Northern Spark 2022

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NORTHERN SPARK 2022: WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW 

THE 11TH ANNUAL NORTHERN SPARK FESTIVAL LIGHTS UP ST. PAUL WITH SOUL-FUELING ART AND COMMUNITY ALL-NIGHT ON JUNE 11

(Minneapolis, MN) February 16, 2022 — Northern Lights.mn announces the all-night, in-person participatory Northern Spark art festival this summer exploring the theme, “What the World Needs Now.” This year’s festival will take place along University Avenue and downtown in St. Paul, MN on Saturday, June 11, 2022 from 9 pm – 2 am. A Closing Event will follow from 2 am – 5:30 am on Raspberry Island in downtown St. Paul along the Mississippi River.

Northern Spark will return to the Rondo, Frogtown and Little Mekong neighborhoods near University Avenue and downtown in St. Paul, as well as the Mississippi River to shine a spotlight on the beauty and richness of these communities. Art projects will take many forms, including performance, hands-on and participatory art-making, and sound and sculpture installation, all responding to the theme, “What the World Needs Now.” This year’s activities will include art projects at Victoria Theater Arts Center, Springboard for the Arts, Rondo Community Library, and the Minnesota Museum of American Art, building upon ongoing partnerships with these organizations.

THE THEME: WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW

The festival theme, “What the World Needs Now,” was created by the 2022 Artist Council with Northern Lights.mn.

Artists are truth tellers, dreamers, seekers of imagination. Between the ever-present uncertainty of our times and the impossible tangibility of the future, we wonder: What does the world need now?

Some may already be singing, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love.” These lyrics ring true as an anthem for our times. We all need love, but perhaps your answer to this statement is, poetry projected on every building, clean water for all who inhabit this earth, a sing-a-long in a local park, or endless bubbles shining iridescent in the sun. One thing is for certain: we know we will always need art to fuel our souls.

Returning to the one-night, all-night festival

In 2022, Northern Spark returns to the structure of its roots — a one-night, dusk to dawn festival, bringing back the beloved Northern Spark experience of greeting the dawn together, outdoors, after a night of connecting through transformative art experiences.

As our cities still grapple with the effects of COVID-19, 2022 festival curators leaned into our uncertain times to support artist projects that encourage our communities to safely connect while inspiring the kind of experimental, surprising experiences we love about Northern Spark.

We are excited to announce these artists and partners for Northern Spark 2022: 

  • Eva Adderley
  • Riley Kleve and Ever Woodward
  • Pang Foua Xiong and Sandy Lo
  • Nick Knutson and Jei Harold-Zamora
  • Alia Jeraj
  • Felicia Cooper, Alex Young and Kallie Melvin
  • Sequoia Hauck and collaborators
  • Native Youth Arts Collective
  • Grupo Soap del Corazon at The Minnesota Museum of American Art
  • Frogtown Radio/WFNU, Saint Paul Almanac and SPNN
  • The 100% Campaign
  • Additional programming to be announced from venue partners Rondo Community Library, Springboard for the Arts and Victoria Theater Arts Center!

Northern Spark Background

Beginning in 2011, Northern Spark is a late-night, participatory arts festival that lights up the Twin Cities in early summer. From dusk to dawn the city surprises you: friendly strangers share a moment, glowing cyclists whirl by, unique installations pop-up in neighborhoods, and wanderers participate in experimental performances in green spaces. The glow of sunrise after a night of amazing art experiences leaves you rejuvenated.

Northern Spark’s locations, times, themes, and forms are always transforming. In 2018, the festival introduced a two-night model, so people could experience the artful magic of a festival for two nights until 2 am. In 2021, the festival took on new forms: art in the mail, online, and in person in St. Paul, MN during two weeks. This year, festival organizers are excited to return to an all-night time frame with a modified schedule.

Northern Spark is produced by Northern Lights.mn, a Twin Cities non-profit arts organization whose work ranges from large-scale public art platforms like Northern Spark to Art(ists) On the Verge, a year long mentorship program for 4 emerging artists working in public space. Northern Lights.mn supports artists in the creation and presentation of art in the public sphere, such as at St. Paul’s Union Depot (Amateur Intelligence Radio), “choir karaoke” at the Minnesota State Fair (Giant Sing Along) and Illuminate South Loop, a mini outdoor festival of nine interactive projects in Bloomington, MN’s South Loop in the days leading up to the 2018 Super Bowl. Through projects such as Aquanesia, a location-­based environmental mystery game, and large scale festivals themed around social issues, Northern Lights.mn helps audiences explore expanded possibilities for civic engagement through art.

Northern Lights.mn Telethon 2022 – Postponed

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IMPORTANT UPDATE, April 20, 2022: TELETHON IS POSTPONED

We are sad to announce that we have made the decision to postpone tonight’s Telethon until a later date. One of our key players tested positive for COVID today and with the health of our performers, crew, and their families in mind, we feel this is the best decision. 

Thank you to everyone who already made contributions! You will still be eligible for our future door prize drawings, and your support still goes towards artists and infrastructure of our programming!

Thanks also to those of you who were planning to show up as our in-studio audience or tune in from home tonight! We look forward to spending another evening with you in the future.

Finally, thanks to our live performers (John Gebretatose! Mayda! the Kazoo Band!), our volunteers (Sara! Emily! Madilynn!), and our partners at Nanotako Studios (Carly! Kat! Corinne! V! Jeff! Nessa! Whitney!) for their care towards one another and their flexibility in this program change.

 

 

 

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We are excited to collaborate with Nanotako Studios to produce our second annual Spring Telethon!

Wednesday, April 20th
7:30pm – 9 pm
Free to watch on YouTube
Donate in advance on Eventbrite 

Starring:
John Gebretatose of Blackout Improv as host!
Sami Pfeffer returns as Telephone Operator!
Mayda as musical guest!
The Northern Spark Kazoo band!
Guest storytellers featuring friends, supporters and alumni artists of Northern Lights.mn programs!
Dazzling Door Prizes!

The Telethon is free to watch on YouTube, but your donations support our work and automatically enter you into the drawing for fabulous prizes. Donate before the show for the best chance to win and help us reach our $20,000 goal!

Virtual donation levels:

$25 Donation or more / FlipPhone Level

  • $25 gift certificate to SubText Books + a pile of new hardback books, including The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah Jones 
  • 2 tickets to a Saint Paul Saints game in May

$50 Donation or more / NokiaBrick Level

  • A DuNord Social Spirits cocktail kit with Vanlice Lemonade
  • $100 gift certificate to Solo Vino Wine Shop
  • Any nail service from Luna Lounge

$100 Donation or more / Swatch TwinPhone Level

  • 6 month subscription from SKCoffee
  • 4 Minnesota Twins tickets

$150 Donation or more / RotaryDial Level

  • a custom “GLOW UP” luxury facial package from Pineapplefarm
  • a photography mini-session at Pink Slip Gallery  

$200 Donation or more / Year of Beer! level

  • A Year of Beer from Fulton Brewery! 12 cases! Valued at $750! 

