10,000 Steps Route: Public Art Tour

To call art an important part of a community might be a bit of an oversimplification, but it really does ring true. Art is, at once, a nuanced expression of one’s inner emotions, and a basic form of interpersonal communication dating from antiquity. When visiting a new place, one of the best ways to experience and connect with it is to take in some local art. Luckily here in Kenosha we are blessed with a vibrant arts community with a large amount of public art which is easy, and fun, to access.

A great place to start your Kenosha public art journey is at the “Greetings from Kenosha” mural on the south side of 55th Street between 6th and 7^th Avenue. This piece was painted in 2018 by Kelly Witte and features highlights of Kenosha’s landmarks while welcoming all who pay us a visit. Walk North along 6th Avenue to start the Sculpture Walk.

The Sculpture Walk – HaborPark runs along the south wall of the harbor and features a rotating set of sculptures which typically are rotated in and out every 2 years. A few pieces along this stretch of HarborPark are permanent, such as “Millennium Gate” by David Floyd and "S.S. Kenosha" by Dan Blue, but most others you’ll see are part of the Sculpture Walk program. The sculptures continue to the east end of HarborPark close to the North Pier Lighthouse and Celebration Place.

From here follow the multi-use trail south and then back west past Southport Marina. You’ll end up near Place de Douai where you can find the Wallace Fountain donated by our sister city Douai, France. Another nearby piece is the “Winter Dance Party” sculpture which commemorates a local stop on the final tour of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper (shortly before “The Day the Music Died”).

Follow 58th Street west to 6th Avenue then head north one block to reach an area with two fantastic murals. North of 57th Street between 6th and 7th Avenue you’ll find both “Bjorn’s Penguin’s” by Dean Tawwater and “Kinoje” by Artists Jamie Jabbari (Brown) and Karim Jabbari. Proceeding south on 7th Avenue you’ll end up in Library Park where two notable sculptures, “Winged Victory”, a towering monolith dedicated to soldiers, and a bronze statue of President Abraham Lincoln are.

Walking east on 60th Street then south on 3rd Avenue will bring you to the Kemper Center where not only can you find the Anderson Arts Center, but also a hidden mosaic on the Kady B. Faulkner Building located on the northeastern part of the property. Created using materials found on the nearby beach, this is truly a sight to behold.

Distance: 2.5 Miles

Complete your steps: Retrace your steps from Kemper Center to Library Park and follow 6th Avenue north to 50th Street (where it merges with 7^thAvenue). Continue north to Union Park where Matt Bellefeuille’s “Deep Breath” sculpture watches over the arts district. Nearby business Artworks/The Pencillarium features an outdoor mural display in the rear of the building which periodically rotates to a new mural. A block south is Lemon Street Gallery where a few spins around the gallery will bring your step total up to 10,000!