paint the wall (and any other dead concrete wall spaces downtown) is Eric Grohe. He paints these amazing 3-D gorgeous murals on blanks walls. He has already worked in Milwaukee. He painted the murals in the Miller Brewing Brew Room and Fermenting Room. His website is http://www.ericgrohemurals.com.
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Posted by mitchgat on May 16, 2008 at 12:42 p.m. (report)
Thank you ChateauDweller!!! Art for welfare... great way of putting it!
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Posted by ChateauDweller on May 16, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (report)
Hey Brenner Stop whinning about art in Milwaukee. You sound like a spoiled brat who didn't get to eat a chicken patty for breakfast. It is not the public's responsibility to provide you with art-welfare. Maybe if you weren't so obnoxious, you wouldn't have had to close your gallery. Sincerely, All of Milwaukee
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