The smoothly rusted steel structures in the strip of land between Schmitz Hall and the Visitors Information Center comprise a public art project called “Give Voice,” entirely conceived, built and installed by undergraduate and graduate UW students. Students gathered from various artistic disciplines for a spring quarter class called Design-Build Studio, otherwise known as Art 332. The project sprang from the multi-million-dollar improvements to University Way last year. The budget included $25,000 for sidewalks along the site of the art project. For this relatively small amount, the student artists installed the entire public art project, plus sidewalks.
Category: Community News & Events
Current news and events happening on campus and in the community designed to improve quality of life and foster economic vitality.
Storefront Studio
In Spring 2003, Students from the UW School of Architecture and Urban Planning established a “storefront studio” at the former Tower Records space to assist small businesses and property owners design new facades for their buildings. These designs helped businesses and property owners apply for facade improvement money from the City. This project represented a win-win for the community: a vacant storefront was filled; business and property owners received assistance to improve their buildings; and students got a valuable learning experience. For more information contact Jim Nicholls.
Read more about this project in the Seattle-PI.
Art on the Ave fills empty storefronts
Art on the Ave was a program that displayed UW student art in vacant storefronts along University Way. This program started in response to concerns over the look of these storefronts and resulted in a win-win situation for students and building owners alike. Students got the benefit of having their work in the public eye while property owners got better looking storefronts. Property owners donated the use of their space for a set period of time or until it was leased. When the space was no longer available, the art was simply packed up and moved to the next available space. If you have questions or would like to make space available for displaying student art, please contact Aaron Hoard at (206) 221-7684.