Flamingo Swirl Mural
Madison Flower Flash, 2021
Describe your image.
Vibrant Hydrant, 2022
September 11th, 2022
Monona, WI
This project brought together eleven talented artists from across the State of Wisconsin including; Joseph Anderson, Lilada Gee, Sapphira Afifi, Leah Jurgens, Bethany Benisch, Brooke Wentl, Jessica Fuchs, Ryan Swain, Dawn V. Cieszynski, Paisley Bravo, and Danielle Doetsch. The unique "canvas" for this project was fifteen approved local fire hydrants working in collaboration with the Monona Fire & EMS Department. Priority was given to artists who have been historically underrepresented in a call for art. The MPAP brought this innovative project to fruition as a special way to honor those we lost in the terrorist attacks of 9.11.2001 using art to spark and elevate the human spirit to work toward a more inclusive and peaceful world. These wonderful hydrants will remain on view for many years to come!
#VibrantHydrant #MadisonPublicArtProject #VisitMonona #MyMonona @madisonpublicartproject
Many thanks to our generous sponsors This project is supported by Dane County Arts and Cultural Affairs with additional funds from the Endres Mfg. Company Foundation, The Evjue Foundation, Inc., charitable arm of The Capital Times, the W. Jerome Frautschi Foundation, and the Pleasant T Rowland Foundation. Additional funding made possible by Summit Credit Union, American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate & Social Impact and Herb Kohl Philanthropies. Supported by the Monona Tourism Commission, and the generosity of private donors. Thank you to our Project Sponsors and Monona Business Sponsors: Homburg Inc, Booth 121, Salvatore’s Tomato Pies. In-Kind contributions for the opening reception provided by the MOFD Association, and Wisconsin Printing.
*Donate on our homepage for funding to support our next round of Vibrant Hydrants
Download our Children's Activity Guide here:
Location: 6400 Monona Dr. Monona, WI
Photo ⓒ Madison Public Art Project
Location: 6316 Monona Dr, Monona, WI
Photo ⓒ Madison Public Art Project
Location: 5525 Monona Dr, Monona, WI
Photo ⓒ Madison Public Art Project
Instagram: @brookewentland
Artist Bio:
Brooke Wentland is thrilled to join the Madison Public Art Project's Vibrant Hydrant project! Currently employed as an Art Director/Graphic Designer in Middleton, WI, Brooke Wentland earned her BFA in Fine Art and Graphic Design from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Brooke enjoys many forms of art but primarily focuses on painting and photography. She also enjoys taking on freelance graphic design projects and participating in community public art efforts. Other public art pieces include two Bucky statues (It Takes Two Wheels and Baller Bucky) as part of the 2018 “Bucky on Parade” in Madison, WI, an eight-foot tall giraffe in Henry Vilas Zoo’s 2010 “Art Zoobilee” in Madison, WI, and “Bear, Bears and More Bears” (2004) and “Cat’n Around Downtown” (2003) in Racine, WI.
Location: 6300 Monona Dr, Monona, WI
Photo ⓒ Madison Public Art Project
Instagram: @swainsworldcreations
Artist Bio:
"My work projects the creative ideas I have in my everyday life. As a self-taught artist I’d say I’m not one to limit myself to a style, concept, or medium. I have many different approaches to my art. I love the use of shapes and colors to form a visual abstract picture with the use of line work, colors, and sometimes faces. I also enjoy creating my own spin on characters, people, or simply anything that comes to mind. The materials I use in most of my work are spray-paint, acrylic, and watercolor and on a range of objects such as paper, canvas, wood/wood cutouts, televisions, gum-ball machines, shoes, and clothing. I even make digital art consistently and have made plenty stickers/clothing from that. I‘ve always had passion for street art and its a big goal of mine to work on a mural one day. I’m enamored by the fact that as humans we can all create something that will be different to us and the perspectives of others and just simply unique. The reason I make art is simply for the joy it brings me and hopefully viewers as well. There’s a world out there of objects, shapes, and colors and it inspires me to see it all coming to life in my art."
