Co-Director’s Column
November 21, 2019

The unseen work of taking a pause.

A little over a month ago we made the announcement that we’re taking a strategic hiatus from producing Northern Spark this summer, 2020.  A lot of preparation when into that communique; with what feels like a degree of instability in certain sectors of the arts community right now, we wanted to make sure our community of artists, partners, supporters and fans would understand the care with which we made this decision. We didn’t know what response would return after hitting “Send Now” on our press release and newsletter.

Over the next several hours and days, the messages that came back to us, largely, were congratulatory and supportive. “Good for you!” was a common refrain.  “More arts organizations and programs should do this,” and “we’ll miss Northern Spark, but glad you’re taking the time for reflection this year,” appeared online and in my inbox.

I’m so thankful for these responses and the understanding they indicate, as I truly believe that we — any of us— are the only ones who can stop the frantic pace at which we feel we must work. This sense is of course furthered by an increasing feeling that the world is on fire (some of it is) and our work can’t wait. But what I’ve learned in the past few months, as that there is big, rewarding work in slowing down and taking time.

Last week we had the 2nd meeting of our 3rd Program Council (profiled above and here) to dig into a large set of interlocking questions about the who, what, where, how and when of the Northern Spark festival.  Community, partnership, place, artists, audience, funding —how do all of these work together in an equitably organized festival?

We met for 4 hours in the side room at Indigenous Roots, eating burritos and covering big sheets of paper with refreshed and project-specific definitions of that list of words above. As we untangled a lot of ideas, we started to put down our dreams for a festival that grows from genuine community engagement into an event that supports and uplifts artists, festival workers, and partners while continuing to make an uncommon, magical, immersive, nighttime art experience for everyone.

After we cleaned and I made by way home at 9 pm after a 12 hour day I forgot how tired I was.  The care for our collective work that emerged from the meeting was a spike of positive energy.

There is a lot of attention paid to self care right now, and increasingly we’re in conversation about organizational self care.  What does it look like to take care of individual selves, and also our organizations in this sector?  We have two more 4 hour meetings and a few shorted wrap up meetings before the Council finishes its work on a Community Engagement Strategic Plan for Northern Spark. You might call me crazy for considering 12+ more hours of evening meetings over the next few months as self care, but this is where I find nourishment right now, and I’m gonna take it!

Thanks for reading.

-Sarah Peters
Co-director, Northern Lights.mn

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 22nd, 2019

Northern Lights.mn to Take a Year Off from the
Northern Spark Festival in 2020 to Plan for the Future 

The free public art festival will return to the Twin Cities in June 2021 after a year of strategic planning and leadership transition

(Minneapolis, MN) October 22, 2019 — Northern Lights.mn is announcing a strategic, one year hiatus from its flagship program, Northern Spark, while the organization undergoes a leadership transition in 2020. Since 2011, the free annual late-night public art festival has captured the hearts of tens of thousands of festival attendees in a dozen neighborhoods throughout the Twin Cities, showcasing the innovative art of more than 2,300 artists. In order to reflect on the previous nine years of dynamic and ever-changing Northern Spark festivals and plan for the festival’s long-term sustainability and equity, Northern Lights will take a year off from producing Northern Spark in 2020, returning with a renewed vision for the festival in 2021.

Leadership Transition

Last spring, Northern Lights announced the planned departure of founder Steve Dietz in the spring of 2020. For the past year and a half, Sarah Peters and Steve Dietz have worked as Co-Directors, preparing for a leadership transition with Peters taking the helm. As part of this transition, Northern Lights is looking at all of the organization’s programs, including Northern Spark, and deciding how they need to transform into the future.

“We have experimented with many different models for Northern Spark over the years,” says Peters. “This has been wild and rewarding, and allowed us to produce the event in divergent places, under myriad themes, and with many neighborhood and city partners. In the life cycle of such an event, it is time to focus all of this innovation and figure out what to take forward that is efficient, equitable and joyful.”

Northern Lights’s work with the Program Council (see below) is key to this strategic planning, along with work that staff and board are undertaking to refresh the organization’s vision for the next ten years.