 

All donations raised in advance of and during the Telethon support the artistic programs of Northern Lights.mn. Thank you for your support!

Assistant Producer – Northern Spark 2022 Job Description – Application Deadline closed

Written by

Northern Lights.mn supports artists in the creation and presentation of art in the public sphere to imagine new interactions between audience, artwork and place and explore expanded possibilities for civic engagement.

Our largest program is Northern Spark, a free, annual, late-night, multidisciplinary arts festival that takes place in June and draws thousands of Minnesotans each year. In collaboration with arts organizations and community partners, we turn the city into a surprising arts experience.  

For more information about Northern Lights.mn, visit our website: http://northern.lights.mn/.  For more information about Northern Spark, visit http://northern.lights.mn/platform_group/northern-spark/

In 2022 Northern Spark will take place at Saint Paul neighborhood sites including Victoria Theatre Arts Center, Springboard for the Arts, Little Mekong Plaza and Raspberry Island. We seek applicants with knowledge of these neighborhoods whether through living, working, or socializing there.

Since 2011, Northern Spark has created a spirit of adventure and belonging, with the help of hundreds of artists and community partners. One of our goals is to build public artmaking and production skills within the community. Production staff members are part of a dynamic team that works together to produce this beloved event.

Job Description: Assistant Producer

The Assistant Producer works with the Festival Producer to support the production process of Northern Spark. This person will work on advance planning of the festival and will independently manage the event set-up, maintenance and strike at one of our festival sites, Springboard for the Arts.

Qualified applicants should have related experience, which may include: theatrical stage management or production management, project management, event coordination, etc. Technical experience or knowledge not required, but helpful. This is a great job for someone who has live event production experience who wants to take on more pre-production responsibility and/or seeks experience working within a public art or festival context.

Compensation: $5,000

Duration: February 1 through June 30, 2022 (there is possibility of this becoming an annual position)

Estimated hours: Approximately 200 hours. Schedule varies from week to week, estimated 5-10 hours per week with more hours required during site visit, testing and event weeks. Read below for more details.

Reports to: Festival Producer

Advance work may include:

  • Attending all Northern Spark staff meetings and production meetings (bi-weekly, weekly closer to event date
  • Managing spreadsheets to track equipment, materials, artist information, etc.
  • Drafting schedules and coordinating with artists, venues and production team
  • Updating contact sheets
  • Sourcing/obtaining equipment and materials
  • Coordinating plans for infrastructure, amenities, zero waste, etc.
  • Drafting, sending and filing contracts for other production personnel
  • Attending site visits and project testings with Producer
  • Communicating with each artist/project; volunteer; and zero waste personnel to confirm final details before event date
  • Communication and coordination with function crew, as necessary
  • Additional tasks, tbd

Tasks during the festival include:

  • Maintain communications with Festival Producer and Artists, as necessary
  • Manage Volunteers and other Production personnel
  • Act as public and artistic point-of-contact for event questions or issues
  • Maintain production and logistical elements of the event including:
  • Signage
  • Restrooms
  • Trash/Recycling/Organics
  • Security personnel
  • Audience flow and safety including COVID precautions
  • Back of house space
  • Retain festival and civil documentation including schedules and permits
  • Protect festival integrity by encouraging adherence to event schedule
  • Review integrity of projects and communicate status with Producer

Post-Festival tasks may include:

  • Compiling information for production reports; finalizing spreadsheets
  • Taking inventory of equipment (tents, projectors, etc), with Crew
  • Managing returning of materials to vendors and/or storage facilities (i.e. walkie-talkies, signage, tents, etc.), with help from the Crew
  • Additional tasks, tbd

Required skills: Must be detail-oriented, organized, and able to respond quickly and problem-solve on-site. Must be able to both work independently on projects and collaboratively with other staff members and artists. Great written and verbal communication skills, self-motivated and able to adapt to changing deadlines. Experience working with Google Suite necessary. Ability to make and read maps and ground plans. Ability to work with a broad range of people within and outside the organization including artists, vendors, city employees, venue contacts, etc. Ability to work with a fast-paced schedule with overlapping project timelines. Experience managing teams of people, whether volunteers, staff members, or a combination.

Desired skills: Basic proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite or similar program to make internal production maps; experience stage managing events; experience with volunteer recruitment and management.

Physical requirements: This job involves physically active work for sustained periods of time and staying up late and alert on the event date! Applicants must also be able to lift and move objects of up to 30 lbs.

Schedule: Weekday schedule to be determined with supervisor. Some evening and weekend availability is necessary. The following dates are required:

  • Production and Staff Meetings (mostly virtual): Mondays from 1-3pm (subject to change)
  • Artist Cohort Meetings (virtual): February 9; March 9, April 13, May 11 (evenings, approximately 6-8pm)
  • Project site visits (in person): TBD evenings, February 21 – 24
  • Project test dates (in person): TBD evenings the week of May 23 – 26
  • Telethon Fundraiser (in person): April 20 (all day rehearsal + evening live event)
  • Production week (virtual and in person): Must be available full time June 6-10
  • Festival weekend (in person): TBD hours / all day June 11 until approximately 4am on June 12

Required equipment: Computer with reliable internet access for virtual meetings and independent work. Must have reliable transportation for travel between festival sites across Saint Paul and to run errands.

COVID requirements: with abundant caution and care for our community, all festival staff must show proof of vaccination (including boosters, as applicable) and be prepared to wear a mask when the team collectively determines it’s necessary during the shifting state of the pandemic. Please consider this prior to applying. 

To apply: submit cover letter, resume or CV, and 3 references by December 21 to erin@northern.lights.mn

Deadline for this application has closed

Download Job Description PDF here.

Northern Spark 2022 Open Call for Participatory Installations

Written by

Northern Spark 2021 at Victoria Theater Arts Center. Photo by Bruce Silcox. Image Description: People gather to make art under white tents and twinkly lights across a twilight sky. 

Find a downloadable version of this call here.
Apply here.
Application Deadline extended: Sunday, January 9, 2022, at 11:59 pm CT.

WHAT IS NORTHERN SPARK?

Northern Spark is a late-night participatory public arts festival that lights up the Twin Cities in early summertime. 

In past years during Northern Spark, tens of thousands of people have gathered throughout the Twin Cities from dusk to dawn. In 2022 this structure returns, and festival curators lean into our uncertain times to invite artist projects that connect and inspire festival goers in experimental, surprising ways. For the first time since 2017, this year’s event includes a project that will take place from 2 am until dawn, bringing back the beloved Northern Spark experience of greeting the dawn together, outdoors, after a night of magical art happenings.  For information about the Closing Event call, go here. 

