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After an interactive photo frame appeared at Bradford Beach earlier in July, a second one was installed at South Shore Park on Wednesday.
The installations quite literally frame Wisconsin, allowing users to snap photos of themselves in the frame, perched on a board attached to the frame with ropes.
Framing Wisco – a collaborative that includes MSOE, JP Cullen Construction, Pattee Group, Kowalske Kitchen & Bath, Milwaukee Parks Foundation, Milwaukee County Parks, Knight Barry Title, Forward 48, Hoan Group, Joy Engine, Visit Milwaukee and Light the Hoan – put up the first interactive installation at Bradford Beach.
On Wednesday, another one popped up at South Shore Park as part of the ArtBlaze event.
The effort hopes to foster new ways for people to connect to their environment and will ultimately appear around Wisconsin, after debuting here in Milwaukee.
The frames are being installed in areas of natural beauty and perhaps if people take a moment to sit for a photo, they’ll appreciate the environment around them and be inspired.
“Milwaukee Parks Foundation is thrilled to support Framing Wisco's innovative initiative,” said Milwaukee Parks Foundation Executive Director Rebecca Stoner.
“This project aligns perfectly with our mission to collectively steward a thriving park system for all. These installations encourage residents and visitors to explore, appreciate, and interact with our beloved Milwaukee County Parks.”
The frames were designed and made by the CREATE Institute at MSOE.
“We are proud to partner with business and community organizations for initiatives like Framing Wisco,” said Dr. John Walz, MSOE president. “Through projects like this, our students develop what we call ‘The MSOE Mindset’ and they become empowered to lead flourishing and productive lives as key contributors to their communities.
“Milwaukee and Wisconsin are fortunate to have vibrant park systems and Framing Wisco is an exciting way for locals and tourists to engage with their surroundings.”
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.
