BA, French and Art History, University of Minnesota
My thesis focused on the restorative qualities of public art, using the Scottsdale Art Buses as a case study to show that art can transform not only on a personal level but also on a community level. This project partnered artists (poets, photographers and other visual artists) to design the exterior of several buses that would circulate throughout the city. The first project was such a success that we opted to continue for two more years.
I developed the Scottsdale Art Bus project in the late 1990s when I was in that city's transportation department. I set out to accomplish three key goals---to raise awareness of the city's mass transit system, to create a partnership with the Public Art Program and to provide at-risk youth an opportunity to express themselves in a meaningful way. It's this last goal that proved to demonstrate how a collaborative public art project can have a positive effect on not only those who participate in the project but also those who encounter it within the community.
While I've always been interested in pursuing a masters degree, the traditional Public Administration program never held much appeal. I found much more value in the opportunity to shape my degree around the notion of community sustainability. I am also a strong believer in the restorative quality of public art and wanted to explore how that translated on a broader level.