2010 Grant Recipients
Twenty MN-based, emerging artists received grants in 2010 to explore artistic expression in the public realm. All grants were funded by
Jerome Foundation.
Research and Development Grant Recipients
Broken Crow (Artists John Grider and Mike Fitzsimmons) will complete the planning phase of Rural Mural—a platform for out-state communities in greater MN to document and celebrate a way of life slowly fading away. Broken Crow will research sites such as barns and other locally determined landmarks and work with local communities to design murals.
Cecilia Schiller will investigate the feasibility of creating interactive mechanical sculpture for public installation and interaction. She will build on her current body of work which consists of hand carved figures animated with mechanical gears.
Kelsey Bosch, Matt Frank, and Vanessa Cambier (as a collaborative team) will research the implementation of public toilets in downtown Minneapolis and their social implications. By creating a public documentary these artists will research the community's opinion on the subject and use this research to further the dialog on the issues, as a catalyst for additional funding needed for project implementation, and to inspire aesthetic sculpture designs to serve as standards for public toilet installations throughout Minneapolis.
Public Project Grant Recipients
Andrea Steudel and Luke Anderson will realize their project Urban Caravan—a mobilized series of outdoor, site specific, projected animation screenings with live performed sound diffused through radio transmission. The projection screen will be the urban landscape and trees. The experience will unfold as a community bicycle tour.
Karl Unnasch will create two permanent leaded glass installations at John Marshall High School in Rochester, MN. Karl will design and install the pieces and provide educational opportunities in collaboration with the school's art department to work with the students and increase their understanding of the art and its process.
Michele Spaise, though photography, text, and sound, will tell the story of the Whittier Cooperative Community. Michele will involve herself in the process of public art while documenting the story of the co-op as it transitions from a HUD self governing housing complex to new ownership. The project will culminate with an exhibition at Intermedia Arts.
East Central Regional Arts Council Planning Grant Recipients
Eric Carlisle will research and design a cohesive concept for Swedish Styled decorative painting to be done in a two block area of Downtown Mora, Minnesota. The second aspect of his planning will be to research available funding for the implementation of this project.
Keith Raivo will pursue the design of an outdoor sculpture with a sitting area where people can relax and socialize in downtown Mora, Minnesota. He will gather input from the city and the public to create a design for a stone piece that will not only provide a unique project for the city but also aid Keith in the development of his career as a stone carver.
Valorie Stavem Arrowsmith will research Nordic runes, their place in history, and how she can use them to create public art. She will visit such resources as Forecast Public Art's public art library, the Kensington Ruin Stone near Alexandria, Minnesota, and will have conversations with local sculptors who have used rune stones in their own artwork. Upon completion of this initial phase of research she will test two public art ideas and develop a response survey to each situation.
Central Minnesota Arts Board Planning Grant Recipients
Bill Gorcica will plan for the creation of a sensor-embedded interactive art piece that could become part of the park environment at Warner Lake County Park in Central Minnesota. The piece will reference prairie restoration and its relationship to soil and water conservation. Bill's project will culminate in a small-scale working model.
Chris Wilson, Gene Olson & the Elk River Area Arts Alliance would like to build a bench out of Kasota stone, metal and concrete for the Elk River Arts Alliance. This will be the first public piece for Chris who has recently only shown her work in group shows and private commissions. She will collaborate with experienced sculpture Gene Olson to develop plans for the bench and work with the city to obtain the necessary approvals to complete the project.
Southwest MN Arts & Humanities Council Planning Grant Recipients
Andrew Nordin will conduct aesthetic study and research into the feasibility of a public art mural on the Glacial Ridge State Trail near New London, MN. He will concentrate his studio practice on the idea of creating a mural that incorporates some of the aesthetic features both natural and man made. His goal will be to use the resulting images and other products of the research to engage the public (and possibly enlisting high school and college students) in creating a work that makes a dialogue with the trail.
Barb Hawes will create a set of large pinwheels installed for one year around the new Marshall Lyon County Public Library building. She will research materials to use in the project, the use of color for the pinwheels to create unique visual effects, and conduct meetings to gain the support and permission of the library.
Tom Wirt will enable the City of Hutchinson's Public Arts Commission to plan and select an artist to design a three-dimensional public art installation for a major intersection in Hutchinson, Minnesota. The arts commission will work closely with Forecast to facilitate an artist selection process that will support the creation of a piece for which they have already secured city funding. Working with Forecast will enable them to learn the process so that they can replicate it on their own as the commission develops.
Michon Weeks will create mosaics based on traditional textile designs from diverse populations living in Marshall, Minnesota. The mosaics will be installed on outdoor benches at the new public library in Marshall. Michon will begin by studying the craft of Mosaic making and meeting with community members in Marshall to learn about traditional textile design. She will continue by researching location, feasibility, funding, design, fabricators, and configuration of the project. Her work will result in a plan and model for the project.
