BLOOMINGTON
C O M M U N I T Y G U I D E 2 0 2 6
Public art with a purpose
Artistic displays in Bloomington are not limited to galleries and stages, as the city’ s creative placemaking efforts ensure art can be seen and heard across the city.
Creative placemaking is a process that integrates arts, culture and design to strengthen and connect communities. The creative placemaking team involves community members in their efforts and honors the existing infrastructure, history and character of a place. This work has been focused on Bloomington’ s redeveloping South Loop District, but the city is expanding its creative placemaking efforts citywide, an initiative of Bloomington’ s strategic plan,“ Bloomington. Tomorrow. Together.”
Creative placemaking is not limited to art installations. South Loop creative placemaking has included events, performances and workshops, temporary art, pop-up installations and an artful South Loop community garden. The garden, adjacent to Fire Station No. 3 on East Old Shakopee Road, features native landscaping, seating, an artful shade structure and cyanotype banners.
A free-to-download audio tour in the Otocast App provides self-guided exploration of more than 45 public art points of interest in South Loop, including detailed descriptions, photos, directions and audio clips with artist interviews that tell the stories behind the artwork.
Among the most recognizable art installations in the South Loop District is“ Convergence,” a sculpture in the roundabout at the intersection of Lindau Lane and Winstead Way, east of Mall of America. Unveiled in August 2015,“ Convergence” is considered a landmark in a corridor that intersects pedestrian, automotive and light-rail traffic, and features LED lighting.
One of the largest pieces of public art in the city is the“ WE Mural.” At 752 feet long, it is one of the longest murals in Minnesota. Located on two walls surrounding an Xcel Energy substation facing American Boulevard and 30th Avenue, the series of murals was curated and installed in August and September 2021.
Other creative placemaking installations in the district include“ The Goldfinch,” by Donald Lipski, perched atop a South Loop District sign in its oversized glory. A second mural,“ Seasons of Becoming,” adorns a retaining wall facing Wright’ s Lake Park on the west side of Highway 77.
A nine-member Creative Placemaking Commission helps guide Bloomington’ s initiatives by establishing strategies and approving work plans.
Information about Bloomington’ s creative placemaking, including a South Loop public art map, is available online at blm. mn / placemaking.
2026 | Bloomington Guide | 21