
A view of the hanging boat from across Capitol Drive.
Without question, the former Tower Automotive site is one of the most blighted properties in Milwaukee. Thankfully, the city has purchased the site and is in the process of transforming the massive site into Century City. However, Rome wasn’t built in a day, nor was any urban industrial park. To fill the gap between the site’s multi-year transformation from brownfield to productive industrial space, the 30th Street Industrial Corridor Corporation and Business Improvement District #37 invited IN:SITE to create art installations that generate interest in the area.
IN:SITE proposed “ON and OFF CAPITOL” which includes seven art installations centered around Capitol Drive between 31st and 35th Streets. The installations were all done by local artists. Pegi Christiansen, IN:SITE Chair, noted that Seventh District Alderman Willie Wade (whose district includes the site) has been an invaluable resource, as well as Common Council President Hines, and Alderman Kovac and Murphy.
ON and OFF CAPITOL is a welcome breath of fresh air into the currently desolate space (with the exception of Talgo, who is about to occupy the southern most portion of the site). The art work will be in place for up to six months. It’s worth your time to check out IN:SITE’s latest installation.

A look at the railway bridge and surrounding area. The art is definitely a welcome improvement.
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A shot of the pedestrian-unfriendly environment that IN:SITE seeks to mediate with art.
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Portraits and quotes have been collected from within the neighborhood. Pattern by Paula Schulze, portraits and quotes collected by Sarah Luther. These yard signs lie just west of the railway underpass and south of Capitol Drive.
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A shot of the yard signs behind the rusty fence that separates them from the sidewalk.
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The north side of Capitol Drive includes another batch of yard signs as well.
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Signage was integrated to existing transit infrastructure in the area to let people know where to find more art.
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These billboards face east along Capitol Drive. Colin Matthes is the artist.
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The railway underpass has been wrapped in former Clear Channel advertising materials. Installation by Marla Sanvick, pattern by Paula Schulze. This is the first art installation Canadian Pacfic has ever allowed on their property.
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A look at the railway bridge and surrounding area. The art is definitely a welcome improvement.
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A closeup short of the mural along Capitol Drive.
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A mural by Colin Matthes on the north side of Capitol Drive, just west of the railway underpass.
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A hanging boat between two light posts in the former parking lot. By Colin Matthes.
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A view of the hanging boat from across Capitol Drive.
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The windows had to be boarded up for rennovation work, so IN:SITE added a layer of art during the normally unattractive bordering process. Pattern by Paula Schulze, portrats by Sarah Luther.
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“This is our Neighborhood” billboard by Sarah Luther.