 More information about previous years of Northern Spark:
2021.northernspark.org                  2019.northernspark.org
2018.northernspark.org                  2017.northernspark.org
2016.northernspark.org                  2015.northernspark.org
2014.northernspark.org                  2013.northernspark.org
2012.northernspark.org                  2011.northernspark.org

Table of Contents

SUMMARY
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
PLACE
FESTIVAL THEME
ELIGIBILITY
KEY CONSIDERATIONS
BUDGET
APPLICATION MATERIALS
SELECTION PROCESS AND TIMELINE
INFO SESSIONS
SUBMISSION FORM
FAQs: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

SUMMARY

Northern Spark 2022 is taking place in-person in St. Paul, MN on June 10-11, 2022, from 9 pm to 2 am each night. A Closing Event will take place from 2 am – 5:30 am on Raspberry Island in downtown St. Paul in the Mississippi River. 

This is an Open Call for art projects that will take place in-person from 9 pm – 2 am on Saturday, June 11, 2022 in one of 2 locations along St. Paul’s University Avenue. Projects can span any artistic genre, i.e. visual, literary, performance, behavioral, and so forth. Ideal projects will offer engagement opportunities for festival goers. 

Project proposals will be selected by a jury consisting of the Northern Spark Artist Council.

Proposals must also respond to this year’s theme: What the World Needs Now.

Keep reading for information on how to apply, who is eligible and the full timeline of required dates and meetings. 

For information on future calls and other Northern Spark 2022 project opportunities, sign up for our e-newsletter here. 

 

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?  

We are looking for artist installations or projects in any media or form that engage festival-goers in creative, participatory ways. 

Some examples of past participatory installations include:  

  • Performance installation — just breathe. Ananya Dance Theater performed movements inside a plexiglass box as it filled with theatrical fog. Soundscape by tony the scribe. After each set, the audience was invited to write suggestions for clean air in communities of color. Photos here. 
  • Hands-on-artmaking installation — A Buffalo Nation: Creating Community. Festival-goers painted and folded paper buffalo skulls while in conversation about the common and ongoing threats to our environment and cultures. Photos here.
  • Conversational installation — Empathy Economy, Northern Spark 2018. Participants filled out a hand-printed withdrawal slip and presented their request for empathy to the banker to be given a letterpress printed “currency” in exchange. Photos here.
  • Sound and sculpture installation — A Soundscape of Stories, by Kashimana Ahua at Hallie Q. Brown Center in 2019 invited people to listen to recorded stories with soundscapes in a carefully created setting. Photos here. 

 

Participatory installations must run all hours of the festival. For more examples of previous installations, visit northernspark.org. 

PLACE  – Saint Paul 

Why Saint Paul?  

This year’s festival is the 5th time Northern Spark will take place in St. Paul. Frogtown, Little Mekong, and Rondo neighborhoods along University Ave, as well as downtown and the riverfront will host festival activities. We have identified the locations on University Ave because they have historically been excluded from arts investment even though they are sites of vibrant cultural expression and artistic spirit. 

The 2022 festival builds on years of partnerships, artist engagement and community building along University Ave and elsewhere in the capital city. As festival organizers, our aim is to shine a spotlight on the beauty and richness of these communities while also lifting them up for newcomers to experience. 

You do not have to live in Frogtown, Little Mekong or Rondo to propose a project, nor do projects need to be specifically about these neighborhoods. However ideal projects will articulate a connection between the project idea and the place. In other words, why this project, why this place? 

SITES

In partnership with these organizations, Open Call projects will be presented at Springboard for the Arts and Victoria Theater Arts Center. 

Springboard for the Arts is located at 262 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55103* (on the corner of University and Galtier). Outdoor street level festival spaces include a grassy area, a paved lot, and a hardscape patio next to the building. Areas within the building include the Community Hall (large studio-type space with tall ceilings; we will keep the garage door open for airflow), and the rooftop terrace. There is access to power throughout the site. Exterior areas can be seen in this video.

*NOTE: Springboard has MOVED! It is no longer in Lowertown. 

Victoria Theatre Arts Center is located at 825 University Avenue W, Saint Paul, MN 55104 (on University between Victoria and Avon). This is an outdoor site, with potential options of a grassy lot (to the east of the building), a paved lot (to the east, on the corner of Avon and University), and a landscaped plaza to the west of the building with a brick patio and native grasses and trees. 

Accessibility:

We acknowledge that no festival location can be 100% accessible to everyone. Here are the accessibility features and limitations of these sites:

Springboard:

  • Gender neutral bathrooms (artist and staff only) and portapotties; both ADA and standard
  • Both an elevator and stairs to the rooftop
  • Bike racks, on bus and light rail lines, street parking

Victoria Theatre Arts Center:

  • Gender neutral portapotties; both ADA and standard
  • On a bus and light rail lines; street parking

If you have a question about sites, email submissions@northern.lights.mn.

FESTIVAL THEME

Northern Spark 2022: What the World Needs Now

Artists are truth tellers.; dreamers, seekers of imagination. Between the ever-present uncertainty of our times and the impossible tangibility of the future, we wonder: what does the world need now? 

Some may already be singing “what the world needs now is love, sweet love.” These lyrics ring true as an anthem for our times. We all need love, but perhaps your answer to this statement is, poetry projected on every building, clean water for all who inhabit this earth, a sing-a-long in a local park, or endless bubbles shining iridescent in the sun. One thing is for certain: we know we will always need art to fuel our souls. 

The 2022 Northern Spark Artist Council curatorial team arrived at this festival theme after many conversations in which the concepts of exhaustion, uncertainty, and hope repeatedly emerged as critical touchpoints for seeking continued healing in our communities. This theme does not aim to find consensus, but rather to be a portal through which the  needs and desires of our world may be radically illuminated throughout the night of Northern Spark 2022. 

The theme was created by the 2022 Artist Council with Northern Lights.mn. 

ELIGIBILITY

This call is for individual artists, artist collectives, culture bearers and creative community organizers. This open call opportunity is open to anyone with a connection to St. Paul, preferably the Rondo/Frogtown/Little Mekong neighborhoods. Non-profit organizations or companies are not eligible to apply. 

Applicants living anywhere are eligible to participate, but there is no additional funding available for shipping or travel.

Who is an Individual Artist?

Anyone who is a maker of things or experiences in the realm of art; can be self-taught, or academically trained, emerging or seasoned as an artist. 

What is an Artist Collective?

Groups of artists who work together toward shared artistic goals or projects. These groups may be ongoing or temporary for Northern Spark. Artist groups that have 501c3 status are not eligible. 

Who is a Culture Bearer? 

These are individuals or groups who may not use the term “artist” to describe their work in maintaining, sharing, or practicing cultural lifeways and creative practices. 

Who is a Creative Community Organizer?

A creative community organizer is a community member who has been involved with uplifting and organizing communities. This person has a deep understanding of community politics, privilege, and power and uses their voice to challenge the system to create social change.

COVID requirements: with abundant caution and care for our community, all festival artists must show proof of vaccination (including boosters, as applicable) or a negative COVID test result within 72 hours of the festival date. They must also be prepared to wear a mask if the festival team collectively determines it is necessary during the shifting state of the pandemic. This requirement is the same for festival staff and volunteers.

KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR PROJECT SELECTION

Projects will be evaluated according to these primary considerations:

  • Theme. How is your project inspired by the theme “What the World Needs Now”
  • Artistic Vision. What is your project? What materials and/or processes will you use? We are looking for clear project descriptions that showcase a commitment to creativity.
  • Creative Team. Who is making your project? What roles will each person play?  
  • Participatory. How will people interact, engage or exchange with your project?
  • Duration: How will your project fully utilize the 5 hours of festival time over one night (All festival projects must run from 9 pm – 2 am.)
  • Accessibility. Consider how your project will be experienced by people with differing abilities of vision, hearing, touch, cognition, etc.
  • Relationship to place. Ideal projects will articulate a connection between the project idea and the place. In other words, why this project, why this place?
  • Known Unknowns. If there are parts of your project that are unknown, that’s okay! Tell us what they are and what process you might use to figure them out.

In addition, while none of the following are strict requirements, they are factors in making our decisions:

Other considerations

  • Sound. Due to the late-night timing of this event, projects need to be relatively quiet. We welcome projects that have a localized sound experience (whether amplified or unamplified) as long as it does not reach beyond the project footprint. City sound ordinances prevent amplified sound after 10 pm.
  • Safety. Please consider the safety of the audience, the artistic team, and the natural environment of the site, including the river. Northern Lights.mn will have COVID safety protocols in place (TBD) that all projects must follow.
  • Sustainability. We encourage artists to consider their carbon footprint and potential waste while creating and implementing their project.
  • Feasibility. We are looking for projects that can be created between notification of acceptance and the start of Northern Spark, as well as set up and taken down on the night of this event. Northern Lights.mn will assist with general production, but you are responsible for the creation, production and implementation of your project.
  • Inclusivity. Your project should be inclusive towards a wide public audience, people of differing perspectives and abilities. 
  • Free. Participation in Northern Spark experiences must be free of charge. Projects that intend to sell art or products are not eligible.

BUDGET

If your project is selected, you will receive a budget of up to $4,000. We suggest you plan for an artist(s) stipend of $1,500 within this budget. 

You will submit a budget with your application that outlines the primary costs of your project: materials, equipment, tools, services or staffing to help prepare or run your project, etc. The budget should reflect everything you need to complete your project. Your project should be scaled to fit within this stipend and materials budget.  Projects that are contingent on further fundraising will not be considered. 

View sample budgets here. 

If you have questions, email submissions@northern.lights.mn or come to an online Info Session. 

APPLICATION MATERIALS

The application process is entirely online. Download a Word doc of the application questions here. Applicants are required to submit:

  • Name of Artist, Artist Collective, or Creative Community Organizer (if collective, name Lead Artist)
  • Primary Contact (name, pronounce, phone, email) This person will receive the project acceptance or rejection and any questions we might have during the decision making process. 
  • Answers to the Key Considerations 
  • Project Supporting Materials (optional) Please attach any files that help to illustrate your concept and vision (ex. visual renderings, audio files, video files, etc). This is different from a sample of past work.
  • Work samples of past work that communicates your ability to manifest the project you are proposing. Work samples do not need to be of the same material or media as your project idea, but give the jury a sense that you can complete a project on the scale you are proposing. Please include identifying information and/or brief descriptions. If you are applying as a collaborative group, please note who on the team the work samples belong to.
  • A budget (1 page) that fits within the parameters of the open call and outlines the major cost categories of your project. 

The submission form is on Submittable, and will be available soon. 

Download a Word doc of the Submittable form here. 

If you are unable to apply online or access the application, please contact us! submissions@northern.lights.mn. 

SELECTION PROCESS AND TIMELINE

Projects will be selected by Northern Lights.mn and the Artist Council, who reserve the right to request additional material and information after the proposal deadline, and to reject any and all proposals received.

Application Timeline: 

  • Deadline for applications: Sunday, January 9, 2022, 11:59 pm, CST 
  • Artists notified no later than: February 1, 2022

Being a Northern Spark artist means being part of a community of makers. Festival artists take part in monthly meetings at which you receive and give feedback and problem solving for your and others’ projects, receive production and curatorial support and other networking benefits. Northern Spark is a professional development experience! 

Before applying with a project, please make sure you will be available for the following dates and interested in a learning process. We want to help you succeed with your project. 

Festival Artist Timeline:
Please save these dates! If you are selected, you will be required to attend.

  • Festival Artists Introductory Meeting: February 9, 2022, 6-8 pm on Zoom.
  • Monthly Festival Artist Meetings, 6-8 pm on Zoom: March 9, April 20, May 11
  • Project Testings: TBD the week of May 23 – 26 
  • Project hours at festival: June 10 and 11, 2022 from 9pm – 2am each night (with additional time for set-up and strike directly before and after the project hours)

INFO SESSIONS
Please join us for an Info Session and a Walking Tour of the possible sites for Northern Spark 2022. 

Virtual Info Session:
Tuesday, November 30, 2021 from 6-7 pm
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84061124285
Facebook Event: https://fb.me/e/24SALlFY8
(this event will be recorded and posted if you are unable to attend)

Walking Tour of site
Saturday, December 11, 2021 from 1-3pm
Meet at: Victoria Theatre Arts Center, 825 University Avenue W, St. Paul, MN 55104
This walking tour is for proposed projects happening along University Avenue during the 9pm – 2am festival hours. There will be a separate walking tour of the Closing Event site December 11 from 3:30 – 4:30pm at Raspberry Island.

Facebook Event for Participatory Installations: https://fb.me/e/1kFxjPZLS
Facebook Event for Festival Closing Event: https://fb.me/e/V3Y2ZPMD

SUBMISSION FORM

The submission form is now live on Submittable. Find it here, as well as on the Northern Lights.mn Opportunities page.
If you are planning on submitting a proposal and would like to receive relevant open call updates, sign up for our e-newsletter.

If you have specific questions about the submission process or need help, e-mail submissions@northern.lights.mn.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How much detail about my production process do you want to see in my proposal?

We want to see descriptions of materials and equipment you’ll use, dimensions of sets or objects, placement diagrams, any special structures or features that would be needed, etc. Basically, anything that will help us get a sense of how your project would physically fit into the landscape of the festival, and what the major physical components are. You may describe this info in your answers to the Key Considerations or in the optional Supporting Materials documents. 

I don’t need funding for my project / I can provide all the funding for my project, and I would like to present it at Northern Spark. What is the process I should follow?

All proposals for art projects must go through the Open Call process. This is an equity practice, so all artists have a chance to be presented by the festival regardless of their access to resources. 

Is there a set number of projects that will be accepted?

At present we have funds to support 5 projects at the budget level listed in the call. This may change depending on possible new resources or the proposed projects. 

I’m not interested in presenting a project, but I really want to be a part of this festival. How can I get involved?

You can volunteer! We love our volunteers. Email volunteers@northern.lights.mn for more information.

What should I do if I don’t see my question listed in these FAQ’s?

E-mail submissions@northern.lights.mn with any additional questions.

