Wisconsin Avenue utility box mural project concludes with ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 11

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (July 3, 2017) – Months in the making, the Wisconsin Avenue utility box mural project has enlivened downtown Milwaukee’s main street with 10 murals that commemorate the Avenue’s history and progress. To celebrate the project’s completion, a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on Tuesday, July 11 at 12 p.m. at 411 E. Wisconsin Ave. – the site of two utility box murals.

The ceremony will include remarks from Mayor Tom Barrett, Beth Weirick, CEO of Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21, Alderman Michael Murphy, Chair of the Milwaukee Arts Board, and Susan Johnson, Chair of the Downtown Placemaking Task Force and Senior Property Manager of 411 East Wisconsin Center. Performances by DJ Shawna and Lex Allen, as well as lunch from Milwaukee-area food trucks, will top off the celebration.

All 10 utility box murals were composed and created by Mauricio Ramirez, a visual artist who has executed murals across the country for the likes of Microsoft, Warner Music Group, VitaminWater and more. The overarching theme of Ramirez’s murals celebrate Wisconsin Avenue’s rich history of commerce, diversity of architecture and people, and its undoubtedly bright future. Originally from Chicago, Ramirez currently resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The utility box mural project is one of several arts initiatives transforming Wisconsin Avenue. The recently debuted Sculpture Milwaukee project and forthcoming Lighting the Avenue initiative are among the other arts initiatives that are changing perceptions and increasing pedestrian traffic along the Avenue.

The 10 utility boxes that have been transformed this summer include:

o 800 E. Wisconsin Avenue
o 650 N. Jackson Street
o 401 E. Wisconsin Avenue
o 411 E. Wisconsin Avenue
o 200 E. Wisconsin Avenue
o 707 N. Plankinton Avenue
o 703 N. 2nd Street
o 300 W. Wisconsin Avenue
o 700 N. 6th Street
o 706 N. 9th Street

Sponsors of the utility box project include Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21, Milwaukee Arts Board, 411 East Wisconsin Center, Drury Hotel, Wisconsin Club and Wisconsin Center District. Ribbon for the July 11th ceremony provided by Cream City Ribbon. For more information on Mauricio Ramirez, visit www.mauriciopaints.com. For more information on Arts on Wisconsin Avenue, visit www.milwaukeedowntown.com.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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