Arts commission advances paint project, art map planning and Juneteenth participation

Commissioners reviewed ongoing arts-site mapping work, a proposed citywide paint project and a series of upcoming public programs from Artsmith Hudson. The commission said it intends to support a community paint event planned for May 25 and will participate in the city's Juneteenth arts-and-education walking tour.

A commissioner summarized the art-map effort as a multi-year need to aggregate listings of venues, murals, monuments and exhibitions and said the commission will discuss implementation options at a working session. "It's definitely something that's needed," a commissioner said about the art map.

Commissioners discussed a paint project scheduled for May 25 that will bring artists and local businesses together at a central location to network and showcase work. The commission described the May 25 date as a likely Sunday and said it will aim to make the paint project an inaugural, city-supported event.

Artsmith Hudson programs were listed for commission notice: a March 25 virtual session on creating a body of work with accountability coaching, an April 2 poetry reading and open mic at the Artsmith headquarters, and the ongoing Thrive program on making a career in the arts. Commissioners endorsed promoting those programs to local artists.

The commission also said it will staff a tent for the Juneteenth celebration to highlight contributions from the African American diaspora and to showcase local artists and education resources along the river walkway. Commissioners closed the meeting by voice vote.