Latest news with #NorthDakotaCouncilontheArts
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
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Grand Forks folk artist's tapestry painting to be displayed in New York City exhibition
Mar. 26—GRAND FORKS — A Grand Forks folk artist, Pieper Bloomquist, will have her work featured in a new exhibition, "Nordic Echoes: Tradition in Contemporary Art," which opens April 5 at the Scandinavia House in New York City. The show features 55 works by 24 contemporary artists whose practices are informed by Nordic traditional skills, according to an announcement by the American-Scandinavian Foundation, which is headquartered at the Scandinavia House on Park Avenue in Manhattan. "(It) showcases the malleability and persistence of these traditions in the U.S.," and includes painting and textile traditions as well as works in wood and metal. The foundation organized the exhibition and invited artists to submit their artwork. Beginning this fall, the exhibition will travel to numerous locations throughout the Upper Midwest, including Fargo; Brookings, South Dakota; and Minneapolis. The show "highlights how variations on traditional themes and innovations have led to the emergence of living, evolving forms," the foundation's announcement said. "No longer static objects rooted in an imagined past, these works explore themes of identity and belonging as well as how traditions have been shaped by their U.S.-based environments." Bloomquist has painted in the Swedish and Austrian styles of folk art for more than 30 years; her teaching has helped perpetuate that tradition across North Dakota and Minnesota. This is the first time her artwork is being shown at the Scandinavia House, she said. Her painted tapestry tells the story of the early days of the COVID pandemic, capturing images meaningful to Bloomquist when she began painting it in the spring of 2020. The artwork, titled "Silver Linings," represents a collection of stories, she said, with various images depicting "people — mainly artists that were involved with the North Dakota Council on the Arts, many of them — that were doing things in their communities to sustain our culture during isolation." Among the three horizontal rows of images are scenes such as the Waddington Brothers musical group performing for people attending, and listening to the radio in their cars, the first Easter church service after COVID struck. The art also depicts people kneeling by windows of an eldercare facility, using cell phones and Zoom to communicate with their loved ones. The latter is based on personal experience, connecting with her mother-in-law. Seeing people kneeling by the windows, "all I could think of was how much love there was at those windows, just people wanting to be together, but they couldn't," Bloomquist said. "The window is a great pathway, you can still see through it, but yet it's still a barrier. "I called that painting 'Silver Livings,' because all of these things were wonderful silver linings to that isolation, which was a horrible time for people." Many of the artists whose work is displayed in the Nordic Echoes exhibition — including Bloomquist — are past recipients of the American-Scandinavian Foundation's Folk Arts and Cultural Tradition fellowships, which have been awarded since 2018. The traditional and folk art fellowships were available to residents of the Upper Midwest — in the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan — for the purpose of traveling to a Nordic country to continue learning a traditional art, then bring the artform back to the U.S. and "really advance our careers," Bloomquist said. "I think I was their first grant recipient" in 2018, said Bloomquist, who received a second fellowship from the American-Scandinavian Foundation in 2023. She spent a month in Sweden learning the techniques involved in a traditional style of art called "bonadsmålning," which translates to "tapestry painting." Nordic Echoes is the first major traveling exhibition of contemporary Nordic folk arts and cultural traditions from the Upper Midwest. After the exhibition closes in New York, it will travel to: the South Dakota Art Museum on the SDSU campus in Brookings, Oct. 4-Jan. 15, 2026; the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, Feb. 14-June 7, 2026; Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah, Iowa, Aug. 15-Dec. 31, 2026; Plains Art Museum in Fargo, Jan. 23-April 4, 2027; Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, Wisconsin, May 8-Aug. 29, 2027; and De Vos Art Museum in Marquette, Michigan, in the fall of 2027. On view through Aug. 2 in New York, the exhibition will be accompanied by a wide range of programming, including artists' talks and panels, workshops, films, music, guided gallery tours and family activities. Bloomquist has been invited to lead painting workshops at the Scandinavia House later this spring; exact dates are yet to be determined, she said. Some of these traditional folk art techniques, such as seen in tapestry paintings, have been lost even in the countries where they originated, because emigrants "could not take it with them on the boat, so it got lost," Bloomquist said. Efforts have been underway to revitalize and perpetuate these techniques in Scandinavia too. At the Bonadsmuseum Unnaryd in Sweden, which operates a folk school, "I learned to do the egg tempera (painting)," she said. Because of its dedication to preserving folk art techniques, the museum was recently added to UNESCO's list of cultural heritage sites. Bloomquist was commissioned to create a piece of art for the museum, "and I have a permanent display there," she said. "That's the biggest feather in my cap." Bloomquist is honored that her art is part of the Nordic Echoes exhibition, she said. "I feel so grateful that it's not just me being recognized for this artwork, that is secondary. (In) my life's work for the last 30 years ... the whole goal I have had (since) I first learned that this artwork existed in Sweden, was to preserve it in Sweden. And I felt it was very important for descendants here in the United States to know what belongs to them and know this part of their heritage ... "It's narrative storytelling and that's what captured my heart, and it's a great tool to use to tell our modern stories," she said. "The old painters told their stories, things that were important to them — the Bible and church were important to them and that's what they used it for. "I tell stories that are important to us and important to me. ... I feel grateful that that is being showcased and honored and validated," Bloomquist said. "I'm grateful that it's the artwork itself, and this tradition, that is getting the acknowledgement. That Nordic traditions in this exhibit are getting the attention that they deserve."
