About the Artist

Witt Siasoco (he/him/his) creates art in public space that catalyzes civic dialogue and collective action. Throughout his career, he has created many community-engaged projects including This Home is Not for Sale, a collaboration with Diver Van Avery (Poetry for People) and recipient of an Americans for the Arts' Public Art Award; Drawing on Rice Street, a large-scale painting installation distilling over 200 conversations with Frogtown residents; and Carry On Homes Northeast, an installation focused on immigrant participation in the Census 2020. His experience as a public artist and lifelong skater brought together Juxtaposition Arts and City of Skate to create JXTA's Skateable Art Plaza, a youth-designed, multi-purpose public space in North Minneapolis. Recently, Siasoco was awarded a 2021-2022 Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship.

About the Artwork + Radical Rest
Wildseed

There is a quality even meaner than outright ugliness or disorder, and this meaner quality is the dishonest mask of pretended order, achieved by ignoring or suppressing the real order that is struggling to exist and to be served." - Jane Jacobs

"Undeniably there is a wave of new developments in the Twin Cities. With this in mind, I created a reminder to people the importance of growth in the time of building. The child in the image is intrigued and taken with the dandelion growing amongst the city. Although it is a weed, the dandelion is a plant that will spring up in the most unlikely places (parking lots, sidewalks, etc.) and continue to grow despite the chances being slim. Visually and metaphorically, The black and white construction scene is in heavy contrast to the colorful child and plant. The mural is intended to be hopeful and show that all beings can co-exist if we take notice and care for our surroundings."

Website
https://wittsiasoco.com/