Then
Till Now: A History and Culture Based Portrait Of Minneapolis
As Expressed Through Six Geometric Platform Designs
Photos for this project: 01
| 02 | 03 |
04 | 05 | 06
Hiawatha Light Rail System • Minneapolis, Minnesota •
2002-2003
This image: To represent
domestic life, I drew inspiration from The Prairie School of
architecture for the 38th Street station. A chair designed by
William Gray Purcell and George Grant Elmslie in 1912-13 influences
the main portion of the platform. The ramps and center designs
are inspired by the front doors of the Redeemer Missionary Baptist
Church, designed by Purcell and Elmslie. 200’x16’
I spent a week researching patterns in Minneapolis/Saint Paul
museums, working with community members and curators. Each platform
is inspired by artifacts or architectural details found in the
Minneapolis/Saint Paul communities. The specific designs that
I selected as inspirational starting points were picked for
their cultural and historical importance. Each platform design
stands on its own, and together they make a unified statement
about the cultural history of Minneapolis.
Inspiration for the art falls into three groups; a native motif,
immigrant fabrics, and the culture that has developed in Minneapolis
as expressed through its architecture. |