Goals: Equity and Sustainability

In the past several years, Northern Lights has stepped up efforts to make participation in the festival more inclusive for both artists and attendees.

As part of the transition year, the third Program Council, a group of independent artists addressing racial equity within Northern Lights’ programming, specifically with Northern Spark, will work on building a Community Engagement Strategic Framework for use in future Northern Spark festivals. This framework will create a process for how to best engage collaborators and determine festival locations to ensure that Northern Lights supports artists and communities equitably into the future.

Producing an annual festival requires significant costs, including artist fees, staffing, equipment rental, permit fees, marketing, security, electricity, recycling and port-a-potties, among other expenses. Creating a plan for new, equitable models of revenue generation will help Northern Spark’s long-term sustainability and decreased reliance on grants, while maintaining the accessibility of the event that is important for its success and sense of community.

This year of work will result in a plan for the future that foregrounds equity for artists and communities who participate, and creates a model for long-term sustainability of the festival.

The Creative City Challenge will also Take a Year Off in 2020

The Creative City Challenge will also be on hiatus in 2020. Through a partnership between Northern Lights, the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy of the City of Minneapolis (ACCE) and The Commons, Creative City Challenge winners have created temporary artworks and two months of participatory programming, encouraging a sense of connectedness to the city and its rich cultural and natural offerings. For the last seven years, the Creative City Challenge winning projects have been launched as part of Northern Spark.

In 2020, ACCE will evaluate the Creative City Challenge program, including the challenges and opportunities of implementation. The evaluation will look at how the Creative City Challenge can better work towards equitably serving emerging public artists of color, immigrant and Indigenous artists, Minneapolis neighborhoods as well as the downtown core. The Creative City Challenge will return in 2021.

Northern Spark 2021

Northern Spark will return in the summer of 2021. Northern Lights will engage with artists, partners, community members, and the public during the transition year to inform the vision for the festival’s future. Members of the public are invited to give feedback and stay connected through:

• Community Survey. Northern Lights has always been inspired to continue producing Northern Spark because of the stories of wonder, curiosity, connection and joy we hear from attendees. We invite you to tell us why Northern Spark is important to you, what you would like to see change or stay the same in the future, and your favorite Northern Spark memory (or two) through this Community Survey.
• A public feedback event will be announced in the near future.
• Spring Howl, a celebration and fundraising event in late March 2020.
• Northern Lights newsletter
• Northern Lights on Facebook
• Northern Lights on Instagram
• Northern Lights on Twitter

Other Northern Lights.mn Programming Continues

Northern Spark is the largest program produced by Northern Lights, but it is not the organization’s only program. Additional Northern Lights programming will continue in 2020. This includes:

• Art(ists) on the Verge, the annual, intensive, mentor-based fellowship program for 4-5 Minnesota-based, emerging artists working experimentally at the intersection of art, technology, and digital culture with a focus on network-based practices that are interactive and/or participatory. The Art(ists) on the Verge 10 exhibition with work by Lindsy Halleckson, Essma Imady, Kathy McTavish, Khadijah Muse, and Chris Rackley in currently on view through Feb. 8, 2020 at Rochester Art Center. Art(ists) on the Verge 11 projects will take place in public spaces between September and November 2020.
• The Program Council (see above).

For more information visit the FAQ page here.

Northern Spark Background

Since 2011, thousands of Minnesotans and visitors have enjoyed Northern Spark, an annual arts festival illuminating public spaces in Minneapolis and St. Paul. In early June, tens of thousands of people gather to explore giant video projections, play in temporary installations in the streets, and enjoy experimental performances in green spaces. Late into the night the city surprises you: friendly crowds, glowing groups of cyclists, an unexpected path through the urban landscape, the magic of sunrise after a night of amazing art and experiences.

Northern Spark began as a dusk-to-dawn event. In 2018 we introduced a new model for attendees to experience the artful magic of Northern Spark for two nights in a row until 2 am.

