Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities
17 Unique Stations from Border to Border
17 Unique Stations from Border to Border
When he was child, Thomas Stillday found inspiration in the beautiful beadwork catching his eye while on the pow wow circuit with his parents. After experimenting on a card sized piece of fabric when he was twelve, he went big for his next project – a cape for his sister. Since then, he’s continued to create capes, dresses, regalia, bandolier bags, moccasins, necklaces and much more – all of which are works of fine art, some of which have taken years to complete. Hailing from a long line of bead artists, his absolute love of the craft and Ojibwe culture shines thru in every one of his works. Thirty-eight years after his first attempt, Thomas’s beadwork designs have made their way into galleries at the McKnight Foundation, the Watermark Art Center and of course they are worn at pow wows.
Sheila Smith of the Minnesota Citizens for the Arts gives an update on pending legislation in the Minnesota state legislature – as it pertains to COVID19 and the arts – and how the artists of Northwest Minnesota have sources of support and resources, through the NW Minnesota Arts Council and the Minnesota Citizens for the Arts.
Erika Bailey-Johnson is committed to sustainability, honoring Mother Earth, and exposing children to Ojibwe language. A newly enrolled member of the Red Lake Nation, she’s also the Sustainability Director at Bemidji State University. Rolling her passion together with her heritage, she’s developed a children’s book series encouraging kids to connect with nature while learning Ojibwe language.
Collaborating with Ojibwe language speakers from Red Lake, Leech Lake and White Earth, her five book series Ninisidawenimaag: I Sense Them consists of one book for each of the five senses. All artwork in the series was created by area kids. The first book I See Many Things was recently released and thanks to a collaboration with First National Bank of Bemidji, it’s found its way into the hands of all kindergarteners in Bemidji.
I like to call it a community book because there’s so many different people that have helped along the way. And that’s the part that I think is really unique about this. – Erika Bailey-Johnson
The Crossing Arts Alliance has been brainstorming ways to create opportunities for arts access during times of social isolation. Online art classes and creativity kits for families in need are just two of the ideas Executive Director Lisa Jordan and her team have come up with. Lisa spoke with Katie Carter about how the Crossing Arts Alliance is creating communtiy connections and how organizations in Brainerd and Baxter joined forces to provide art supplies for kids!
Springboard for the Arts is a nonprofit that has been helping artists with the business of art for more than 40 years. From workshops focused on pertinent topics such as grantwriting, pricing, and legal considerations, Springboard has long-provided training and education on a wide range of business topics related specifically to the business of being a professional artist. Covid-19 has presented artists with a particular challenge to their business, the challenge of people not being able to be out enjoying theater or music or art exhibits or art fairs and the like. The shelter in place and social distancing instantly put a halt to many artists means of financial security. We spoke with Executive Director Laura Zabel and Rural Program Director Michele Anderson about how Springboard’s Personal Emergency Fund has provided some assistance and how in just a few short weeks, Springboard has raised more than $200,000 toward the fund to support artists who have lost work. Artists and arts organizations are welcome to apply for financial relief thru the Springboard website.
The Watermark Art Center in Bemidji has a new exhibit opening today, a photography exhibit celebrating the kids and their animals who came in last at their county fair competitions back in 2016. RJ Kern’s The Unchosen Ones is an unusual photographic social experiment that has resulted in a series of large-scale images (43″ x 53″) that are personal, majestic, and humble. His master-manipulation of light in a non-studio atmosphere creates a photographic style reminiscent of European landscape paintings.
RJ asked the kids to “show me what next year’s grand champion would look like” and the results are beautifully powerful. Listen to RJ discuss the inspiration behind his exhibit and the process of creating it here.
The Northern Minnesota Addiction Wellness Center will soon open north of Bemidji. Using a biological, psychological, sociological, spiritual model of recovery, the treatment center intends to create unique paths to wellness based on the needs of each individual working toward recovery from drug or alcohol addiction.
On the first Friday of every month we connect with Katie Marshall from the MacRostie Art Center in Grand Rapids. She lets us know about the First Friday events, new exhibits and music around Grand Rapids. March is National Youth Art Month and that will be celebrated around Grand Rapids. The Reif Center has the 2020 Grand Rapids student show on disply for the next two months and the MacRostie is showcasing student art as well. Students from Keewatin Elementary worked with MacRostie Art Center and local artists Aaron Squadroni and Lea Freisen who worked with the kids as they made multi-media pieces that are on display at the MacRostie. Also on exhibit at the MacRostie are the portraits of Serenity Barden from Hibbing! For a full rundown of the arts events in Grand Rapids check out GrandRapidsArts.org.
Ever first Friday of the month we connect with Betty First from the Ely Folk School. She educates us on the upcoming classes and workshops happening at the school. Ceramics, blacksmithing, stained glass and ukranian eggs are all on the horizon. The Folk School is always on the lookout for people who are interested in teaching classes. Connect with Betty if you would like to share your expertise at the folk school!
