Michael Strand, head of the visual arts department, took part in a media conference on Dec. 8 as part of his involvement with “The Fargo Project,” a pilot project to transform a neighborhood drainage basin into a community recreational area.
Strand, who serves as a principal design collaborator on “The Fargo Project,” commented on the value of the project to the local art community.
The Fargo Project aims to redesign select drainage basins throughout the city into sites that will enrich the community through culture, art and sense of social connectivity, while still maintaining their function as storm water collection sites. The sites are Rabanus Park at 4315 18th Ave. S., Jefferson Park at 1831 5th Ave. S. and Buena Vista at 615 40th St. S.
Others participating in the conference at the Fargo Public Library were Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker, Fargo city planner Nicole Crutchfield and Rocco Landsman, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. Attendees included city employees, artists, arts advo- cates and service workers.
According to the City of Fargo Website, the opportunity to develop “The Fargo Project” is based on a relationship established with ecological artist Jackie Brookner, and through a $100,000 National Endowment for the Arts grant. The grant will be matched by the City of Fargo.
The process will begin with a single pilot project developed under the care of Brookner, along with local artists. They will work to- gether with one of the surrounding neighborhoods affected by the new drainage ditches to design the first of many new functional focal points within the city.
For more Information, visit www.cityoffargo.com/CityInfo/Departments/PlanningandDevelopment/TheFargoProject- NEAOurTown.