Dayton Street Asphalt Art Demonstration Project
Image credit:
Chalk Riot
From September 15–19, we’re transforming W Dayton Street (between N Frances and N Bedford) with a bold asphalt art mural to support safer, more joyful streets. Painted directly onto the roadway, asphalt art can help slow vehicle speeds, improve visibility for people walking and biking, and bring a sense of place to the corridor.
This project is produced by the City of Madison, in collaboration with Chalk Riot and local partners.
Artwork & Artist
Artist
Image credit:
bernie & zuzu
Madison-based artist and educator Bernie Witzack creates bold, colorful, hand-printed works through her studio, bernie & zuzu. Bernie specializes in community-focused art, teaches workshops across Madison, and is co-president of the Polka! Press printmaking collective.
Artwork
Image credit:
Ben Dimenstein; bernie & zuzu
“Rainbow over Zebra Mountain” came to me fully formed, which is unusual since I usually work more improvisationally. I’ve always loved triangles for their shape and variety, maybe because they’re the simplest way to suggest a human form? Zebra stripes are also so interesting to me—their complexity and uniqueness in nature. Layering these two patterns into a mountain just made sense to me: small triangles forming a larger one, intersecting with the zebra stripes. Beyond the formal interest, I see this piece as being about strength and resilience—when we embrace our unique shapes, we can climb mountains, both in ourselves and in our communities.
It is so exciting that my design was chosen as a public art mural that is meant to improve safety and calm traffic. I am an avid biker and walker as well, and I love that my artwork is being used to help calm the streets, and I hope the colors and pattern brings passerby a moment of joy or delight in their day as well.
Timeline
- Timeframe:
Sept. 3–19- Initial Speed Data Collection: Sept. 3-4
- Striping and Flex Posts Installed: Sept. 5-10
- Pressure Washing Art Surface: Sept 11-12
- Chalk Riot in Madison: Sept. 14–19
- Workshop + Prep Day: Sept. 15
- Project Installation: Sept. 16–19
- Post Speed Data Collection: Spring 2026
Location
The mural will be installed on W. Dayton Street between N. Frances and N. Bedford Streets, east of the Kohl Center and UW–Madison Campus. Expect temporary parking and traffic adjustments during painting hours.
What to Expect
- Car Traffic: W. Dayton Street will be closed during painting. Do not drive over artwork.
- People walking & biking: Use sidewalks, and avoid going over artwork.
- Noise & activity: Normal construction-like activity during working hours
- Parking: Short-term parking restrictions near the project block