Northern Spark 2022 Open Call for Festival Closing Event

Written by

Census by Pramila Vasudevan and collaborators, Northern Spark 2016. Photo: Max Haynes. Image Description: a person wearing a grey hoodie sits with their back to a single lamp pole with a glowing light bulb. In front of them is a skyline at dawn with vivid orange, pink, purple and blue sunrise.

Find a downloadable version of this call here.
Apply here.
Application Deadline extended: Sunday, January 9, 2022, at 11:59 pm CT.

WHAT IS NORTHERN SPARK?

In past years during Northern Spark, tens of thousands of people have gathered throughout the Twin Cities from dusk to dawn. In 2022 this structure returns, and festival curators lean into our uncertain times to invite artist projects that connect and inspire festival goers in experimental, surprising ways. For the first time since 2017, this year’s event includes a project that will take place from 2 am until dawn, bringing back the beloved Northern Spark experience of greeting the dawn together, outdoors, after a night of magical art happenings.   

More information about previous years of Northern Spark:
2021.northernspark.org                  2019.northernspark.org
2018.northernspark.org                  2017.northernspark.org
2016.northernspark.org                  2015.northernspark.org
2014.northernspark.org                  2013.northernspark.org
2012.northernspark.org                  2011.northernspark.org


Table of Contents

SUMMARY
WHY WATER
PLACE AND SITE INFORMATION
FESTIVAL THEME
ELIGIBILITY
KEY CONSIDERATIONS
BUDGET
APPLICATION MATERIALS
SELECTION PROCESS AND TIMELINE
INFO SESSIONS
SUBMISSION FORM
FAQs: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

SUMMARY

Northern Spark 2022 is taking place in-person along University Ave in St. Paul, MN on Saturday June 11, 2022, from 9 pm to 2 am. A Closing Event will follow from 2 – 5:30 am on Raspberry Island in downtown St. Paul. 

This is an Open Call for proposals for the festival Closing Event, focused on water. Projects can span any artistic genre, i.e. visual, literary, performance, behavioral, etc. Ideal projects will offer engagement opportunities for festival goers. 

Project proposals will be selected by a jury consisting of the Northern Spark Artist Council.

Proposals must also respond to this year’s theme: What the World Needs Now 

Keep reading for information on how to apply, who is eligible and the full timeline of required dates and meetings. 

For information on future calls and other Northern Spark 2022 project opportunities, sign up for our e-newsletter here. 

 

WHY WATER 

Mnísota Makhóčhe, the Dakota name for Minnesota, translates to “land where the waters reflect the sky.” Our state is home to more than 10,000 lakes. Their waters run through our cities as the Wakpa Tanka / Misi-Ziibi / Mississippi River, and it runs through our bodies as our drinking water. This river also bridges us to peoples, places, lands, flora, and fauna along a 2,340 miles course to meet the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. 

In Dakota tradition, water is our first medicine. When in utero and the water breaks, life as an individual begins. It is a key part of our physical makeup and it’s required for all living things. Water is life and with that gift comes a responsibility for us to protect it. Our waterways have been the focus of activism locally in the fight against Line 3 and other efforts to protect fragile ecosystems as well as Indigenous treaty rights. Water is a vital part of our world and worthy of our attention today, and every day. 

For the first time since 2017 Northern Spark, this project will invite participants to greet dawn together outdoors as an ending to the festival. We are looking for participatory projects that propose a festival closing gesture which: 

  • Creates a connection between the festival’s overall theme and the Wakpá Tháŋka / Misi-Ziibi / Mississippi River specifically or bodies of water generally
  • Considers the night-into-day nature of the event’s timing
  • Is participatory – allowing and encouraging interaction between attendees, the river, each other and the art experience; and 
  • Acts as a denouement, a culmination, a bringing together of people; a “sending.”

PLACE AND SITE INFORMATION 

Raspberry Island 

Raspberry Island – named for the wild raspberries that once grew there – sits in the middle of the Wakpá Tháŋka / Misi-Ziibi / Mississippi river with views of downtown Saint Paul to the north and Harriet Island to the south. The Wabasha Street Bridge crosses directly over it. The park features a bandshell, a large grassy plaza, trees, native grasses, and walking paths around the perimeter. There is existing lighting at the bandshell and around the perimeter; the grassy plaza is unlit. There is access to one 20-amp circuit at the bandshell. The island is accessible by foot, bike or car across a bridge starting on the Harriet Island / south side of the river. There are also staircases coming down from the middle of the Wabasha Street Bridge (100 steps with viewing platforms partway down). It is part of the Harriet Island Regional Park run by the CIty of Saint Paul.

Please note: the west end of the island, including the boat house, is private and cannot be used for the festival.

Further context: 

Dakota people have generational knowledge of the relationships and connections between people, plants, animals, and land through the waterways. In the Twin Cities, there are many places that tell the stories of these connections such as Bdote, translated from Dakota meaning “where two waters come together”. Bdote represents the spiritual and physical place of creation for the Dakota people and is located at the confluence of the Wakpá Tháŋka (Large River) Mississippi River and Mnísota Wakpá (Clear Waters Reflecting the Blue Skies River) Minnesota River, on the eastern edge of the Minneapolis–St. Paul airport, and south of the Twin Cities.

Read more about Raspberry Island: 

https://lisastories.com/2018/09/15/raspberry-island-the-little-island-that-could/

https://www.stpaul.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/harriet-island-regional-park/raspberry-island

Accessibility

We acknowledge that no festival location can be 100% accessible to everyone. Here are the accessibility features and limitations of this site. 

  • Gendered indoor bathrooms; gender neutral porta-potties; both with ADA stalls
  • Bike racks, accessible parking spaces
  • Paved walkways around the perimeter
  • The bandshell platform has stairs (and no ramp)

 

FESTIVAL THEME

Northern Spark 2022: What the World Needs Now

Artists are truth tellers, dreamers, seekers of imagination. Between the ever-present uncertainty of our times and the impossible tangibility of the future, we wonder: what does the world need now? 

Some may already be singing “what the world needs now is love, sweet love.” These lyrics ring true as an anthem for our times. We all need love, but perhaps your answer to this statement is, poetry projected on every building, clean water for all who inhabit this earth, a sing-a-long in a local park, or endless bubbles shining iridescent in the sun. One thing is for certain: we know we will always need art to fuel our souls. 

The 2022 Northern Spark Artist Council curatorial team arrived at this festival theme after many conversations in which the concepts of exhaustion, uncertainty, and hope repeatedly emerged as critical touchpoints for seeking continued healing in our communities. This theme does not aim to find consensus, but rather to be a portal through which the  needs and desires of our world may be radically illuminated throughout the night of Northern Spark 2022. 

The theme was created by the 2022 Artist Council with Northern Lights.mn. 

ELIGIBILITY

This call is for individual artists, artist collectives, culture bearers and creative community organizers.. Non-profit organizations or companies are not eligible to apply. 

Who is an Individual Artist?

