Scopia Ploidy has landed here to fulfill its mission of transmitting message-portraits – portraits of individuals and groups with their written words or imagery in a landscape that reflects identity, time and place – to unspecified recipients.

The Travel Machine’s message satellite dish prompts individuals to write/draw their personal message and turn it toward the mirror on the Machine. The Machine’s camera takes a photo that captures them, their message, the landscape and the Travel Machine. The message-portraits are displayed through a portal and projected out from the Machine. The message-portraits are instantly uploaded to messageportrait.com.

The mission of this project is to strengthen identity, place and community on Central Avenue by sharing individual stories, personal expression and collective vision from the business owners/employees, organization members, friends/families and people on the sidewalk. The project offers an opportunity to share about oneself and learn about neighbors, community members and the people that live near, work on, or visit Central Avenue. The Northeast Library will host a monitor installation that will display the slideshow of message-portraits.

Central Avenue, Minneapolis Over the years Central Avenue has experienced mixed economic development and is currently experiencing rapid change. New businesses, redeveloped industrial use buildings into commercial properties, and a large redevelopment plan that involves more housing and retail outlets are underway. Central Avenue is undergoing a new phase and is in a state of change. How do we build cohesiveness during a rapidly changing time?

Effort and progress are being made to preserve the community driven economy, strong immigrant entrepreneurships, and the presence of a cohesive community. This project will build new partnerships, establish networks, and connect community groups in the effort to preserve the vision of Central Avenue.