Memorable projects from past Northern Spark festivals include Chris Larson’s Celebration/Love/Loss, Jim Campbell’s Scattered Light, Luke Savisky’s Ex-MN, Pramila Vasudevan’s Census and In Habit: Living Patterns, Jonathan Thunder’s Manifest’o, and countless other projects from artists such as: Ananya Dance Theater, Marina Zurkow, HOTTEA, Miko Simmons, Piotr Szyhalski, May Lee-Yang and Million Artist Movement.

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 year­long mentorship program for 4-5 emerging artists working with digital culture. We support 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, our work helps audiences explore expanded possibilities for civic engagement through art.

MEDIA CONTACT
Amy Danielson, 612.245.2020 amy@northern.lights.mn
northern.lights.mn
Photo Highlights
Facebook: facebook.com/NorthernSparkMN
Twitter: @NL_mn
Instagram: @Northern Lights.mn
#northernspark

FAQs 

Northern Lights.mn has announced a one year hiatus from our flagship program, Northern Spark, while the organization undergoes a leadership transition in 2020.  (Read the full announcement here: https://northern.lights.mn/2019/10/important-news/ )

We are doing so in order to reflect on the previous nine years of dynamic and ever-changing Northern Spark festivals and plan for the festival’s long-term sustainability and equity. 

Read below for answers to some common questions. 

Why is Northern Spark taking a break in 2020?

• Northern Lights.mn is taking a break from organizing the festival in 2020 in order to reflect on the previous nine years of dynamic and ever-changing festivals and plan for the long-term sustainability of Northern Spark.
• We announced last spring that Northern Lights founder Steve Dietz would be stepping away from the organization in the spring of 2020. A significant part of this leadership transition is looking at all of the organizations programs and figuring out how they need to transform into the future.
• Northern Lights is a lean organization, and the festival is a significant undertaking. Deeply engaging in important strategy work with staff, board and our Program Council requires a year off from planning Northern Spark.

Is Northern Spark in financial trouble?

• Producing an annual festival requires significant costs, including artist fees, staffing, equipment rental, permit fees, marketing, security, electricity, recycling and port-a-potties, among other costs. Creating a plan for new, equitable models of revenue generation will ensure Northern Spark’s long-term sustainability and decreased reliance on grants, while maintaining the accessibility of the event that is important for its success and sense of community.

Who funds Northern Spark?

• Northern Spark is supported by a mix of foundation, local and state government grants, individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and fees from food vendors and presenting partners. Within this mix, foundation grants are the largest piece of the pie, and while we are so grateful for this support, competitive grants are not a stable source of income year after year. 
• Northern Lights also receives Operating Support from the Minnesota State Arts Board and McKnight Foundation which in turn supports Northern Spark and all of our other programming.

How can I get involved in planning for the future of Northern Spark?

• The first step is to give us your ideas by filling out the Community Survey. Please also follow us on social media and sign up for our newsletter to get ongoing updates and an announcement for a community feedback night to be scheduled this winter. 

What is the plan for Northern Spark in 2021?

• We are currently working with the Program Council to develop a Community Engagement Strategic Plan for Northern Spark to use for the 2021 festival and beyond. We won’t know the who, what and where of Northern Spark 2021 until that work is complete and conversations begin with potential Neighborhood Partners in both Minneapolis and St. Paul. We plan to return to the 2nd weekend in June with presentations of the multidisciplinary, participatory, spectacular and intimate art that people look for during Northern Spark.

Who creates Northern Spark?

• Northern Spark is produced by Northern Lights.mn, a non-profits arts organization. We are a lean organization with roughly 1.5 full time equivalent year round staff. A core team of temporary staff of fewer than 10 people are hired to organize Northern Spark each year, along with upwards of 30 additional weekend-of festival roles such as production assistants and a zero-waste team. 
• We also work with numerous Neighborhood, Venue and Presenting Partner organizations each year who produce their own artistic programming for the festival.
• For the 2017 and 2019 festivals, the Program Council, a rotating group of independent artists, worked with us to develop the festival’s open call and juried artist projects commissioned by Northern Lights.
• And of course, artists create Northern Spark. Northern Lights commissions between 10 and 30 artist projects for each festival, depending on the year. Presenting Partners contribute additional artist projects each year.

