About the project

Samatar Crossing

It is a pedestrian and bike path connecting downtown to the West Bank. It is named in honor of Hussein Samatar, the first Somali-American elected to public office in Minneapolis. Samatar passed away in 2013. Samatar’s personal story and professional contributions made an enormous impact. As a result, many of Minnesota’s immigrants have crossed over one from culture to another and thrived.

Common Currents

It is an artwork inspired by the journeys people have undertaken to begin new chapters in Minneapolis. These journeys traverse both physical and mental distances. The crossings are often as transformative as the destinations.

Common Currents 

It is a two-part artwork sited at each end of Samatar Crossing. The two the wave-like sculptures include colorful steel panels inscribed with poetry by local poets. They evoke Hussein Samatar’s enduring legacy of bridging cultures.

Photo credit:  Common Currents by Randy Walker