Alec Soth billboard designed to draw attention St. Paul's creative zone

Alec Soth celebrates unveiling of his billboard.
Photographer Alec Soth celebrates after a billboard for the Creative Enterprise Zone featuring his photograph was unveiled along University Avenue in St. Paul, Minn. Tuesday, June 3, 2014.
Jeffrey Thompson/MPR News

A billboard featuring an image of a houseboat clothes-line by acclaimed local photographer Alec Soth is designed to draw attention to the Creative Enterprise Zone in St Paul.

The zone, on University Avenue near the Minneapolis border, features a multitude of creative businesses, including Soth's own studio. Soth hopes the image will attract attention by initially being a little confusing, but then representing the area.

"To me it looked like this starting line - finish line I should say," Soth said. "And that's what I think is happening here - starting and finishing."

Soth says the Creative Enterprise Zone is not as well known as creative neighborhoods in other parts of the metro area, but it's growing and thriving.

"I mean it's less flamboyant than larger arts districts, but there are people tucked away making all sorts of cool things, as well as breweries and other things emerging," Soth said.

The zone will hold a community wide celebration on the opening day of the Green Line light rail corridor on June 14th.

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