Northern Lights.mn to Take a Year Off from the Northern Spark Festival in 2020 to Plan for the Future

The free public art festival will return to the Twin Cities in June 2021 after a year of strategic planning and leadership transition.

(Minneapolis, MN) October 22, 2019 — Northern Lights.mn is announcing a one year hiatus from its flagship program, Northern Spark, while the organization undergoes a leadership transition in 2020. Since 2011, the free annual late-night public art festival has captured the hearts of tens of thousands of festival attendees in a dozen neighborhoods throughout the Twin Cities, showcasing the innovative art of more than 2,300 artists. In order to reflect on the previous nine years of dynamic and ever-changing Northern Spark festivals and plan for the festival’s long-term sustainability and equity, Northern Lights will take a year off from producing Northern Spark in 2020, returning with a renewed vision for the festival in 2021.

Leadership Transition

Last spring, Northern Lights announced the planned departure of founder Steve Dietz in the spring of 2020. For the past year and a half, Sarah Peters and Steve Dietz have worked as Co-Directors, preparing for a leadership transition with Peters taking the helm. As part of this transition, Northern Lights is looking at all of the organization’s programs, including Northern Spark, and deciding how they need to transform into the future. 

“We have experimented with many different models for Northern Spark over the years,” says Peters. “This has been wild and rewarding, and allowed us to produce the event in divergent places, under myriad themes, and with many neighborhood and city partners. In the life cycle of such an event, it is time to focus all of this innovation and figure out what to take forward that is efficient, equitable and joyful.”

Northern Lights’s work with the Program Council (see below) is key to this strategic planning, along with work that staff and board are undertaking to refresh the organization’s vision for the next ten years.

Goals: Equity and Sustainability

In the past several years, Northern Lights has stepped up efforts to make participation in the festival more inclusive for both artists and attendees. 

As part of the transition year, the third Program Council, a group of independent artists addressing racial equity within Northern Lights’ programming, specifically with Northern Spark, will work on building a Community Engagement Strategic Framework for use in future Northern Spark festivals. This framework will create a process for how to best engage collaborators and determine festival locations to ensure that Northern Lights supports artists and communities equitably into the future.

Producing an annual festival requires significant costs, including artist fees, staffing, equipment rental, permit fees, marketing, security, electricity, recycling and port-a-potties, among other expenses. Creating a plan for new, equitable models of revenue generation will help Northern Spark’s long-term sustainability and decreased reliance on grants, while maintaining the accessibility of the event that is important for its success and sense of community. 

This year of work will result in a plan for the future that foregrounds equity for artists and communities who participate, and creates a model for long-term sustainability of the festival. 

The Creative City Challenge will also Take a Year Off in 2020 

The Creative City Challenge will also be on hiatus in 2020. Through a partnership between Northern Lights, the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy of the City of Minneapolis (ACCE) and The Commons, Creative City Challenge winners have created temporary artworks and two months of participatory programming, encouraging a sense of connectedness to the city and its rich cultural and natural offerings. For the last seven years, the Creative City Challenge winning projects have been launched as part of Northern Spark. 

In 2020, ACCE will evaluate the Creative City Challenge program, including the challenges and opportunities of implementation. The evaluation will look at how the Creative City Challenge can better work towards equitably serving emerging public artists of color, immigrant and Indigenous artists, Minneapolis neighborhoods as well as the downtown core. The Creative City Challenge will return in 2021.

Northern Spark 2021

Northern Spark will return in the summer of 2021. Northern Lights will engage with artists, partners, community members, and the public during the transition year to inform the vision for the festival’s future. Members of the public are invited to give feedback and stay connected through:

• Community Survey. Northern Lights has always been inspired to continue producing Northern Spark because of the stories of wonder, curiosity, connection and joy we hear from attendees. We invite you to tell us why Northern Spark is important to you, what you would like to see change or stay the same in the future, and your favorite Northern Spark memory (or two) through this Community Survey. 
• A public feedback event will be announced in the near future.
  
• Spring Howl on in late March, 2020, a celebration and fundraising event.
  

