Fourteen artists working in the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District were awarded The Minnesota State Arts Board Grants totaling $135,800. Most will receive $10,000 for their projects. Congratulations to all the recipients. John Akre, Leslie Barlow, Colleen Bertsch, Kristin Boldon, Marjorie Fedyszyn, Annie Hejny, Rebecca Krinke, Gregory Lecker, Morgan Mercer, Kathy Mommsen, Beth Peloff, Russ White, Andy Richter and Mary Welke.
John M. Akre will create My Northeast and Yours, a film essay combining documentary and community-created collage animation about the making and remaking of place in Northeast Minneapolis.
Leslie E Barlow and Lola Osunkoya will present Within, Between, Beyond, an interactive exhibit featuring videos, portraits, and activities for learning about the identity experiences of mixed race people and transracial adoptees.
Colleen M. Bertsch will create new arrangements of traditional Romanian Colinde (carols) for advanced singers and instrumentalists and present a public performance of this repertoire. The performance will be recorded and released on CD.
Kristin J. Boldon will work with a mentor to complete a new draft of her first memoir, Brokedown. A panel of readings and information on parenting and mental health will be held at The Coffee Shop Northeast in Minneapolis.
Marjorie A. Fedyszyn will learn new techniques in draping, pattern drafting, and sewing for a new installation on the theme of aging; and will lead elderly memory care residents in the exploration of self through self portraiture.
Annie Hejny will become certified in forest therapy and apply the scientific impact of stress reduction in nature to create a new body of artwork. She will host an artist talk and plan for future community engagement with youth.
Rebecca Krinke will create a large-scale installation focused on investigating the mystery of dreams. An exhibition will be at Rosalux Gallery in 2020.
Gregory E. Lecker will create portraits of our state’s three watersheds while engaging Minnesotans in conversation and painting demonstrations offered within each waterscape. Lecker will exhibit Watersheds at Waseca Art Center.
Morgan E. Mercer to connect with new audiences and cultivate a larger presence in greater Minnesota, Mercer will develop a new body of abstract paintings that will exhibit in a gallery outside of the Twin Cities.
Kathy Mommsen will create a ceramic wall while observing dancers from TU Dance Company as models. The wall will be installed at TU Dance studio in Saint Paul and will be unveiled at an art/dance event and talk-back.
Beth A. Peloff will create a five-minute stop-motion animated video that combines sand animation with other two-dimensional stop-motion techniques to explore themes of transformation and the passage of time.
Russ White will create a series of large-scale mixed media drawings of the human form, visualizing energy and emotion in abstracted portraiture and figure study.
Andy Richter will complete his series Walking with Julien. He will create an exhibition of the work for the community and offer an artist talk and photography workshop in Northeast Minneapolis.
Mary Welke will create new, mixed media paintings about prairie, farmland burns, and land renewal. An exhibition, public conversation, and inter-generational painting workshop will be held at the Northfield Arts Guild.