Causeway Connectivity Challenge Grant awarded in October 2014.

Project Leaders:
Katie Smith and Cat Collier Martinez

‘Here to There’ addresses the lack of visible crosswalks at three local public schools: Battle Academy, Orchard Knob Middle, and The Howard School located in Southside, Chattanooga, TN. The crosswalks were painted with custom designs from artist Cat Collier Martinez in collaboration with graphic designer Fernando Martinez, incorporating specific elements to represent each school, then voted on by students.

View more project images here, via the artists Flickr account.

I AM HERE :: On The Fence

A 200-foot cartographic exploration of community, connection, and place.

The Vision

I AM HERE :: On The Fence maps the intricate, interconnected networks of people and neighborhoods. Drawing together Chattanooga's rich history and its promising future, the work envisions a landscape where the commonplace deepens our shared human experience through enduring bonds.

The Concept & Evolution

Initially conceived as a painting by Cat Collier Martinez, this vision evolved into a sweeping, 200-foot illustrated banner realized through a 2010 Chattanooga Public Arts Grant. Installed along Main Street from April 2010 to April 2011, the piece functioned as a surreal, illustrated cartography of the area. Here, mountains embraced the streets, while illustrated trees and branches served as a biological grid of roadways, guiding the eye to beloved local landmarks. The artist collaborated with graphic designer Fernando Martinez to translate the original painting into a large-scale public installation.

The Narrative of Presence

The project’s title draws deeply from the raw, authentic ethos of street art. Seeking to resonate with the urban environment and its inhabitants, Martinez subverted the traditional "you are here" map. The work echoes the foundational human impulse behind early graffiti—the historic, territorial scrawl of "I was here." It serves as a visual anchor, inviting viewers to identify deeply with their community, claim their territory, and recognize their presence within the urban fabric.

The Site

Installed over a chain-link fence surrounding a gravel warehouse parking lot, the banner engaged directly with a corridor of Main Street that was poised on the brink of revitalization. The artwork acted as a temporal and spatial beacon, representing both the current state of the neighborhood and the trajectory of its future. By embracing its urban context—and inevitably inviting the anticipated addition of unauthorized street art—the installation became a living, breathing testament to the evolving story of Chattanooga.

View more images of project here via the artist’s Flickr project group page.

PRESS: Chattanooga.gov On The Fence Exhibition