Minnesota Parks Artist in Residence
OXBOW/ZOLLMAN ZOO, QUARRY HILL, CASCADE PARK
Minnesota Parks Artist in Residence
BACKGROUND
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Parks and Trails Division, the Metropolitan Council Metropolitan Regional Parks, and the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission are partnering with Forecast Public Art to launch MNPAiR, an Artist Residency in the Parks pilot in parks across Minnesota, with a cohort exploring community and belonging. The selected Minnesota-based artists-in-residence will research and engage with a park, trail or park system and its communities and then use that research to develop new work(s). Unlike traditional residency opportunities, this program focuses on how artists can serve as partners to and ambassadors for the parks and contribute not just art, but ideas.
The goal of the Minnesota Parks Artist-in-Residence Pilot Program is to enhance a sense of welcoming and belonging to park users. We hope that this pilot helps foster deeper community engagement and relationship-building in state and regional parks; improves access to Minnesota parks and trails; and increases collective appreciation for park uses, outdoor recreation, and natural resources, especially in underserved communities.
My residency is at 3 different parks in Olmsted county and Rochester. I will be creating 3 different permanent public art pieces. One at each park.
Oxbow project- I am taking everyone’s artwork created at the in person workshops and creating 4 collages. These collages will be the background to signage that showcases the history of the park.
Quarry Hill project- I have done in person workshops and have asked attendees to help me design a large mural that will go onto the garages as you drive into the park. There will also be a in person mural painting event where attendees can help paint the finished mural.
Cascade project- In April I will be doing in person workshops. Attendees are going to help me design a large mural that will go onto the side of the lakeside building.
APRIL UPDATE
My in person design workshops at Cascade Park Begin this Sat! Stop by and help me design a mural that will be placed on the side of the lakeside building. I will provide all of the supplies.
The Quarry Hill mural design is coming along! I am still looking through all of the amazing artwork that was submitted throughout March.
Oxbow Park Zollman Zoo collages are almost finished. Will be sharing photos of these collages soon.
This is the creation phase and I am so excited and thankful to be involved with this project.
Kits are available at GRIOT ARTS and The Rochester Art Center. If you are interested in having kits to give out to the public please reach out I will gladly drop them off to you.
INFORMATION FROM THE ARTIST
