Public Art Installations continue at Madison Public Market
The Madison Arts Commission (MAC) is continuing to install public art at the Madison Public Market ahead of its opening.
When these installations are complete, the Madison Public Market will showcase a vibrant collection of public art that reflects the diverse voices, histories, and cultures of the Madison community. The City's Cultural Resources Planner, Meri Rose Ekberg, coordinated the installation of several projects at MPM in recent weeks.
"We are honored to work with all these artists to see their art finally installed. Each work brings the market to life, one piece at a time," Ekberg said.
Art installations will continue as vendors move into the building. The Madison Arts Commission anticipates the majority of the public art will be in place for opening day.
Public Art provided by the City of Madison was made possible by the Municipal Art and Percent for Arts funds. Additional support has come from the Madison Community Foundation, The Friends of The Madison Arts Commission, and The Hoke Family Foundation.
Latest Art Installations
Wahuura Šgaac Nąąkšąną by Nipinet Landsem and Caitlin Newago
The Madison Public Market's latest mural, Wahuura Šgaac Nąąkšąną, is currently being installed on the building. Like many of the art projects in the Market, private donations paid for Landsem and Newago's mural. The Hoke Family Foundation generously sponsored Wahuura Šgaac Nąąkšąną through the Friends of the Madison Arts Commission.
Our design for this mural focuses on the intersection of the wetlands and prairies around the four lakes of Teejop and the creation of an ecosystem that has sustained the Ho-Chunk nation and their ancestors since time immemorial. It is composed of a depiction of the four lakes and Yahara River, botanical illustrations of plant medicines local to the wetlands and prairies of the Teejop area, and an Ojibwe floral frame that references the designs commonly found on bandolier bags among both the Ho Chunk and the Ojibwe. Teejop was a meeting place for many tribes, and so our process to create this design was deeply rooted in Indigenous community connections and knowledge.
Nipinet Landsem and Caitlin Newago
Nipinet Landsem is a tattoo artist and illustrator based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They are a descendant of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and a citizen of the Manitoba Métis Federation. They are deeply drawn to the history of the lakes and prairies they grew up on in Minnesota and the surrounding states. Nipinet is passionate about using art to tell contemporary indigenous stories.
Caitlin Newago is a mother, artist, and tribal member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians (Ojibwe). Currently, she is focusing on modernizing traditional Ojibwe designs and mediums. She is a professionally trained muralist, tattoo artist, digital artist, beadworker and quillworker. She also owns a small business named Bizaanide'ewin- Ojibwemowin for “peace of heart."
While the artists have since moved, Landsem and Newago met and started collaborating while living in Madison.
Cow – Dairyland Dream, Muskie – Depths of Mendota, Flamingo – Pink on the Hill, Crane – Stillness in the Snow, by Hello Madison (Mira Kim)
These pieces adorn the rainwater cisterns with some of our region's favorite animals.
It's truly meaningful to have my work placed in the Public Market. My goal has always been to help bring more color, warmth, and connection to the city through art. Being part of a space that brings the community together through art and culture feels especially personal to me, as Madison is a city I deeply love.
Mira Kim
Hello Madison is an illustration project Kim started in 2020. The work brought small moments of comfort and joy to people going through a difficult time. Kim creates artwork inspired by Madison. They have shared their work through social media, and collaborations with Hilldale Shopping Center, Brava Magazine, and MOKA.
A Good Day by Jim Terry
A Good Day by Ho-Chunk graphic novelist Jim Terry serves as a Visual Land Acknowledgment. The work honors that the Madison Public Market is in Teejop (pronounced day-JOPE), the ancestral and current homeland of the Ho-Chunk Nation.
Terry's illustrations are featured on the main doors to the market and a large medallion into the entryway floor. Terry arranged A Good Day in quadrants:
- A person paddling a canoe
- Marshland plants and water
- Cranes in flight
- Deer in prairie grassland
The artist references the four earthly elements (wind, fire, air, and earth) and their connection to the four cardinal directions. In the center, the design celebrates the historical and cultural significance of the three sisters, corn, beans and squash. The work honors the history of the site with native cattails, a Yellow-headed Blackbird, and a nod to the historic Mendota canoe discoveries.
Terry is a comic book artist. His memoir “Come Home, Indio" was a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize and the Ignatz. Other titles include The Crow, Hack/Slash, Heavy Metal and more. He recently completed “Paper Cuts" as part of his residency at the Newberry. He lives in Chicago with his 3 cats.
Greetings by Actual Size Artworks
Greetings is a sculpture located in the north entry alcove. The work acts as a greeter for the Madison Public Market, creating a sense of curiosity and playfulness. The presence of this piece differentiates the Public Market from the outside world. It lets visitors know that they have entered a "third place" where they can relax, socialize and enjoy the surroundings.
The sculpture features a composite creature seated at a picnic table enjoying a cup of coffee and greeting visitors. An additional animal perched on the table is taking advantage of the other's inattention to its food. The main figure is a composite of a bear with parts of other animals grafted on, such as antlers, horse hooves, and a cow's tail. The creature on the table is a badger and duck.
Our intention is to create a memorable sculpture that appeals to a wide range of visitors and leaves an impression of delight tinged with oddness. This seems like a very Madison quality.
Actual Size Artworks