by Mark Lawson

The Urban Ecology Center (UEC), located in Milwaukee’s historic Riverside Park, has been reviewing proposals for public art projects as part of the UEC’s expansion project. The Center’s Art Selection Committee has carefully considered several strong proposals and sought public input at an open community meeting in November. After much careful deliberation, two artists were selected to create works for the park. Peter Flannary has been commissioned to create several large scale sculptures constructed out of field stone and bronze, with the theme of the meandering path of the river as their general subject. Jeremy Wolf has also been selected from the competition to produce one anthropomorphic animal sculpture for an adjacent area of the park. The UEC is still in the midst of an ambitious capital campaign to raise funds for these art works as well as for their new building and other features of their plans for Riverside Park. The new building, designed by the innovative local architectural firm of Kubala Washatko, has been rising rapidly in the Southwest corner of the upper park. It will greatly expand the Center’s ability to conduct its educational programs which are primarily geared to making connections between the community and the natural environment. The UEC provides environmental educational experiences to hundreds of urban youth. If you’re interested in making a donation to this worthy project, call the Urban Ecology Center at 414/964-8505.