MadArt was a contemporary arts organization that supported artists in making new, installation-based works, while encouraging engagement with the creative process by remaining free and open to the public during all stages of exhibition development. While there, she discovered a lively street art scene filled with emerging artists, whose works were often hidden down alleys and in unusual parts of the city. In visiting these locations, her interest in emerging artists and the joy of finding art in unexpected places began to form the core of MadArt’s mission. Further inspiration was found one day when Milliman was visiting her local neighborhood shops and inside their storefront windows was a show of contemporary artwork sharing primary space with everyday retail objects. Immediately upon experiencing this unexpected visual encounter, MadArt was conceived. After returning to the States, Milliman fostered a keen desire to rethink how and where we view art in our communities, exploring the idea of creating opportunities to see artwork outside the familiar venues. With The Window Art Project in 2009, MadArt’s first show exhibited artwork in storefront windows in Madison Park, Seattle and Milliman’s mission to help people “discover art in unexpected ways” was realized.