• Northern Lights newsletter
• Northern Lights on Facebook
• Northern Lights on Instagram
• Northern Lights on Twitter

Other Northern Lights.mn Programming Continues

Northern Spark is the largest program produced by Northern Lights, but it is not the organization’s only program. Additional Northern Lights programming will continue in 2020. This includes:

• Art(ists) on the Verge, the annual, intensive, mentor-based fellowship program for 4-5 Minnesota-based, emerging artists working experimentally at the intersection of art, technology, and digital culture with a focus on network-based practices that are interactive and/or participatory.
  • The Art(ists) on the Verge 10 exhibition with work by Lindsy Halleckson, Essma Imady, Kathy McTavish, Khadijah Muse, and Chris Rackley in currently on view through Feb. 8, 2020 at Rochester Art Center.  
  • Art(ists) on the Verge 11 projects will take place in public spaces between September and November 2020. 
• The Program Council (see above).

More information check out our FAQ page here.

Northern Spark Background

Since 2011, thousands of Minnesotans and visitors have enjoyed Northern Spark, an annual arts festival illuminating public spaces in Minneapolis and St. Paul. In early June, tens of thousands of people gather to explore giant video projections, play in temporary installations in the streets, and enjoy experimental performances in green spaces. Late into the night the city surprises you: friendly crowds, glowing groups of cyclists, an unexpected path through the urban landscape, the magic of sunrise after a night of amazing art and experiences.

Northern Spark began as a dusk-to-dawn event. In 2018 we introduced a new model for attendees to experience the artful magic of Northern Spark for two nights in a row until 2 am.

Memorable projects from past Northern Spark festivals include Chris Larson’s Celebration/Love/Loss, Jim Campbell’s Scattered Light, Luke Savisky’s Ex-MN, Pramila Vasudevan’s Census and In Habit: Living Patterns, Jonathan Thunder’s Manifest’o, and countless other projects from artists such as: Ananya Dance Theater, Marina Zurkow, HOTTEA, Miko Simmons, Piotr Szyhalski, May Lee-Yang and Million Artist Movement. 

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 year­long mentorship program for 4-5 emerging artists working with digital culture. We support 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, our work helps audiences explore expanded possibilities for civic engagement through art.

Staff Highlights from Northern Spark 2019

Tyra Payer and Taryn Payer at Northern Spark 2019. Photo by Nedahness Greene.

Northern Spark is as fun for the Northern Lights.mn team as it is for the artists and audience members. Here are our highlights from the weekend:

Steve Dietz, Co-Director

“There is something amazing about closing down a city street no matter what, but make it nighttime and add in, say, a projection by Jonathan Thunder, a choreographed procession by Rosy Simas, the bright lights of All My Relations Gallery, a disturbingly angelic bicycle built for 6, amazing shadow dancing, performers in a black light illuminated tent, perhaps a lacrosse game, hundreds of people enjoying the sights, eating fry bread tacos and socializing with friends and strangers, and you have the magic of artists remaking the city for Northern Spark.”

Sarah Peters, Co-Director

“One moment from this year’s festival I’m unlikely to ever forget is the feeling in the Canteen at Hallie Q. Brown Community Center as singer Ashely DuBose closed down the house on Friday night. At 2 am her golden voice held the room. Everyone gathered stood close to the stage, hands in the air, singing along in a moment of exalted connection. The song’s refrain, “Life it goes on, it goes on, it goes on” is on repeat in my head this week, reminding me that as we wrap up the festival, there is a whole world out there and it is gorgeous.”

Erin Lavelle, Producer

“My highlight of Northern Spark this year was closing down Franklin Avenue. This isn’t an easy task, especially when the street is such a busy one! It was an effort of intricate, coordinated, specifically-timed teamwork — and an empowering task for an all-woman team — to physically block it off to traffic in preparation for the event. And then when the sun set and the festival began we saw the fruit of our labor in a re-imagined streetscape for artists + audiences. I loved it!”

