Walldogs on Nicollet: Creating Public Art in Minneapolis, July 24-27

Minneapolis' Nicollet Avenue gets decorated Thursday, Friday, and the weekend with ten murals on eight businesses.

Artists and volunteers will paint images on diverse businesses from Twin Cities Tattoo at 3131 Nicollet Avenue, to Ungerman Construction at 4450 Nicollet Avenue.

This is the southern section of Nicollet Avenue that was cut off from the northern half of the road by the construction of a Kmart at Lake Street in the 1970s. The Avenue north of Lake Street turned into "Eat Street" and is a busy, popular destination, but the southern half suffers from it's relative isolation in the city. The city of Minneapolis has plans to revitalize Nicollet Avenue, which aims to provide assistance to businesses on the southern half, and make the area a better place to live, and may eventually reconnect the two halves of the road. Community events to beautify the neighborhood are little steps toward to the vision of a thriving, reconnected Nicollet Avenue.

As well as the art, there will be family art activities, a bake sale, picnic, community party, and the opportunity to meet the artists. Block parties are being held on Saturday and Sunday evenings.

Metro Transit is offering free rides on buses and light rail on Saturday with the Walldogs pass, which can be printed out here.

So go visit the murals and artists, volunteer to help with the painting or organizing, have fun, and support this unique community project. Here's hoping the weather stays good for the weekend!

• Who's getting painted? Walldogs Mural Sites
• Walldogs Event Schedule

_{Walldogs on Nicollet Mural Design. Photo (c) Walldogs on Nicollet.}