A Tree Grows in Central Avenue: Toledo's Urban Forest Project

Beginning in mid-April of 2010, trees of all shapes, sizes and colors will be planted throughout the greater Toledo area. All of them in concrete; no dirt required.

The Urban Forest Project uses one part art and one part environmental awareness to stress to communities the importance of conservation and sustainability. The project calls for artists to submit artwork of trees to be printed on banners, which are then hung on light poles to bring color and a deeper message to an otherwise bleak urban landscape.

"The banners will line the downtown streets with creative and interesting visuals," said Amy Fidler, President of the Toledo chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Artists. "Banners get the design and message into the city environment where people in Toledo can view and enjoy daily. They will be encountered by the public, people going to work, to a ball game, to visit friends... and will visually enrich the streetscape. Solely in a smaller format--a brochure or website--the work would not have the same impact."

The project started in New York City in the fall of 2006, and has since grown to include cities like Denver, Baltimore and San Francisco. This is the first year Toledo participated in The Urban Forest Project, but as Amy explains "the City of Toledo is no stranger to graphic design on it's streets with the fantastic rolling ART in TARTA bus wraps, or the Downtown Windows Project."

Toledo's project pairs AIGA's local chapter with The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, calling on artists to contribute their banner ideas by the November 30, 2009 deadline. After the designs are chosen, they are then transformed into banners to be hung in several high-traffic areas throughout Greater Toledo. The message of 'sustainability' continues as the banners are then stitched into one-of-a-kind tote bags. Sales from the tote bags will then benefit the Arts Commission's Young Artists at Work program.

"This project serves the Toledo community in so many ways. Northwest Ohio area artists and designers will have an opportunity to have their work publically displayed throughout downtown Toledo. People who view the banners can enjoy fresh public art downtown, and be inspired by the dynamic (and timely) messages. After the banners come down, they'll be repurposed into bags to promote mentorship in our community. What's not to love?"

If you'd like to contribute your banner design to The Urban Forest Project, submissions close on November 30, 2009. More information, guidelines for submissions and banner size and specifications can be found on The Urban Forest Project's web site at www.ufp-toledo.com.

Published: 11/18/2009 7:00 am

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