Tyra Payer, Festival Curatorial Apprentice & Northern Lights.mn Projects Coordinator

“I loved the Night Library! The performers told a story of defeating the giant through language, culture, music, and storytelling. The Night Library gave me a chance to practice my Ojibwe while learning more about Dakota stories, and I was so engaged with the project the entire time. Walking through the library in my neighborhood brought to life by stories from my community was very special and really demonstrated the Northern Spark theme of We Are Here.”

Winston Heckt, Festival Communications Apprentice

“Putting my phone away and visiting Haŋyétu Wówapi Thípi (The Night Library) in the American Indian Cultural Corridor simply as myself and not as the Festival Communications Apprentice was my favorite moment during Northern Spark. Being fully present in that space and listening to the stories struck a chord within myself. I’m excited to see how the Franklin Library is transformed in the future in light of Haŋyétu Wówapi Thípi.”

Pamela Vázquez, Festival Production Apprentice

“My top highlight was being able to be part of the street closure in Franklin Ave., it felt empowering for an all femme production team to be in charge of that. I think claiming back space like that is necessary in our local, national and global context. Aside from artist projects and NS set up, I loved seeing people running around, kids playing on the streets, and experiencing their neighborhood in that way.”

Amy Danielson, Press Relations Coordinator

“Northern Spark always surprises me in how artists respond in unique ways to the theme, how participants help create remarkable art throughout the nights, and how unexpected conversations begin and people connect through shared experiences. This year I felt an even bigger connection to community, especially in the AICC and Rondo, as artists and participants deeply related to and explored the theme We Are Here.”

Zoe Cinel, Festival Volunteer Coordinator

“As  volunteer coordinator my highlights have been all people related: Ana Laura Juarez and Tatiana Freeman, who were in the team with me have been just amazing companions in this journey! Thanks to all the staff who made this event possible and kept a fun and supportive work environment and all the volunteers old and new who shared their memories and their affection for the festival! I hope to see them coming back next year and the year after and the year after to support Northern Spark!”

Tatiana Freeman, Neighborhood Volunteer Lead – Rondo

“I think one of the most rewarding things for me about participating in this year’s Northern Spark, was the bond I made with the volunteer and production teams both nights of the festival. Each volunteer brought their own strengths, spoke with festival goers with enthusiasm, and stepped in when needed to help the team. We laughed, shared stories, and got to meet so many wonderful people from the Rondo neighborhood.”

Ana Laura Juarez, Neighborhood Volunteer Lead — American Indian Cultural Corridor

“My highlight was all the curious kiddos that visited me at the info booth, many of them Somali youth from the neighborhood. I loved that they were exploring the festival as if it were daytime, seemingly unsupervised! That tells me that their guardians felt safe enough during Northern Spark to let them do so. And the highly sought-after toy of the night? Festival sparkers!”

We Are the Artists of AICC

Sketch of Northern Spark installation of Manifest’o, courtesy of Jonathan Thunder.

The following projects by Minnesota-based Indigenous and Latinx artists were curated in partnership with Native American Community Development Institute, Northern Lights.mn and the Program Council, to be presented on June 14 & 15 at Northern Spark in the American Indian Cultural Corridor.  They invite you to activate your body, immerse yourself in the soundscape, and enjoy. “As Indigenous and Artists we are the vanguards of change and those making the ideas that become solutions and answers.” — Strong Buffalo

Procession in Skin(s) by Rosy Simas.

WEave: HERE

Find your way to Franklin Ave by 11 pm to witness a procession of dancers in the latest collaboration between Rosy Simas and Heid E. Erdrich. As the dancers move along Franklin, images will be projected onto them culminating at WEave: HERE, an installation that begins at festival start in the courtyard next to All My Relations Gallery. Festival goers will receive the procession and can join in on the movement by playing with shadows while they move throughout the space and writing a statement on a flag that recognizes the Nations who have a home on Franklin. Artist Jonathan Thunder will assist with the interactive shadow elements.

“Making an installation with shadow and light appeals because there’s no waste except for electricity.” says Heid. “Activating a space with bodies is important. It’s about having freedom to move and recognize the presence of others, to have a moment to connect with others whether there’s any verbal exchange or not.”

