Reynaldo Hernandez’s Mural of Piece, the massive eagle-and-dove mural in Walker’s Point, won an inaugural award recognizing historically significant public art in Milwaukee.
The Milwaukee County Historical Society introduced the Janis and Steven Marcus Public Art Award this year to celebrate exceptional works uniquely capturing community and heritage. The city is home to over 140 public sculptures, monuments and murals reflecting its diverse history and lively culture, and many of these art pieces have become recognizable landmarks.
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Mural of Peace is recognizable to anyone who’s driven northbound on I-43. The 60-by-152-foot mural depicts an eagle, a rainbow, a dove and a bolt of lightning, and it acts as a love letter to the efforts and courage of Milwaukee’s South Side. Milwaukee-native Reynaldo Hernandez completed it in 1994 on the side of the former nonprofit Esperanza Unida. The nonprofit’s director, Richard Oulahan, commissioned the piece to represent the South Side’s aspirations and concerns.
To help pick a winner for the award, the Historical Society turned to the public. Residents submitted nominations earlier this year for public art from around the city that they felt best represents Milwaukee County’s history, values and character.
A panel of three jurors reviewed every nomination and chose three finalists. The panel consisted of Jeffrey Morin, president of the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design; Marcela Garcia, executive director of Walker’s Point Center for the Arts; and Andy Nunemaker, renowned art collector and advocate.
The other finalists included Sherman Park Rising by Tia Richardson (described as “a vibrant mural honoring the perseverance and strength of the Sherman Park neighborhood”) and Green Flow by Pamela Scesniak (“a visually striking piece celebrating Brady Street’s history and preserving the neighborhood’s unique stories”).
The Milwaukee Historical Society held a special awards ceremony on April 16 to announce the winner. There was a presentation of the nominated works alongside remarks from the jurors about how public art affects a city’s history and identity.
You can visit Reynaldo’s winning mural at the Mercantile Lofts (611 W. National Ave.)
