New artwork is going up in Ann Arbor’s Kerrytown neighborhood. A collaboration between artists Brandon Gaia Marshall and Jesse Kassel, the murals and interactive artworks are meant to serve as wayfinding for the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market. The project is a collaboration between the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority and the Ann Arbor Art Center.
For Brandon Gaia Marshall, this project has felt personal. “My stepfather is a farmer on a large farm he owns. My wife is a small-scale farmer who also works in a greenhouse. We’ve always had a home garden. I value people knowing where their food is coming from, so this project was encouraging to see, and it was cool to get picked to do it.”
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Marshall is from Memphis and collaborator Jesse Kassel is from Detroit. They met as part of Detroit’s art scene when Marshall previously lived there. “I met Jesse, admired his work, and we talked about collaborating,” said Marshall. “Two years ago, or so, we saw the request for proposals and recognized the opportunity to work together.”
The project’s goals are utilitarian: to help people find their way to the Ann Arbor Farmers Market, but the art itself is a reflection of the neighborhood. “For the colors, we wanted it to be an extension of Kerrytown colors,” said Marshall. “We wanted to make it have some continuity with how things looked and felt in the neighborhood. We also wanted it to be fun. A lot of families are coming through this area, so we also are creating hopscotch and a maze on the sidewalk.”
The community has been at the forefront of everything the artists have been doing. “We really try as public artists to make sure it’s a reflection of the community and serves the community,” said Marshall. “I feel a responsibility for doing this. Maybe this project will help people think about their food and motivate them in a positive way, maybe to eat healthier and support the market.”
Featuring vegetables and fruits, along with graphic elements, the finished works can be viewed in Ann Ashley Parking Structure and along the south side of Miller Avenue and Catherine Street, then continue north along Detroit Street, leading to a ground mural in the Farmers Market.