Anyone who is a maker of things or experiences in the realm of art; can be self-taught, or academically trained, emerging or seasoned as an artist. 

What is an Artist Collective?

Groups of artists who work together toward shared artistic goals or projects. These groups may be ongoing or temporary for Northern Spark. Artist groups that have 501c3 status are not eligible. 

Who is a Culture Bearer? 

These are individuals or groups who may not use the term “artist” to describe their work in maintaining, sharing, or practicing cultural lifeways and creative practices. 

Who is a Creative Community Organizer?

A creative community organizer is a community member who has been involved with uplifting and organizing communities. This person has a deep understanding of community politics, privilege, and power and uses their voice to challenge the system to create social change.

COVID requirements: with abundant caution and care for our community, all festival artists must show proof of vaccination (including boosters, as applicable) or a negative COVID test result within 72 hours of the festival date. They must also be prepared to wear a mask if the festival team collectively determines it is necessary during the shifting state of the pandemic. This requirement is the same for festival staff and volunteers.

KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR PROJECT SELECTION

Projects will be evaluated according to these primary considerations:

  • Theme. How is your project inspired by the theme: “What the World Needs Now”?
  • Artistic vision.  What is your project? What materials and/or processes will you use? We are looking for clear project descriptions that showcase a commitment to creativity.
  • Creative Team. Who is making your project? What roles will each person play? 
  • Participatory. How will people interact, engage or exchange with your project? 
  • Duration. How does your project fully utilize the unique timing of this event, including darkness and sunrise? This project must run fully from 2 am – 5:30 am.  
  • Accessibility. Consider how your project will be experienced by people with differing abilities of vision, hearing, touch, cognition, etc. 
  • Relationship to Place.  How does your project consider the unique location of this event and its proximity to the Mississippi River, both thematically and physically? 
  • Known Unknowns. If there are parts of your project that are unknown, that’s okay! Tell us what they are and what process you might use to figure them out. 

In addition, while none of the following are strict requirements, they are factors in making our decisions:

Other considerations

  • Sound. Due to the timing of this event, it needs to be quiet. We welcome projects that have a localized sound experience (whether amplified or unamplified) as long as it does not reach beyond the project footprint.
  • Safety. Please consider the safety of the audience, the artistic team, and the natural environment of the site, including the river. Northern Lights.mn will have COVID safety protocols in place (TBD) that all projects must follow. 
  • Sustainability. We encourage artists to consider their carbon footprint and potential waste while creating and implementing their project.
  • Feasibility. We are looking for projects that can be created between notification of acceptance and the start of Northern Spark, as well as set up and taken down on the night of this event. Northern Lights.mn will assist with general production, but you are responsible for the creation, production and implementation of your project.
  • Inclusivity. Your project should be inclusive towards a wide public audience, people of differing perspectives and abilities. 
  • Free. Participation in Northern Spark experiences must be free of charge. Projects that intend to sell art or products are not eligible.

 

BUDGET

If your project is selected, you will receive a budget of $5,000. We suggest you plan for an artist(s) stipend of $2,000 within this budget. 

You will submit a budget with your application that outlines the primary costs of your project: materials, equipment, tools, services or staffing to help prepare or run your project, etc. The budget should reflect everything you need to complete your project. Your project should be scaled to fit within this stipend and materials budget.  Projects that are contingent on further fundraising will not be considered. 

View sample budgets here. 

If you have questions, email submissions@northern.lights.mn or come to an online Info Session. 

 

APPLICATION MATERIALS

The application process is entirely online. Applicants are required to submit:

  • Name of Artist, Artist Collective, or Creative Community Organizer (if collective, name Lead Artist)
  • Primary Contact (name, pronouns, phone, email) This person will receive the project acceptance or rejection and any questions we might have during the decision making process. 
  • Answers to the Key Considerations 
  • Project Supporting Materials (optional) Please attach any files that help to illustrate your concept and vision (ex. visual renderings, audio files, video files, etc). This is different from a sample of past work.
  • Work samples of past work that communicates your ability to manifest the project you are proposing. Work samples do not need to be of the same material or media as your project idea, but give the jury a sense that you can complete a project on the scale you are proposing. Please include identifying information and/or brief descriptions. If you are applying as a collaborative group, please note who on the team the work samples belong to.
  • A budget (1 page) that fits within the parameters of the open call and outlines the major cost categories of your project. 

The submission form is on Submittable, and will be available soon. 

Download a Word doc of the Submittable form here. 

If you are unable to apply online or access the application, please contact us! submissions@northern.lights.mn. 

SELECTION PROCESS AND TIMELINE

Projects will be selected by Northern Lights.mn and the Artist Council, who reserve the right to request additional material and information after the proposal deadline, and to reject any and all proposals received.

Application Timeline: 

  • Deadline for applications extended: January 9, 2022, 11:59 pm, CST 
  • Artists notified no later than: February 1, 2021

Being a Northern Spark artist means being part of a community of makers. Festival artists take part in monthly meetings at which you receive and give feedback and problem solving for your and others’ projects, receive production and curatorial support and other networking benefits. Northern Spark is a professional development experience! 

Before applying with a project, please make sure you will be available for the following dates and interested in a learning process. We want to help you succeed with your project. 

Festival Artist Timeline:
Please save these dates! If you are selected, you will be required to attend.

  • Festival Artists Introductory Meeting: February 9, 2022, 6-8 pm on Zoom.
  • Monthly Festival Artist Meetings, 6-8 pm on Zoom: March 9, April 13, May 11
  • Project Testings: TBD the week of May 23 – 26 
  • Project hours at festival: Sunday, June 12, 2022 from 2am – 5:30am (with additional time for set-up and strike directly before and after the project hours)

INFO SESSIONS

Please join us for an Info Session and a Walking Tour of the possible sites for Northern Spark 2022. 

Virtual Info Session:

Tuesday, November 30, 2021 from 6-7 pm

Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84061124285

Facebook Event: https://fb.me/e/24SALlFY8

(this event will be recorded and posted if you are unable to attend)

 

Walking Tour of site

RESCHEDULED: Saturday, December 18, 2021 from 1-3pm

Meet at: Victoria Theatre Arts Center, 825 University Avenue W, St. Paul, MN 55104

This walking tour is for proposed projects happening along University Avenue during the 9pm – 2am festival hours. There will be a separate walking tour of the Closing Event site December 18 from 3:30 – 4:30pm at Raspberry Island. 

Facebook Event for Participatory Installations: https://fb.me/e/1kFxjPZLS

Facebook Event for Festival Closing Event: https://fb.me/e/V3Y2ZPMD

SUBMISSION FORM

The submission form will be available on Submittable soon. Find it here, as well as on the Northern Lights.mn Opportunities page.

If you are planning on submitting a proposal and would like to receive relevant open call updates, sign up for our newsletter. 

If you have specific questions about the submission process or need help, e-mail submissions@northern.lights.mn before or after December 24th – January 2nd. The Northern Lights.mn office will be closed for the holidays.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How much detail about my production process do you want to see in my proposal?

