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Altitude: Unveiling Event Recap

Yesterday on a snowy winter day, a crowd gathered to unveil Altitude in its public location in the window on YWCA St. Paul’s second floor overlooking St. Paul’s Selby & Western intersection, where it will remain on display throughout 2022. Remarks from Gaye Adams Massey, CEO YWCA St. Paul; Mayor Melvin Carter, St. Paul; and Dr. Nicole Mary Milligan, The Milligan Studio Artist, demonstrate the power and impact of community.

“[People’s Prosperity Pilot is] about investing in ourselves. And betting on us every chance we get. Here in St. Paul, we’re in the business of betting on our children, of betting on our families, of betting on our nonprofit organizations, of betting on our businesses, of betting on ourselves and saying, “what if…we go all in every day to invest, to realize that unlimited potential that we really do believe exists in every single family and child in our community.””—Mayor Melvin Carter

“What would it be like to if we could be each other’s safety nets? An entire community, an entire city hand-in-hand and heart-in-heart; if we could all be there for each other, we could all be each other’s safety net. And that thought of being each other’s safety net inspired me greatly.”—Dr. Nicole Mary Milligan

Altitude can be enjoyed from the street, as it invites the viewer to take a Selfie, and a QR code links to Danny Diamond’s Il y a (there is), a work commissioned for this project that was inspired by the laughter of children who participated in the program.

Artist Dr. Nicole Mary Milligan gives the interactive art piece 'Altitude' a final cleaning before installation.
Artist Dr. Nicole Mary Milligan gives the interactive art piece ‘Altitude’ a final cleaning before installation.
Mayor Melvin Carter (right) poses with his father, Melvin Carter, at the public art opening.
Mayor Melvin Carter (right) with his father, Melvin Carter, at the public art opening.
Dr. Mary Nicole Milligan speaks about her inspiration for 'Altitude' in front of a small crowd
Dr. Mary Nicole Milligan, artist with The Milligan Studio, speaks about her inspiration for ‘Altitude’.
Mayor Melvin Carter receives artwork created by children in YWCA St. Paul's housing program.
Mayor Melvin Carter receives artwork created by children in YWCA St. Paul’s housing program. The art projects were inspired by ‘Altitude’.
Gaye Adams Massey, YWCA St. Paul CEO
Gaye Adams Massey, YWCA St. Paul CEO, preparing to introduce Mayor Carter.
'Altitude' installed in it's public location at the intersection of Selby and Western Avenues in St. Paul.
‘Altitude’ installed in it’s public location at the intersection of Selby and Western Avenues in St. Paul, where it will remain throughout 2022.

View more photos on YWCA St. Paul’s Facebook Page.

Next time you stop by YWCA St. Paul at 375 Selby Avenue, become part of this public art experience. Look up, scan the QR code, snap a Selfie and post it on social media using #AltitudeStPaul.

Further Reading:

YWCA St. Paul will display Altitude, an interactive art piece by The Milligan Studio, celebrating the City of St. Paul’s People Prosperity Pilot throughout 2022.

Artists Respond: People, Place, and Prosperity is a project of the City of Saint Paul and Springboard for the Arts, supported by Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation and The Kresge Foundation. See more: https://springboardforthearts.org/artists-respond-people-place-and-prosperity/

Dr. Nicole Mary Milligan (www.themilliganstudio.com) is a fiscal year 2021 recipient of a Creative Support for Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.