Micro/Macro

One of my favorite places in Milwaukee is the Commerce St Area. I growing up I’ve always enjoyed the outdoors. When I moved to Milwaukee five years ago I didn’t think I would have that outdoor space I loved so much. I love the urban environment as well—being so close to amenities like shops, restaurants and the mix of modern and historic architecture Milwaukee has. The Commerce St Area is a mix of all those things that I love. Kilbourn Park and the River Walk are where I spend most of my days off during the summer. It’s a quiet area with a great view of nature, as well as the cityscape. I spend a lot of time taking photos, drawing, thinking and listening to music here. The object I would choose to represent Commerce St. would have to be a brick. I chose this object because a brick comes from the earth (nature), yet is urban and industrial.

The personal object I have chosen is some coral that I collected while on a trip in Costa Rica in 2007. This is important to me because whenever I look at the coral I remember the fun times I had on my trip with my friends. I think about sitting in the warm waters of the ocean, digging my hands into the sand and pulling up the coral. I don’t take vacations very often, and have only been out of the country this one time, so this souvenir is very special to me. The place in Milwaukee that I would relate this coral to is probably the beach. I go here pretty often in the summertime when it’s not too crowded. Being near the water, with the sound of the waves is very soothing and makes me think of Costa Rica

I decided to go to the Commerce St area for my intervention. My intervention was meant to make a comment about the destruction of nature/ marshes/ forests for the development of buildings etc. I chose the Commerce St area because this is one of the newest developments in Milwaukee. That area used to be marshlands until recent years. The area I made my intervention was on a retaining wall, near the Booth St Stairs. I drew wildlife on the wall with chalk—a deer, a duck and birds. I did this to make people aware that this area was once home to these animals.