The University of Wisconsin-Superior will host “Urban Spaces and Third Places” with guest speaker Jennifer Webb on Thursday, May 1, at 3:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the community and will be held in person at the Jim Dan Hill Library or streamed live via YouTube.

Webb, an associate professor of art history at the University of Minnesota Duluth, will guide participants through a discussion that encourages reflection on sensory experiences in beloved urban spaces. The session will also highlight key principles of placemaking that contribute to the success of these spaces. What defines a “third place,” and why are they crucial for community health and well-being?

Following these experiential and theoretical discussions, the focus will shift to the history of local neighborhoods. Webb will explore the “making” of the areas along the St. Louis River, illustrating how the past, present and future of Superior and Duluth are intertwined.

With a strong background in visual culture and the built landscape, Webb teaches courses on global world art (to 1400), Renaissance and Baroque art, as well as an upper-level seminar called “City as a Work of Art,” which delves into the history of urban planning.

This speaker series is funded by the Selma Swanstrom Geography Lecture Fund. The Jim Dan Hill Library is located at 907 N. 19^th St. in Superior.

The views and opinions expressed by the speaker/event do not necessarily represent the policies or position of the University of Wisconsin-Superior.