From sunset on June 10 to sunrise on June 11, 2017, Northern Spark 2017 illuminated public spaces in neighborhoods along Metro Transit’s Green Line connecting Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The largest Northern Spark yet had 415 artists present 63 art projects in seven distinct neighborhoods: The Commons (Downtown East), Cedar Riverside, East Bank, Little Africa, Rondo, Little Mekong and Lowertown.
The theme Climate Chaos | Climate Rising launched at Northern Spark 2016 with an audience of 37,000 people who wandered, engaged, and explored together through an array of participatory art projects focused on Earth’s changing environments. We learned many specific things from the tastiness of dandelions to the composition of local soil samples to the way resource use in the global north affects the global south, which relates directly to complex issues of power and privilege. Above all, we learned that festival-goers are at once inspired and daunted by the challenges posed by climate change. Being together at Northern Spark, however, left us all feeling that none of us is alone in this. Encouraged by this spirit of collectivity, we changed the title of the 2017 festival to Climate Chaos | People Rising, because only as #peoplerising can we make a difference.
FURTHER LINKS TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT NORTHERN SPARK 2017:
Northern Spark 2017 Website
Northern Spark 2017 Artist Projects
NS2017 Photos
Ns2017 Videos
ARTISTS PRESENTED BY NORTHERN.LIGHTS.MN
Water Bar & Public Studio • Backyard Phenology Team • Rachel Breen and Nickey Robare • Valentine Cadieux and Marina Zurkow • Andrea Carlson • Cedarside Coalition • Craig David with Roger Nieboer and lesser mortals • Preston Drum • Field Practice • Sara Fowler, Ben Moren, and Tyler Stefanich • GoodSpace Murals • Nooshin Hakim Javadi • Hope Risers and Company • Meena Mangalvedhekar • Ifrah Mansour and the My Aqal Team • Million Artist Movement • Mystery Spot Books • Sheronda Orridge • Sami Pfeffer • Areca Roe • Katie Ka Vang • Tou SaiKo Lee with Hmong Tattoo Crew • Mohamed Samatar and Ross Hutchens • Sara-Yezih Art Group • Aki Shibata • tony the scribe and Ananya Dance Theatre • Transition Twin Cities Artists • Wavelets Creative • Clarence White • May Lee Yang • Yes, Let’s!
For a list of our Northern Spark 2017 partners, please click here.
CLIMATE CHAOS | PEOPLE RISING PROGRAM COUNCIL
The Northern Spark 2017 Program Council is a leadership council of 9 artists with cultural connections to neighborhoods along the METRO Green Line where the festival programming will take place: West Bank, Little Africa and Little Mekong. Their role has been to work with Northern Spark staff to shape the open call process, jury projects, and encourage greater participation and neighborhood engagement. We have been incredibly lucky to work with, support, and partner with such great visionaries:
Adan Dirie, Sara Endalew, Graci Horne, Filsan Ibrahim, Pa Na Lor, Brittany Lynch, Sagirah Shahid, Aki Shibata, Ahmed Yusuf
To learn more about Northern Spark 2017 Program Council members, click here.