Rich beautiful colors and engaging faces now introduce you to the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District at the corner of 26th and Central avenues NE. The works of Creatives After Curfew and Four Story Collective muralists are transforming the Eastside Food Co-op’s north wall.
Young Ella Siasoco, Luna McIntyre and Lisa Marie Brimmer, local residents, hold fresh produce. Two scenes of young and old learning about gardening, sharing knowledge around food and plants, and a background of iconic Northeast architecture tie it all together. Houses, the former Grain Belt Brewery, Arcana Lodge, and right in the middle — the Northrup King Building. A grand introduction.
Since Art-A-Whirl weekend, nine collaborating artists have been diligently working. They are Hibaaq Ibrahim, Witt Siasoco, Silent Fox – lead artists Co-Artists: Martzia Tometz, Reggie LeFlore, Leslie Barlow, Maiya Lea Hartman, Jordan Malcolm Hamilton, Alexander Smith.
Leslie Barlow said it’s one of the largest she has worked on, of around 70 Creatives After Curfew murals and art actions throughout the Twin Cities.
Witt Siasoco describes this as an all-star roster, “like the WuTang of muralists.” All have specific skill sets, different strengths that play off each other and allow them to learn from each other. All do community based outreach, as well as being in the activist realm and working with youth.
Reggie LeFlore drew the portraits of the three main figures. A master of the human face, through his selection of paints he elevates this mural to a top level work in the Twin Cities. He interviewed and photographed the three main characters to capture their essence.
Maiya Lea Hartman started learning mural-making while visiting a friend in Chile where “murals are everywhere.” She became part of Studio 400 founded by Leslie Barlow. Her personal painting practice is now part of Public Functionary’s Studio 285. She described that after the murder of George Floyd in 2020 Creatives after Curfew was birthed as a way to get artists together, to take up that space of black and brown people being able to share their narratives… A huge space for healing and being in community and the collective as a skill share.
The mural is expected to be complete around the first week of June.
Article and photos by Josh Blanc.
Don’t forget to subscribe to the channel for new videos Find his interviews with the artists on the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District YouTube channel.