The Friends of Lorine Niedecker have sponsored the creation of several public art projects featuring Lorine Niedecker’s writing in and around Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin.
Poetry Walls
Sherman Ave. E
This poetry wall was installed in 2009 on the southeast corner of N. Main Street and Sherman Avenue in Fort Atkinson and features the opening lines of Niedecker’s “Paean to Place”: “Fish / fowl / flood / Water lily mud / My life”.
The mural was designed and painted by Jeremy “Guzzo” Pinc. Funding for this project was provided by the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation, the Wisconsin Arts Board and the Friends of Lorine Niedecker.
Sherman Ave. W
This poetry wall was installed in July 2018 on Sherman Avenue in Fort Atkinson, directly across the street to the west of the first poetry wall. It also features text from Niedecker’s “Paean to Place: “I was the solitary plover / a pencil / for a wing-bone / From the secret notes / I must tilt”.
This mural was designed and painted by Jeremy “Guzzo” Pinc. Funding for this project was provided by the Friends of Lorine Niedecker, Fort Atkinson Community Foundation, Wisconsin Humanities Council with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the State of Wisconsin, Fort Atkinson Arts Council and the Fort Atkinson Tourism Commission.
South Water St. W
A third poetry wall was installed in October 2021 on the north side of the current Hometown Pharmacy building on the corner of South Main Street and South Water Street W in Fort Atkinson. It includes the text of a short poem from Niedecker’s 1968 book North Central: “Mergansers / fans / on their heads // Thoughts on things / fold unfold / above the river beds”.
This mural was designed and painted by Jeremy “Guzzo” Pinc. Funding for this project came from the Friends of Lorine Niedecker Mary Gates Fund and private donors.
Art installations in schools
Fort Atkinson Senior High School
A stained glass mural was installed at Fort Atksinson Senior High School in December 2014. It includes the text of a short poem from Niedecker’s 1968 collection North Central: “Smile / to see the lake / lay / the still sky // And / out for an easy / make / the Dragonfly”.
Led by art teacher Angie Szabo, the stained glass mural was created by Jourdyn Cluver, Caroline Graves, and Kendra Riddle. Funding was provided by the Friends of Lorine Niedecker.
Fort Atkinson Middle School
A mural and recycled metal sculpture was installed in the main hallway of Fort Atkinson Middle School in the summer of 2016. The mural features the final lines of a Niedecker poem: “Thoughts on things / fold unfold / above the river beds”.
The installation was produced by art teacher Cynthia Bliss and a production team which included Erika Koivunen of ACME Ironworks and painter Amy Zaremba. Bliss also worked with a team of students to create a 4 part torn paper mural that was hung in the school’s Instructional Media Center. Funding for this project was provided by the Friends of Lorine Niedecker.
Barrie Elementary School – Fort Atkinson
A painted mural was installed in a main hallway of Fort Atkinson’s Barrie Elementary School in 2018. The mural features the opening lines of a Niedecker poem: “Along the river / wild sunflowers / over my head” above a depiction of the Rock River.
The mural was produced by teacher Susie Belzer and a group of enthusiastic elementary school students. Funding for this project was provided by the Friends of Lorine Niedecker.
Luther Elementary School – Fort Atkinson
In Spring 2022, a painted mural was installed in a prominent hallway near the lunchroom and auditorium of Fort Atkinson’s Luther Elementary School. The mural features the opening stanza of Niedecker’s poem “Come In”: “Education, kindness / live here / whose dog does not impose / her long nose / and barks quietly”.
This project was led by art teacher Jessica Zuniga who worked with local artist Jeremy “Guzzo” Pinc and the student body to create a design around their selected poem. Funding for this project was provided by the Friends of Lorine Niedecker, the Fort Atkinson School District and the Luther Elementary PTO. View a Youtube video of the project here.
Purdy Elementary School – Fort Atkinson
In 2018, a 4-panel glass mosaic was installed in Fort Atkinson’s Purdy Elementary School. The mosiac includes text from Niedecker’s poem “Wintergreen Ridge”: “Where the arrows \ of the road signs \ lead us: \\ Life is natural \ in the evolution \ of matter”.
This project was planned and executed by Principal Leigh Ann Scheuerell, art teacher Jessica Zuniga, kindergarten teacher Andrea Kratz and music teacher Heidi Kosak, and was produced by artist-in-resident Denny Berkery and students from kindergarten through 5th grade. Funding for this project was provided by the Purdy PTO.
Rockwell Elementary School – Fort Atkinson
In 2019, a wall-size mural was installed at Fort Atkinson’s Rockwell Elementary School. The mural includes the opening lines of a 1965 Niedecker poem written after seeing a painting of birds made by her friend and Fort Aktinson high school teacher Gail Roub: “Bird singing / ringing yellow / green”.
This mural was made by Rockwell Elementary School students and teacher Suzie Belzer. Funding for this project was provided by the Friends of Lorine Niedecker.
Olson Elementary School – Verona, Wisconsin
This mural was part of a celebration of the 10-year anniversary of the school. The mural was conceived as a celebration of Paul Olson’s legacy of conservation and the creation of the school forest. Olson was a career educator in the Madison School system after graduation from UW-Madison. The mural includes lines and phrases from several Niedecker poems as part of the larger collage.
This mural was coordinated by art teacher Anna Liska.