As part of a vision for an enhanced pedestrian experience along North 2nd Street between Michigan Street and Postman's Porch at Wells Street, Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21, has partnered with The Avenue on a new mural on the south face of the skywalk that spans the street between Wisconsin Avenue and Michigan Street.
The groups are seeking submissions from local artists and collectives for the space, which measures 92 feet wide by 15 feet high.
The skywalk connects the Plankinton Arcade with The Avenue, which was formerly The Shops of Grand Avenue, and which will now house the 3rd Street Market Hall and offices.
According to a release from Milwaukee Downtown, "This first-of-its-kind mural in downtown Milwaukee will strengthen pedestrian connectivity between existing parking structures and soon-to-open attractions, such as the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Center and 3rd Street Market Hall.
"The 2nd Street skywalk mural will complement the vision for 2nd Street, which calls for additional pedestrian amenities, including public art and seating, between Michigan Street and Postman Square."
The mural will join a number of others that have popped up in recent years throughout the Westown neighborhood, including ones painted by Emma Daisy Gertel, Mauricio Ramirez, and Katie Batten and Janson Rapisarda.
Artists interested in submitting should read the request for qualifications, which can be seen here.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