We want to see descriptions of materials and equipment you’ll use, dimensions of sets or objects, placement diagrams, any special structures or features that would be needed, etc. Basically, anything that will help us get a sense of how your project would physically fit into the landscape of the festival, and what the major physical components are.

I don’t need funding for my project / I can provide all the funding for my project, and I would like to present it at Northern Spark. What is the process I should follow?

All proposals for Northern Spark projects must go through the Open Call process. This is an equity practice, so all artists have a chance to be presented by the festival regardless of their access to resources. 

Is there a set number of projects that will be accepted?

We will select one (1) project for the Closing Ceremony.  

I’m not interested in presenting a project, but I really want to be a part of this festival. How can I get involved?

You can volunteer! We love our volunteers. Email volunteers@northern.lights.mn for more information.

What should I do if I don’t see my question listed in these FAQ’s?

E-mail submissions@northern.lights.mn with any additional questions.

Support Northern Lights.mn to the Max

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​​Your support raises us up! 

We believe that art is what the world needs now. By supporting artists, we’re investing in opportunities to come together, explore ideas, heal, and grow.

In 2021 our mission looked like: 

  • A world premiere of an animation and soundscape by Moira Villiard and collaborators in 8 degree winter weather on a 400 ft long wall of the St. Anthony Falls Lock.  
  • Four emerging artists of Art(ists) on the Verge demonstrating incredible tenacity in steering their public projects to completion despite a state shut down and social uprising. 
  • Seven artists of the 4th generation of the Northern Spark Artist Council empowered as curators and creative planners
  • A reimagined, hybrid in-person, online, in-the-mail Northern Spark festival for 3 weekends and 2 weeks in June that closed with an 8 hour overnight alchemic experience of poetry, song, dance and birds singing at dawn on another continent.
  • The launch of a call for augmented reality projects by Native artists to lend us visions for the “future river.”  (Coming to the Mississippi river near you in Fall 2022).   

Your support helped us adapt our work in the last year, and we need you with us as we move into 2022 and beyond.

To get there, we have a $5,000 goal for Give to the Max Day 2021. Your tax-deductible donation makes a big difference for the coming year, helping us to reach more people, support more artists and sustain Northern Spark annually. 

Support us on Give to the Max Day, Thursday, November 18, here.

Thank you for your support! 

 

Photo credit: You Change Me by Lelis Brito and collaborators at Northern Spark 2021 in front of Victoria Theater Arts Center. Photo by Bruce Silcox.

Northern Spark 2022 Theme and Open Calls

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Northern Spark 2022: What the World Needs Now 

We are excited to announce the theme, locations and Open Calls for Northern Spark 2022, the 11th festival since our beginning in 2011.

Northern Spark 2022 will take place in-person along University Avenue in St. Paul, MN on Saturday, June 11, 2022 from 9 pm – 2 am. A Closing Event will follow from 2 am – 5:30 am on Raspberry Island in downtown St. Paul at the Mississippi River.

We are delighted to return to the Rondo, Frogtown and Little Mekong neighborhoods, as well as the River, and to continue partnering with Victoria Theater Arts Center, Springboard for the Arts,  Rondo Community Library and others for this year’s activities.

The festival theme What the World Needs Now was created by the 2022 Artist Council with Northern Lights.mn.

Artists are truth tellers, dreamers, seekers of imagination. Between the ever-present uncertainty of our times and the impossible tangibility of the future, we wonder: what does the world need now? 

Some may already be singing “what the world needs now is love, sweet love.” These lyrics ring true as an anthem for our times. We all need love, but perhaps your answer to this statement is, poetry projected on every building, clean water for all who inhabit this earth, a sing-a-long in a local park, or endless bubbles shining iridescent in the sun. One thing is for certain: we know we will always need art to fuel our souls.

We have launched two Open Calls for Artists to propose projects that take up this query:

Open Call for Participatory Installations
Participatory Installations will take place in-person from 9 pm – 2 am on Saturday, June 11, 2022 in one of 2 locations along St. Paul’s University Avenue. Projects can span any artistic genre, i.e. visual, literary, performance, behavioral, and so forth. Ideal projects will offer engagement opportunities for festival goers. Read the full call here.

Open Call for Closing Event Projects
The Closing Event will take place from 2-5:30 am on festival night, technically on Sunday, June 12th. Happening on Raspberry Island in the Mississippi River, this project will be focused on water. Projects can span any artistic genre, i.e. visual, literary, performance, behavioral, etc. Ideal projects will offer engagement opportunities for festival goers. Read the full call here.

If you have specific questions about the submission process or need help, e-mail submissions@northern.lights.mn.

More to be announced soon!

Get to know AOV11 artist, A.P. Looze

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A.P. Looze (they/them) is a multi-disciplinary artist who surrenders to the unknown and believes in the healing power of the divine. For AOV11, Looze will expand upon a practice derived through the pandemic by creating a month-long immersive ceremony that will illuminate ancestral, descendant, and earth wisdom channeled through the medium of a flower: the rose. Stay tuned for information on how to sign up for a private session in the installation during the month of September. 

Here are a few questions we asked A.P Looze to get to know a little more about him and his project.

1.How does your Artist on the Verge project intersect with your larger body of work and artistic interests?

I feel like my work spans a wide spectrum of emotions and styles, but at the core of each of my pieces is a devotion to healing through embodiment and love.

Right now I am invested in using my artistic practice as a platform to tend to the wounds of intergenerational trauma inherited through the disembodying and loveless violences of whiteness. I ask myself: what do I need to do to interrupt the trauma?

2.How can the act of making art work and the work itself serve as that interruption?

One element of that process for me is creating space for ritual that tends to this pain, and that calls forth love as a healing force. My AOV project is essentially the culmination of a daily ritual of beading rosehips and invoking the wisdom of my ancestors and the wisdom of roses. I learned that the love of my ancestors is always around me and that the rose itself symbolizes love. In Catholicism the rose is a symbol for Mary.  And if you dig deeper into history, Mary is a representation of mother earth. Stringing these rosehips, ingesting the water they soaked in, and administering a daily dose of wild rose flower essence has been an embodied experiment in channeling love.

3. What was your favorite part of envisioning and working on this project?

This project has taken so many twists and turns throughout the pandemic. Things began to settle for me when I realized that this beading practice was potentially a practice of my long ago European ancestors–I’m talking pre-christian, even paleolithic. Long long ago, beads made from flowers and seeds were strung to honor the mother goddesses. Something sent chills up my spine when I made that connection. The contemplative nature of the practice allowed messages and songs inspired by my ancestors and the rose to flow through me. I will be incorporating those messages into the installation in a couple of ways.

