Outdoor Art Project in Sun Prairie to Raise Awareness of Habitat for Humanity Builds

November 23, 2009

Habitat for Humanity of Dane County to Build 5 Homes in 2010-11 in Sun Prairie

SUN PRAIRIE) – Two MATC students began installing a temporary outdoor art project this past weekend to help raise awareness of future Habitat for Humanity of Dane County builds in Sun Prairie.

The artwork includes eight, life-size, plywood images and the front portion of a home. The temporary artwork exhibit will be located at 1186 Pine St., Sun Prairie. The plywood images portray future Habitat for Humanity family members moving into their home, neighbors welcoming them to the neighborhood with food and the Habitat volunteers constructing the home. All of the figures are black silhouettes that will be located around the front of the home. The front portion of the home was constructed by Habitat staff and volunteers for Habitat’s 2009 Benefit Dinner. That portion of the art project is expected to be placed on the property this week.

“We were very interested in creating a project that would raise awareness of the outstanding work that Habitat for Humanity is doing right here in Dane County,” said longtime Habitat volunteer and student artist Cara Erickson. “We’re real pleased with how this project came together.” Erickson worked on the project with fellow MATC student Nilvio Alexander Punguil Bravo.

The artwork will be removed from the site when construction starts on the Habitat for Humanity of Dane County home in the spring 2010. Habitat for Humanity of Dane County plans to build five homes in Sun Prairie in 2010-11. Anyone interested in learning how they can donate or help with the Sun Prairie build, should contact 255-1549.

Artist Cara Erickson grew up in Sun Prairie and for six years has volunteered at the Habitat for Humanity of Dane County ReStore, 208 Cottage Grove Road, Madison. In addition, she has helped Habitat for Humanity of Dane County by designing the 2009 Benefit Dinner Invites and the 2010 ReStore Calendar. She plans to graduate in December, 2010 and will officially "break into" the design community, one creative challenge after another.

Artist Nilvio Alexander Punguil Bravo was born in Ecuador. He moved to Ohio in 2001 and later moved to Madison. He works as a carpenter while taking classes at MATC in the graphic design program where he plans to graduate in 2010.