Location: 6000 Monona Dr, Monona, WI
Photo ⓒ Madison Public Art Project
Instagram: @fuchsartist
Artist Bio:
Jessica Fuchs joins the Vibrant Hydrant project from East Troy, WI. She has been working in various and assorted art forms since she was a child. Being a self-taught artist beyond the curricula of high school, Jessica has dabbled in a variety of mediums from watercolors and acrylic to found object sculpture, most recently working with what nature leaves behind. Jessica previously held a pop-up solo art show on the square in East Troy and has had her work featured in various businesses throughout her community and surrounding areas. Currently Jessica works with the First Friday’s Committee in East Troy to bring a variety of arts [visual, music & food] to the Community through her involvement with First Friday’s. She has worked on multiple public art projects within her community, most notably the bone frame, displayed during the Art & Wine walk at First Fridays in 2016. Jessica also has been holding paint and sip style classes at Cultivated in Burlington, WI as well as weaving in some self-inflicted art therapy with her public art paint series entitled ‘Emotional Damage’ held in various and assorted locations around Wisconsin; coming soon to Altered State of Mind in Bayview, WI. Bringing art to the masses has been immensely rewarding for Jessica, and she hopes to continue it long into her future.
Location: 5413 Monona Dr, Monona, WI
Photo ⓒ Madison Public Art Project
Location: 5900 Water Tower Place, Monona, WI 53716
Photo ⓒ Madison Public Art Project
Location: 4515 Gordon Avenue, Monona, WI
Photo ⓒ Madison Public Art Project
Location: 5809 Monona Dr. Monona, WI
Photo ⓒ Madison Public Art Project
Instagram: @liladasart
Artist Statement:
"My art comes out of the depth of my lived experiences, and every experience of my foremothers. The richness of our culture, the wealth and expansion of our wisdom, the atrocities and cruelties of our traumas, the courage and strength of our survivial and the hopes and proyers for our daughters and our daughters to come."
Location: 5211 Schluter Rd. Monona, WI
Photo ⓒ Madison Public Art Project
Instagram: @almostpaints
Artist Bio:
Joseph Anderson, also known as Almost, is a visual artist born and raised in Wisconsin, although traveling full time, Wisconsin is still considered homebase. His specialty is spray painting and murals, but also proficient and passionate in oils and acrylics on canvas or wood, specializing in caricature and elaborate cartoon characters as well as realism and abstract work. He has been a professional artist since 2007, working in many mediums and trades. His passion and focus with his work to push the limits of his abilities and skill set, combining self expression with technical ability. Mural work is especially inspiring as it has the possibility of changing an environment or atmosphere of a community or business and inspires others to express themselves which is the biggest compliment and accomplishment as an artist.
Location: 5507 Monona Dr, Monona, WI
Photo ⓒ Madison Public Art Project
Location: 5705 Monona Dr, Monona, WI
Photo ⓒ Madison Public Art Project
Artist Bio:
Dawn is beyond excited to participate in this important and meaningful public art project. She has previously worked at Encore Studio for the Performing Arts for the past 17 years. She loves to draw, paint with acrylics, and- of course- be creative! He work was also seen when she painted the entire front of the Little Free Library previously on view at the Waisman Center Research institute in Madison.
Location: 6033 Monona Dr, Monona, WI
Photo ⓒ Madison Public Art Project
Artist Bio:
"Leah is a self-proclaimed Artist who sees a kaleidoscope of beauty in her surroundings. She is a delicate balance between dark and light. Her work has been described as mystical, surrealist and perplexing. She is very much attuned to even the slightest detail, making each piece she creates, intriguing and rich with depth."
Location: 6105 Monona Dr, Monona, WI
Photo ⓒ Madison Public Art Project
Artist Bio:
"Danielle Doetsch rediscovered her love of art during a very dark and difficult time in her life. While recovering from serious injuries resulting from a head on collision with a drunk driver, she felt compelled to pick up a paint brush and express her feelings with watercolors. During this time, she was also diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. She was feeling very defeated and lost. Art was her light through this difficult time. She decided she wanted to explore oil painting with it's rich colors and depth. With each brush stroke, she was discovering new meaning and purpose. It made her see the beauty in life again and ignited a passion to share that beauty with others. She hopes her work will inspire others and help them see the joy and beauty of life. To get lost in those magic moments that make life worth living".
Location: 6203 Monona Dr, Monona, WI
Photo ⓒ Madison Public Art Project
Artist Bio:
Paisley is the youngest artist to join the project- a 4th grader with a passion for drawing and helping animals. She loves gymnastics and dancing to the beat of her own drum.
Open the Google Map locations here!