Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief
At it’s monthly board meeting, the village of Plain heard from leaders at the Wormfarm Institute about an interactive, community oriented art project being constructed in the village over the summer.
Wormfarm Institute is responsible for hosting Fermentation Fest and the Art’D Tour, which is an art tour throughout the state that aims to capture rural communities and farming culture through art.
The festival had an art stop in Plain for the first time last year, and will now be returning to include the village in installations the organization is calling “Test Plots” which are interactive, site responsive art installations created by architects.
Wormfarm Institute partnered with FUNdaMENTAL Designs and Kraemer Brothers Construction to install interactive, colorful ribbons in a prairie field behind the Driftless Extracts corporate building, the idea behind the project being to strengthen community partnerships and test different art features for the upcoming 2022 art tours, said Philip Matthews, the Wormfarm Institute director of programs.
Three architects and an organizer from FUNdaMENTAL Designs will be living in Plain from June to July to develop thetest plot, the three designers include Eli Liebenow, Julia DiPietro and Cameron Kursel, all from Brooklyn, New York with roots and inspiration from Wisconsin.
Matthews said he is unsure of what the final product will look like or a timeline of how long the installation will stay erected in the village, saying the designers will determine this once they investigate the site.
“This project continues to evolve,” said Matthews.
Wormfarm Institute and FUNdaMENTAL Designs are planning to host various community days throughout the installation process, such as a paint party, which encourages community members to engage with the art structure and come together.
“The Village Board was pleased to be selected for this project. It provides yet another way to draw attention to Plain’s beautiful landscapes as well as its quaint and historic aspects,” said Village President Ray Ring, regarding the artwork.
The art work is expected to completed and unveiled on July 24 and July 25, which will include a community day for residents and visitors to interact with and view the installation.
Other actions and discussions
•Public Works Director John Ruhland shared with the board that the department will be constructing a fence around the well water reservoir, because there have been reports of well tampering in neighboring states.
•Approved an ordinance authorizing ATV/UTV signage changes in the village.
•Appointed Linda Paulus, Mary C. Brey and Nicole Feiner to the Library Board.
•Increased billable ours for Strand Associates to 338 for increased work on the new housing development land, which raises the contract costs to $65,500
The village offices will be closed May 31 to June 4.
The village will meet for its monthly meeting June 9 at 7 p.m.