FINDING + SELECTING ARTISTS

Commissioning artists and curating public art programming can be difficult parts of a project. That’s where Forecast comes in: our four decades in this field means we bring to your project deep knowledge of public artists and projects, as well as effective, community-engaged practices.

Our Forecast consulting team involves and supports artists throughout a process, offering professional development skill building and opportunities for public art commissions. We broaden awareness and increase appreciation for the role that public art and artists play in building community, enhancing the built environment, creating meaningful places and shaping public history.

We emphasize access for artists of color, indigenous artists, and groups that are traditionally excluded.

Artist Yatika Fields in front of his mural at Memorial Park in Siloam Springs, Arkansas.

COMMISSIONING + CURATION

Artists and creativity can play a vital role in project and development efforts. The experienced consulting team at Forecast is ready to help!

Artist Commissioning: We help you determine your goals for a public art project, and facilitate the artist commissioning process, including RFQ creation, artist selection, implementation and project management.
Public Art Curating and Programming: Let us help you plan, develop, and manage public art programming. Our experience includes creating exhibits, planning events and managing temporary installations.

PROJECT SPOTLIGHTS

Jen Lewin at LUX Doral

Forecast was hired to curate new permanent works of public art for LUX Doral, a large-scale dynamic art initiative in Doral, Florida. One of the first artists to complete and install works is international artist Jen Lewin. Trained as a dancer, musician, and architect, Lewin combines these disciplines in her visual work. The interactive sculptures she created, Andante and Helix, combine mathematical, musical, and dance principals to stimulate multiple senses, and they have been a major hit with visitors. An interactive beacon of light, Helix generates light effects as you move beneath it, while Andante is an interactive light and sound wave that you can compose with your motions.

I have now worked in public art for 27 years, and have worked with hundreds of clients, sites, and individuals, and I wholeheartedly recommend the team at Forecast. As an artist, many of my projects require more support than a single artist and their studio can successfully provide. I will always accept a commission when asked to work with Forecast, knowing that they employ caring staff members who are well versed in every area of public art. The Forecast team know how to facilitate artistic projects that not only faithfully represent the artist’s and client’s visions, but also bring them together—fostering a collaborative working relationship that inevitably leads to the best work possible.

Jen Lewinartist–Jen Lewin Studio

Larry Cohen Recognition Project

The County and City of Saint Paul, Minnesota, by official resolution, established the project to honor, remember and carry forward the legacy and work of Judge Larry Cohen, who devoted his life to promoting diverse and inclusive leadership as Chair of the Ramsey County Board, Mayor of Saint Paul, and Chief Judge of the Second Judicial District (Ramsey County).

A diverse group of citizens and elected officials from the city, county and judicial branch came together under the leadership of Commissioner Jim McDonough to give life to the project. With North East Neighborhoods Development Corporation as the fiscal agent and Forecast Public Art providing project management direction, the committee issued a request for proposal to create artwork that reflects the themes of citizenship and diversity. They selected Marjorie Pitz to design the project. Major project components include: A pergola of light with slender poles that mimic the vertical stainless steel details of the building and support a network of overhead cables and light-catching elements; Dove chairs that provide playful seating and become glowing lanterns at night, illuminating cultural stories from Saint Paul’s diverse community; The Cohen memorial sculpture providing a welcoming symbol that can be interpreted as an open hand lifted in greeting and as a dove; An “ethics path” with short, declarative statements that invite people to follow in Cohen’s footsteps.

Located on the southeast corner of the City Hall and Courthouse building, the project will serve as a welcoming place where people can learn about Saint Paul’s rich immigrant history and the values and work of Judge Cohen. More about this and other Forecast projects bringing beauty and equity to the built environment in summer 2021.

Photos by Shun Yong
Jean Krueger, County property manager, artist Marjorie Pitz, and Jen Krava from Forecast
Dove chair artists (left to right): Connor Rice, Tomas Arratti, Pa Na Lor, and Gracie Horne
Tomas Arratti, dove chair artist
Gracie Horne, dove chair artist
Pa Na Lor, dove chair artist
Connor Rice, dove chair artist
Forecast consulting team member Aki Shibata, right, with Jean Krueger, County property manager
Judge Cohen takes a congratulatory phone call the week before his retirement. Pioneer Press: Richard Marshall

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Artist Aaron De La Cruz and the Alvera Building

Working with The Ackerberg Group and DJR Architecture, Forecast curated internationally recognized artist Aaron De La Cruz for the massive mural completed September 22, 2021 on the new seven-story, mixed-use building on West 7th Street in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Aaron free-hand painted 7,500 square feet over three weeks, sometimes working from eighty feet in the air, to create distinct, minimal designs with strong marks. A special designer was also brought in to customize the siding design to flow with Aaron’s mural.

The artist feels a special connection with this work: the building is named “Alvera” after developer Stu Ackerberg’s mother; on Aaron’s mother’s birthday, the artist painted the final brush stroke, saying “It was one of those moments that felt like it was meant to happen.”

Along with artist support on the project, Forecast’s consulting team member Tricia Heuring also coordinated with City Mischief to paint concrete barriers in front of the building while it was under construction, creating a more attractive environment for the neighborhood.

Photos by Drew Arrieta

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Are you seeking technical assistance on accessible and equitable planning efforts? We can help you with planning and engagement.

LEARN MORE

Our team works in communities across the country and globe. These are the U.S. locations where we have been on the ground—meeting with stakeholders and partnering with communities to meet their public art and engagement needs—and our list is growing by the day.