Public Art strives to connect communities with current issues in society. The environment is a common subject in today’s Public Art. Artists that have expressed their thoughts on Environmental Issues include Patricia Johanson, Mel Chin, and Deedee Morrison. These artists have created a space for viewers to contemplate their own environmental impact.
Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) is a non-profit dedicated to bringing artists, engineers and architects together to make art that can create clean energy through public environmental art. LAGI is currently hosting a project in Willimantic, Connecticut. The community of Willimantic is actively involved in economic development through the arts and has done projects such as The Windham Project and created numerous mural and graffiti art works. Many of them have related to the town and the river.
The Willimantic River, which straddles the town, has historically has been used for creating hydroelectricity for the now defunct mills. Whitewater Park now sits where once there was a mill. Whitewater Park Partnership connected with LAGI, Connecticut state Office of the Arts and Eastern Connecticut State University to instigate a sustainable energy public art project. Three finalist teams were selected and each created a concept design. Each team’s work will be featured in an exhibition and a final team will be chosen to bring their plan to life. Through a review and evaluation of the proposals we can better understand their role as public art, community development, sustainability and economic development. The LAGI Willimantic Project offers a unique way to create an art and educational ecological power source of which the whole community can be involved.