Through further research, I came to understand how much paganism and more ancient earth-based spiritual practices survived covertly within the Catholic church. While in christian religions it is more customary to pray upward toward a transcendental god, or upward toward statues of Mary etc., the rosary feels counter to that. It is held in your hands when you pray. The overall energy of prayer feels downward and internal. Even portions of the Hail Mary prayer are derived from pre-christian times. It feels like an ancient earth-based relic that miraculously survived the violent expansion of the Catholic church. And, as I was beading one day, a voice came through that said, “it’s all about touch.” I’ve literally touched every part of this project–I’ve harvested the rosehips from bushes in my neighborhood, I’ve strung every single rosehip, I harvested the rose flowers to make flower essence. There’s something about being in literal contact with the earth that is so essential for healing my relationship to this place and to my white lineage.

4. People are invited to view your installation on xx September xx from 5-7:30.  What do you hope people will take away from the piece?

While I can never control what people will think, my hope is that people may walk away with their own thoughts or reminders of how to connect to their own ancestors. I hope people may think of rituals that they wish to practice that connect them to their lineage and this earth. Perhaps this will inspire people to connect with a specific part of the land in a reverential way.

Get to know AOV11 artist, Kelley Meister

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Kelley Meister (ze/hir) is an interdisciplinary artist who uses drawings, sculpture, and time-based art to build transformative experiences and environments that encourage empathy through a shared emotional experience or exploration. Stay tuned to hotzone.kelleymeister.com for updates, to learn more, and hop on the ride!

Here are a few questions we asked Kelley Meister to get to know a little more about ze and hir project.

1. How does your Artist on the Verge project intersect with your larger body of work and artistic interests?

Over the course of the extended AOV Fellowship, the world shifted in unexpected ways. Fear and uncertainty became ever present in my life. It began with watching the shelves rapidly empty in the stores. As an artist who has worked with and about fear for over a decade, I knew my work had something to offer to this moment. But for much of the fellowship period, I was paralyzed and unsure. I couldn’t access the distance I realized was required in order to find the artistic antidotes for myself, to find the ways to work through and with the fear. I felt immense guilt for not showing up on my studio days week after week as the pandemic wore on followed by the uprising that shook the cities. Eventually last winter, I found a new working pattern, one that was slower, more introspective, and deeply personal.

Drawing on much of what I created in the first year of AOV work, I exhibited Fallout Shelter, a site-specific subterranean installation at Hair+Nails Gallery in April 2021. In the installation were over 100 canned good ceramic replicas (13 of which were created by co-fellows and our mentors during the first AOV critique), wallpapered photo-collages of over-sized cans taken during the the first few months of the fellowship while overseas, a VHS video and sound piece, and a collaborative Fear Scale created through audience-participation (also created for the first AOV critique). Three large painted wall texts acknowledged our collective contemporary and ancestral grief, ongoing fear, and gratitude to the Dakota and Anishinaabe for stewarding the land on which the gallery and my home are located before, throughout and despite the ongoing occupation of white settlers, myself included. These Acknowledgments were workshopped with the care and feedback of my AOV cohort.

For the culmination of the AOV project, I am launching a long-term investigation of the 100-mile stretch of land and water between the two nuclear power plants in Mni Sota, so-called Minnesota, at Prairie Island and Monticello. 

First, there is a sculptural component of windsocks that call attention to the wind that moves particulates, smoke, dust, pollen, seeds, insects, and more through the 100-mile space. The wind disperses what is here, while also depositing small artifacts from along its route. These windsocks will be installed at various points throughout the 100-mile HOTZONE area throughout the month of September. A trio of windsocks will also be installed at Patrick Eagan Park in Eagan, MN, from Sep 11-Oct 28.

Additionally, I am creating a participatory online platform that explores our proximity to nuclear waste through data collection, drawing and visual observation, bicycle rides and other mobile endeavors, environmental radiation monitors, and connections between people. You can find it at hotzone.kelleymeister.com and submit your own drawings/photographic observations there. On Saturday, September 25, I will host an informal gathering for others to join me in looking closely at the ecosystem in a small oak savanna lying adjacent to the Hahawakpa / Gitchi Ziibi / Mississippi River. From 2-4pm, come anytime to sit and draw. Bring a camera, drawing materials, something to sit on (if desired) and water/snacks for yourself. We will be looking closely at the plants and small creatures of the habitat, creating a document of their lives in this location on this date, to be added to the website. Look out for future gatherings and ongoing updates on the website (hotzone.kelleymeister.com) or on my social media (IG: @__kel.ley__, FB: @kelley.shipwreck).

More details:

WHAT: HOTZONE: Observe & Draw Together: a small, informal gathering to look closely at the plants and sessile (limited movement and/or immobile) creatures (e.g., bugs, insects, macroinvertebrates, etc.) in and near the river

WHEN: 9/25 (Rain date 9/26) 2-4pm

WHERE: Oak Savanna at East 36th St and W River Parkway in Minneapolis

BRING: something to sit upon if you want (sheet, portable chair, etc); drawing materials*; water/snacks for yourself

*small notebooks and pencils will be provided if you want/need one

COVID PRECAUTIONS: outdoor social distancing should be easy to manage, masks are encouraged especially when talking to others

LOOK FOR: windsocks

2. What was your favorite part of envisioning and working on this project?

I have appreciated all of the ways that I am becoming more familiar with the land, water, and people of this 100-mile stretch. It is a slow process that engages my full senses. I have long had a fondness for the great river, Hahawakpa / Gichi Ziibi / Mississippi that travels a long path from the northwoods down to the gulf. It holds many stories in its waters, provides drinking water for millions, and has drawn people to it for millenia. The river also tells the story of the white supremacist industrial captialism on which this country was built. Along the shores of this great river are numerous power plants, factories, and our homes, all polluters. Oil and gas pipelines criss-cross it, with more continuing to be built. 21 nuclear power plants stand alongside it and its tributaries; 2 here in Mni Sota. All store 100% of their radioactive waste onsite. I am humbled by the magnitude of the river in so many ways. And I am excited to explore the minutia, the details, the smallest parts of it right here as part of this project.

3. People are invited to submit XXX, XXX, and XXX to your website. As the project grows, As the project grows, what do you hope people will take away from the piece?

People are invited to submit drawings, photos, and Geiger counter readings to the website (hotzone.kelleymeister.com) via email: hotzone@kelleymeister.com and/or tagging them on social media with #MNhotzone – directions are also on the website. Include location and date/time with the photo/drawings.

I hope that this work brings new awareness to our environment and to the delicate microcosm around us. Many people are surprised to hear that there are 2 nuclear power plants just outside the Twin Cities along the Hahawakpa / Gichi Ziibi / Mississippi River. By taking time to look closely at the ecosystem along the river, I hope this work opens up space for deeper observation and contemplation. As we gather data within the HOT ZONE, I hope that we can use this information to be proactive in our efforts to protect the river and the life around and within it. Observation is one tool in the toolbox that will help us gather data and learn more about the threats to our environment, from pipeline and railroad chemical, oil, and diesel spills to radioactive releases from the nuclear power plants. Over time, the effects of these damages may become clearer, and I hope that this will empower us to call for a change in course as well as to come together as a community to devise potential ways to protect ourselves and our environment from these threats.