Many of you have been patiently awaiting the news about the Madison Metro public art project. I’m excited to share that Madison Arts Commission has voted to recommend me as the winner of the commission and the artist that City of Madison should hire!! 
As of this writing the Urban Design Commission and Transportation Commission both voted unanimously in approval of my Metro art proposal. On Tuesday, November 1st, Madison’s Common Council also voted to approve me as the final recommendation. 
We’ve made it through some major hoops and have a couple more to go through. But I want to take a moment to say THANK YOU to everyone who’s been engaged throughout this civic process. Thank you to everyone who submitted public comments and sent emails in support of my proposal. In total there are 77 pages of public comments that almost unanimously endorse me for the Metro project!! 
Thank you to the city staff and commissioners who have endorsed me, and for sharing your enthusiasm for this new public artwork.
The Metro project is the first project to be funded by City of Madison’s Percent for Art ordinance. This is a historic moment for cultural development in Madison that we are all a part of together. I am honored and humbled to have received this community’s support. I am also thrilled to have the endorsement of multiple city committees and the Madison Common Council. 
Community Comments:
- Metro Transit Community Feedback, one PDF of 39 pages of comments
- Additional comments sent as individual emails to City of Madison
- Emailed comments as of 10-12-22
- City of Madison Public Records for Metro Public Art Project
- Big THANK YOU to Nipinet Landsem for putting together this form to help people navigate the community feedback process
Public Art Project in the News:
- The Isthmus: Mural project chosen to transform Metro ‘bus barn’ – Project by Jenie Gao to be funded by city’s Percent for Art program
- Emily Carr University News: Jenie Gao Brings Community-Centric Perspective to Monumental Madison Mural
To conclude (for now), here’s a smiley photo of me from last July when I first became a finalist. I was enjoying a Madison summer evening after a full day of interviewing bus riders for this project 
