Minneapolis, MN
Lake Street art drop hopes to draw people back to commercial, cultural corridor
Artwork treasure hunt underway alongside Lake Avenue
A brand new occasion is hoping to carry extra folks again to the Lake Avenue cooridor in Minneapolis.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – It could seem like Lauren Walburg and Olivia Boerschinger are casually strolling by way of the Longfellow neighborhood, however they’re actually on the hunt for artwork.
“I believe Lake Avenue is simply close to and pricey to my coronary heart. I grew up in Minneapolis. It is a good group occasion,” stated Walburg.
The Lake Avenue Council labored with an area artist to cover 7 artworks, from recycled fanny packs to mini-painting, alongside a several-block stretch of East Lake Avenue for a free scavenger hunt known as the Lake Avenue Artwork Drop.
Then organizers posted clues on Instagram each couple of minutes.
If a hunter discovered one of many hidden objects, they bought to maintain it for themselves.
“We actually wish to carry one thing playful to the hall. We love bringing guests right here to the hall to get out on foot and discover and possibly they’re going to uncover one thing new as they’re out strolling and searching,” stated Charise Canales with the Lake Avenue Council.
The council says companies alongside Lake Avenue, lots of that are BIPOC or Immigrant-owned, are nonetheless making an attempt to get again on their toes after the pandemic and the unrest following the homicide of George Floyd.
Organizers see the artwork drop as a technique to appeal to folks to the business and cultural hall and possibly eat at a restaurant or store at a retailer whereas they’re there.
“It has been gradual and unhappy to not have folks out and about extra and feeling protected. Feeling like they wish to be within the neighborhood. Be part of the neighborhood. So I hope that’s altering and issues like this may help,” stated Anna Wienke, a South Minneapolis-based artist, whose items of artwork had been hidden for the artwork drop.
Organizers say this would be the first of a number of artwork drops with totally different artists alongside totally different sections of Lake Avenue, on the primary Thursday of each month by way of the summer season.
However Walburg says they should not cease there.
“I really feel like that is one thing they might do within the winter too and get folks outdoors. Tremendous enjoyable,” stated Walburg.