Heid and Rosy have worked together since 2016, the same year Heid was a contributing artist to the Creative City Challenge winner Wolf and Moose by Christopher Lutter-Gardella. Now Heid and Rosy are coming back to where it all started.

“I love that courtyard and I’ve always wanted to do something in that space.” says Heid. “Jonathan and Rosy and I all met there so to contribute to the community they were raised in, and that I moved to over 20 years ago, seemed perfect. I’m glad to have a Native presence, to have found a space in Northern Spark.”

Credit: Holly Dabral.

The Biker

Inspired by the bikeability of Minneapolis, The Biker by Victor Yepez is an interactive sculpture of a bicyclist powered by a handful of stationary bikes run by the participants. As people pedal their own bikes, the sculpture will come to life and pedal along with them. A large shadow of the sculpture will be projected onto a nearby wall for all to see.

“Biking is the solution for future health and a democratic way of connecting in the cities.” says Victor. “Minneapolis is one of the most bikeable cities in the country and I want to contribute to a bike culture with more safe, secure, fun and easy to use roads for everybody.”

More than a simple ode to bikes and bikers, Victor made sure to connect every element of Northern Spark’s theme into the installation.

“We Are Here is represented by all the people who ride the bikes. Resilience is represented in the front tire that confronts the road and the idea of keeping pedaling to keep going. Renewal is seen in how bikes are finally taking their space and respect in our actual living as more people choose bikes over cars. Regeneration is in the idea of creating a new way of thinking and a new way of commuting in the cities, plus creating a healthy persona and environment when we bike. The Biker is an invitation to bike and be a part of the new bike culture.”

Sketch of Northern Spark installation of Manifest’o, courtesy of Jonathan Thunder.

Manifest’o

Starting as an exhibit at the Tweed Museum of Art in Duluth, MN, Manifest’o by Jonathan Thunder features three separate, yet interconnected animated vignettes based on Ojibwe stories about connection to the land, sky and water in a large scale projection that will illuminate the block of 14th St. and Franklin Ave. Accompanying the projections is a soundscape including a soft broadcast of ambient sound in the parking lot of Powwow Grounds.  

“I went to high school and graduated a few blocks away from the site where my project will be displayed.” says Jonathan. “I consider the neighborhood a community that has created a chance for me to learn and grow. Through my life and artwork I have become an ally to many other marginalized voices and visionaries, and together we’ve created space for our voice in schools, galleries, museums and homes to communicate and educate. Together our voices vibrate across time and space. Collectively we create a fabric that can be seen as path markers.”

The installation of Manifest’o brings themes of water protection, tribal language resiliency, and Indigenous futurism to light using state of the art tech at a scale that is hard to ignore.

“My hope is that viewers will enjoy the presentation, listen to the language, immerse in the soundscape, and discuss the themes.”

Shield painting by Randy White.

Reusable Graffiti

For the visitors here on Dakota land, artists Al Gross and Strong Buffalo ask you to be with them not only in the present, but in the past and future as well with Reusable Graffiti, a soundscape of music, spoken word, humor and storytelling from a band of Native artists and friends.

“It’s the ultimate example of resilience, renewal and regeneration,” says Strong Buffalo. “As Indigenous and Artists we are the vanguards of change and those making the ideas that become solutions and answers. Reusable Graffiti are the words used over and over to undo and advocate for something new, like New Green Deal, Sustainable Development, Renewable Energy, Save Mother Earth, No Dapl, Stop Line 3 and so on.”

Strong Buffalo is a member of the American Indian Movement and was the Director of the Minneapolis Chapter from 1972-73 and helped write the proposal for the American Indian Cultural Corridor.

“The cultural corridor is the urban reservation leading art and innovative American Indian programs and creativity.” says Strong Buffalo. “I hope visitors enjoy the soundscape and enjoy the humor, intelligence and talent of our installation.”

Stay tuned for more installation features about Northern Spark where you can witness these installations and more. Northern Spark is a late-night art festival illuminating public spaces in the Twin Cities Friday Friday, June 14 and Saturday, June 15 — starting at dusk (9 pm) and ending at 2 am.