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
North Dakota arts council announces grant opportunities
Mar. 2—GRAND FORKS — The North Dakota Council on the Arts is inviting artists, nonprofit organizations and educational institutions to apply early for its fiscal year 2026 grant programs. With opportunities that range from artist development to community arts initiatives, the North Dakota Council on the Arts grants help sustain and expand the state's vibrant creative sector, according to an announcement from the state council. Many programs have limited funding, the council said, so early submission of proposals is "highly recommended." Artists and organizations are urged to apply for more than one program, based on needs and eligibility, with funding contingent on availability. These grant programs, which have April deadlines, are available for projects taking place after July 1: * Accessibility Grant, up to $2,000 to support projects that increase arts accessibility for all audiences; * Artist Growth and Development, $5,000 to support two individual artists' new creative projects in the disciplines of literature and music; * Arts in Education Collaboration, up to $6,000 to strengthen partnerships between K-12 educational institutions and artists; * Community Arts Access, up to $4,000 for projects that expand arts programming in all disciplines in urban and rural communities; * Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship, up to $4,500 for projects that preserve and pass down cultural traditions (applicants should contact program officer Troyd Geist at tgeist@ for assistance with application submissions); and * Institutional Support, $4,000 to $11,000 to provide operational funding for established arts organizations. Applications will open soon for recurring-deadline grants. The applications must be submitted six weeks before the start date; visit each program's webpage for upcoming deadlines. These grant programs include: * Artist in Residence, up to $2,500 to support artist-led residencies in K-12 schools and educational settings; * Professional Development, up to $1,000 to assist artists and arts organizations with arts-related learning opportunities; and * Special Projects, up to $1,500 for arts initiatives, events and projects in all disciplines. "We are honored to support the creativity and cultural vibrancy of North Dakota through these funding opportunities," said Jessica Christy, NDCA executive director. "We encourage artists, organizations and educators to apply early and take advantage of these resources." For general grant information, including questions about the online grant system, visit the NDCA webpage, or call (701) 328-7590. For an overview of each program, go to the webpage for the Grants at a Glance section. The North Dakota Council on the Arts is the state agency responsible for the support, preservation and development of the arts throughout North Dakota. It is funded by the State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Grand Forks artist, area organizations to receive 2025 Governor's Awards for the Arts
Jan. 27—GRAND FORKS — The Arts for Vets organization, Ijjo John Stephen of Grand Forks, and a Belcourt, North Dakota-based behavioral healing clinic have been selected to receive the 2025 Governor's Award for the Arts. Along with four other statewide recipients, they will be recognized by Gov. Kelly Armstrong on Feb. 6 during a reception at the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum. The free event, which begins with a social at 5 p.m., is open to the public, but space is limited. Reservations are required by Thursday, Jan. 30; call (701) 328-7590 or go to . Arts for Vets, which operates the Grand Forks Art Center at 213 N. Third St., will receive the Nonprofit Arts Organizations Award; Stephen will receive the Champion for the Arts Award; and the Indigenized Behavioral Healing clinic will receive the For-Profit Arts Organization Award. Altogether, seven awards will be presented. In a public statement released earlier this month, Armstrong congratulated the recipients for "their impressive works and impactful contributions to the arts and cultural heritage of the state of North Dakota. Their efforts illustrate how the arts can enhance our communities and quality of life, making North Dakota an even more attractive place to live, work and raise a family." Established in 1977, the North Dakota Governor's Awards for the Arts is a biennial program of the Governor's Office and the North Dakota Council on the Arts. The program aims to recognize organizations and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the arts in the state. Recipients are chosen for their efforts to expand arts opportunities to reach new audiences, create an appreciation for North Dakota's cultural heritage, make the arts more central to education, and incorporate arts as an integral part of community life. The nominee's length of service within the state is also a factor. Founded in 2015, the Arts for Vets organization focuses on participation, recognition and promotion of the creativity of veterans, active-duty personnel and their family members, and other community members. It hosts events, classes, productions and workshops "to highlight artistic expression and excellence and confidence, foster friendships and community engagement and camaraderie, all in a warm, engaging and supportive environment," Wilson said. In 2024, the organization drew more than 1,000 participants to its classes, workshops and offerings at the downtown gallery, she said. Stephen, executive director of the nonprofit Nyeri Ma'di Cultural Group, came to North Dakota 30 years ago with the earliest wave of refugees from South Sudan. In 1995, he established the Achikadidi Adunga Band. The group has made instruments, trained many artists and performed in several North Dakota communities as well as in Minnesota, Iowa, Tennessee and Nebraska. According to Troyd Geist, folklorist with the North Dakota Council on the Arts, "Despite the huge challenges of coming from a war-torn country, separation from family as a child, and living in a refugee camp, (Stephen has built) a new and successful life in North Dakota. (He) has quietly and steadfastly represented and championed the value of arts as essential to life." Stephen, who earned a degree in electrical engineering from NDSU, works with his cultural group to educate the community in financial literacy, handling stress and empowering the youth. At the Indigenized Behavioral Healing clinic in Belcourt, founder and CEO Tami Jollie-Trottier merges Western psychological practices with traditional Indigenous healing. An enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, Jollie-Trottier draws from her healing journey which inspired her to blend Western therapeutic approaches with the sacred teaching of her Anishinaabe Wisdom Keepers, leading to the development of the trademarked Turtle Medicine, a unique framework for self-healing rooted in creativity, culture and holistic well-being. She created the trademarked GenerationArt, a program designed to mobilize tribal communities by strengthening Anishinaabe cultural identity, resilience and leadership through expressive art training, workshops and clinical practice. Other recipients of the 2025 Governor's Award for the Arts are: Bismarck State College Theatre — Arts in Education; Marie Snavely, Bowman — Individual Achievement; Denise Joyce Kitson, Bismarck — Individual Cultural Heritage; and the Minot Symphony Orchestra — Nonprofit Arts Organization.
