Our Town Everywhere
Our Town Everywhere
2 years, 1,317 portraits and 70 community partners
Our Town Everywhere (2023-2024)
From 2023 - 2024 The Bubbler at Madison Public Library in Madison, Wisconsin fostered the second iteration of Our Town Everywhere, a self portrait project with over 70 community partners. Working through the library system and community connections, a group of local artists supported the community in making 1,317 self portraits in our libraries, parks, shelters and other community spaces.
Videography and Cinematography by Aaron Granat.
Our Town Everywhere programming and exhibitions received support from the City of Madison, the Friends of Madison Public Library, Madison Public Library Foundation, Madison Arts Commission, Ascendium, Dane Arts, and the Evjue Foundation. Our Town Project originated in Nashville, Tennessee with Bryce McCloud and Isle of Printing (2015).
Check out our growing album of portraits from around the city!
Meet the featured artists!
Our Town Everywhere and the Little Book Project
The Little Book Project is a community arts and nonprofit printmaking series. Each limited edition “print book” weaves together visual arts and literary work based on a central theme.
It’s a team effort!
Numerous artists and collaborators continue to join in to make Our Town Everywhere happen. Thank you!
Facilitating Artists:
Christina Theobald
Annie Aaker
Lelia Byron
Elias Mittelstadt
Lexie Olson
Claudia Linnea Carlson
Sharon Tang
Mindy Julie Navarro
Mayela Finol
Sherri Shokler
Sharon Bjyrd
Christine Holm
Madison Weist
Ty Springer
Maria Amalia Wood
Bird Ross
Scott Pauli
Savannah Starlin
Hannah Sandvold
Ella Deitz
Tess Stroh
2022 Madison Public Library Staff Day Artists:
Audifax
Emily Balsley
Gabrielle Javier-Cerulli
Corey Dean
Tyler Brunsell
Rob Franklin
Project organizers:
Trent Miller
Carlee Latimer
Risograph Printer:
Kate Mead
Videographer:
Aaron Granat
Just what is Our Town, anyway?
It all began in Tennessee! Our Town Nashville was a community art project that ran between 2014 and 2015. Letterpress printmaker Bryce McCloud traveled around Davidson County with a team of artists, inviting people from all walks of life to participate in a public art project titled Our Town Nashville.
Actively engaging folks in a conversation about community, the initiative created a space where people unlikely to otherwise participate in art-making could use handmade stamps to create their own self portrait.
Learn more about the history of Our Town and how it became Our Town Everywhere!
Quick resources:
Have an idea for a way to engage Our Town Everywhere with your group, event, or project? Fill out this request form!
Meet the artist team.
Check out the library’s calendar for upcoming events.
“Our Town Everywhere is such a beautiful project. It creates unity while honoring individual differences—such balm for our current times. I loved working with people and encouraging them to participate, to get over the ‘I can't make art’ hump.”
—Maria Schirmer Devitt, Artist
Our Town Everywhere programming and exhibitions have received support from the City of Madison, the Friends of Madison Public Library, Madison Public Library Foundation, Madison Arts Commission, Ascendium, Dane Arts,
and the Evjue Foundation.