What is the deal with all those cool photos on University Avenue in St. Paul ??

So, what’s with all those cool photos in the windows on University Ave. in St. Paul ??  It’s the ‘Wing Young Huie University Avenue Project: The Language of Urbanism, a Six-Mile Photographic Inquiry' of course!!

Driving down University you have probably seen all the photos in the front window of businesses, vacant buildings and on storage containers; some are of people, others local land marks and some even have people who have wrote some of their inner thoughts on a chalk board which they hold up for all to see.   Presented by Public Art St. Paul it covers 6 miles with over 400 photos and Wednesday through Sunday at night visitors to 1433 University Avenue will be greeted by a 40 foot projection screen and a show of pictures accompanied by music from local artists.  The show starts at twilight and will run for two full hours.  A thank you goes to Steve Dietz of Northern Lights. mn  who conceived it Meyer, Scherer and Rockcastle, Ltd. (MS&R) who designed it.  There are also various other events going on though out the exhibit check out the calendar for more information.

The University Ave. corridor was build by immigrants towards the end of the 19th century and is now called home by one of the highest concentrations of new immigrants.  Wing has done an amazing job creating a tapestry of pictures and words portraying the complex issues that many in this area as well as throughout the county face.  Issues including race, class, gender, immigration, sexual orientation, cultural disconnection and religion.  The photos are intended to be a diary of the conflicting, synthesized and ever changing American experience.

Interested in helping out?  The Language of Urbanism, a Six-Mile Photographic Inquiry is currently looking for volunteers, businesses, musicians and performers to assist in this massive project.  For more information about helping or to contact them about this project check out their website or send them an email info@theuniversityavenueproject.com

According to Wing Young Huie’s website: Wing Young Huie is an award-winning photographer who has received international attention for his many projects that document the changing cultural landscape of his home state Minnesota. His best-known work is Lake Street USA, which in the summer and fall of 2000 transformed six miles of a well-known Minneapolis thoroughfare into one of the most remarkable public art projects in recent memory.



The Odd Couple Team is a strong supporter of the Midway - Hamline area of St. Paul which includes the University Avenue and the Wing Young Huie University Avenue Project: The Language of Urbanism, a Six-Mile Photographic Inquiry.  When people from the area think of real estate they think of The Odd Couple Team because of their determination to help buyers and sellers with all of their real estate needs.  Feel free to check out their blog for other local events going on in the area.