Poetry Wall – Sherman Ave. E
This poetry wall has been installed on the southeast corner of N. Main Street and Sherman Avenue in Fort Atkinson.
Jeremy Pinc is the artist who created the poetry mural. Funding for this project is being provided by the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation, the Wisconsin Arts Board and the Friends of Lorine Niedecker.
Poetry Wall – Sherman Ave. W
On July 28, 2018 the Friends of Lorine Niedecker dedicated the second poetry wall mural on Sherman Avenue in Fort Atkinson. This mural, directly across the street to the west of the first, was also designed and created by Jeremy 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.
Poetry Wall – South Water St. W
In October 2021 the third poetry wall installation was completed on the north side of the current Hometown Pharmacy building on the corner of South Main Streetand South Water Street W. This piece was also designed and created by Jeremy Guzzo Pinc. Funding for this project came from the Friends of Lorine Niedecker Mary Gates Fund and from private donors.
Fort Atkinson Senior High School
The High School poetry/art installation was completed in December of 2014. 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
During the summer of 2016 art teacher Cynthia Bliss worked with a team including Erika Koivunen of ACME Ironworks and painter Amy Zaremba, to create a mural and recycled metal sculpture in the main hallway of the Middle School. In addition, Bliss worked with a team of students to create a 4 part torn paper mural that is installed in the IMC. Funding for this project was provided by the Friends of Lorine Niedecker.
Barrie Elementary School – Fort Atkinson
Guided by teacher Susie Belzer a group of enthusiastic students painted a mural in a main hallway. The mural carries the image of the Rock River painted in the lunch room out into the hallway and includes words of Lorine Niedecker. Funding for this project was provided by the Friends of Lorine Niedecker.
Luther Elementary School – Fort Atkinson
This project was lead 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. The mural is located in the hallway adjacent to the student lunch room, which also serves as the school’s auditorium and is the location where the School Board meets. This guarantees that the community will have ample opportunities to view the art and learn another piece by Niedecker. 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
Students from Kindergarten through 5th grade worked with artist-in-residence Denny Berkery to complete a 4-panel glass mosaic that includes the line from Wintergreen Ridge “Where the arrows of the road signs lead us: Life is natural in the evolution of matter.” Images from Lorine’s poetry are captured in the mosaics. This project was planned and executed by Principal Leigh Ann Scheuerell, art teacher Jessica Zuniga, kindergarten teacher Andrea Kratz and music teacher Heidi Kosak. Funding for this project was provided by the Purdy PTO.
Rockwell Elementary School – Fort Atkinson
Rockwell Elementary School students worked with teacher Suzie Belzer to create a wall-size painted mural that includes the Niedecker phrase: birds singing ringing yellow green. Funding for this project was provided by the Friends of Lorine Niedecker.
Olsen Elementary School – Madison WI
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.
Art teacher Anna Liska coordinated this project. She states “The mural also honors Wisconsin Poet, Lorine Niedecker, from Ft. Atkinson, WI.” Bits of Lorine’s poetry appear throughout the mural.The collage papers are the student’s original writing and drawing, as well as pages from an entire dictionary. There are words and definitions that directly relate to the mural. The papers have been torn, painted and glued onto the mural.