Tyler Holman, a junior majoring in art with emphases in studio and graphic design, has presented an idea to revolutionize the Sheboygan community with public artwork. Holman announced his idea in a presentation including a video and a speech at the annual Mosaic Concert on Thursday, Feb. 21.
Holman is originally from Plymouth, Wisconsin, and moved to South Carolina for five years before coming back to the Sheboygan area.
“Sheboygan has an opportunity to revolutionize its existence,” Holman said of his concept for beautifying the Sheboygan area with community art.
Holman envisions that Lakeland can develop an art class that will allow students a chance to both build their portfolios and beautify the community.
He expects that willing community members can contribute donations of land throughout Sheboygan, and the students can take it from there, using supplies from Lakeland and their own supplies as needed.
“These projects would have a grace period of two semesters—a total of six credits—to create a work of art the public can enjoy for years to come,” said Holman.
In his speech, Holman pointed out that Sheboygan “is empty and gray, especially in winter.”
He then drew the audience’s attention to the video footage he shot of the two coal towers pumping smoke into the city’s air and asked, “Is this our symbol as a county?”
Holman feels that the towers are disgusting.
“Put yourself in the shoes of the visitor who has never seen Sheboygan,” says Holman. “What would your first reaction be after seeing [the towers]?”
Holman draws his inspiration from several sources.
The original idea came to him while listening to a lecture about the Sistine Chapel in Art History.
Holman says he began to ask himself, “Why isn’t there more art in the world? At first, I was focusing on the world.
“It wasn’t long until I channeled my attention to the source of why I [first began to question], which was the area I’m exposed to the most—Sheboygan.”
Holman also was inspired by Sheboygan’s more artistic neighboring city Chicago and its Millennium Park.
In his video presentation, he included photographs showing the actively-used park and its large and recognizable sculptures.
“The artwork they present symbolizes them, while the towers symbolize us,” says Holman.
Holman also recognized the financial side of the project in researching Millennium Park.
According to Edward K. Uhlir, a FAIA Executive Director of the Millennium Park Project, “The first six months after Millennium Park opened over 2 million people visited.
“We expect that the yearly visitation will be in excess of 3 million.
“This attendance translates into significant revenues to be realized by Chicago businesses.
“The average expenditure for international visitors is $300 per day and overnight domestic visitors is $150 per day.”
Holman hopes that Sheboygan will not only experience a financial benefit similar to Chicago’s but also the benefit of unifying a “gray” community with color and beauty.
“Art is important. It’s a lively experience that unites us all,” said Holman. “[We go to class] to learn—to make us better. …A project like this would do the same, only at a higher level that involves the community.”