NDHRAF4 Festival Program

2020 Exhibition Program

LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The North Dakota Human Rights Arts Festival acknowledges that our

festival is held on Indigenous peoples’ traditional homelands, including

the Anishinaabe, the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara, and the Lakota,

Dakota, and Nakota peoples.

These proud, Indigenous Peoples are not only a part of our past.

They are an essential part of North Dakota today.

Our festival recognizes the ever-present systemic inequities perpetrated

against these cultures in our state, and we commit ourselves indeﬁnitely

to respecting and reconciling this long history of injustice.

Cover and official poster design: “Year in Review” by Jescia Hopper

Welcome

s we looked into 2021, we weren’t sure

what to expect. Looking into 2021 and

the pandemic’s continuing impacts, it was

hard to determine what the future had in

store for us. And it was made even more

dicult because this year’s festival spans

across eight months and six dierent museums

and galleries. We open in January at the

Plains Art Museum and then travel to Grand

Forks, Bismarck, Jamestown, Minot. Williston

wraps up the festival in August. In terms of

the pandemic, what it looks like in January

could be very dierent from what it looks like

in August. We also weren’t sure what level

of engagement the art world would have

with the festival. It’s been a challenging year

ﬁnancially for artists.

But we also recognized all that has

happened. 2020 has seen the rise of mental

health needs in our society and our health

care systems’ deterioration and strain. It

has seen the rise and cultural acceptance

of white separatism and nationalism. It has

seen a Presidential Administration that has

embraced and emboldened systems of

racism that continue to create and maintain

racial inequality in nearly every facet of life

for people of color.

We’ve seen bigotry extended in

North Dakota with hundreds of Republican

lawmakers voting to accept anti-LGBT

language within their NDGOP resolution.

We’ve also seen inequities expand due to

the pandemic, with human rights issues such

as access to food and housing being daily

subjects in the media.

But there has also been hope.

Our nation’s collective consciousness that

supports equality, equity, and inclusion

has risen against these injustices: From the

continued Indigenous-led Water Protector

movement that shields our environment from

corporate interests; to the Black Lives Matter

movement, which is demanding reform from

our police and criminal justice systems; to the

50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, and

the acknowledgment of the Supreme Court

that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects gay,

lesbian, and transgender employees from

discrimination based on sex; and to the Get

Out the Vote movement that has inspired a

new generation of voters to elect leaders that

represent the best of who we are as a nation.

As artists and activists for human rights and

social change, there was much to speak to.

We decided to move forward to see

what the artist’s response would be. If we had

submissions, we’d move forward. If we didn’t,

we’d postpone for a year. To help artists

ﬁnancially, we waived submission fees for

local artists and, in individual cases, oered

help to pay for shipping to and from Fargo.

The art in the festival this year

captures the heart of the challenges and

hopes that have deﬁned 2020. It is, I believe,

one of the most important curations of art our

Jury had crafted since our beginnings in 2017.

This year, artists have shared their experiences

with isolation created by the pandemic,

their domestic violence experiences, and

their experiences with colonialism and white

separatism. The exhibition captures and

highlights the fear, the angst, and the hope

that 2020 has come to deﬁne.

On behalf of the entire team, it is

my pleasure to welcome you to the fourth

annual North Dakota Human Rights Arts

Festival. Thank you for supporting the work of

these artists and the humanitarian eorts they

document. We hope you leave the festival

inspired by the individuals working to protect

our fundamental human rights.

With love and respect,

Sean Coman

2021 Festival Director | NDHRAF4

THE EXHIBITION

Artists Receptions

As part of the festival, Artists Receptions

will be scheduled and held at each

venue. Receptions provide an

opportunity for the public to meet with

and discuss works and issues with artists.

Due to the pandemic, certain receptions

may be hosted online instead of as an

in-person event. To learn more about the

dates, times, and locations for artists

receptions in your area, visit

www.NDHRAF.org.

Accessibility

Closed-captioning is available for certain

ﬁlms and for pre-recorded panel

discussions and artists Q&As.

To request speciﬁc accommodations,

email ADA@human-family.org

Connect with us

Website NDHRAF.org

Email NDHRAF@human-family.org

Phone (701) 205-0248 FAX (701) 212-4197

How to Join Us

All exhibitions are free and open to the public. See the exhibition

space for speciﬁc viewing hours.

January 9 – 30

The Plains Art Museum

704 First Ave. N.

Fargo, ND 58102

www.PlainsArt.org

(701) 551-6100

February 3 – March 4

UND Art Collections at the

Empire Arts Center

415 Demers Ave.

Grand Forks, ND 58201

https://und.edu/about/initiatives/art-collections/empire.html

(701) 746-5500

March 11 – April 10

Bismarck Downtown Artist Cooperative

222 North 4th St.

Suite 202

Bismarck, ND 58501

www.bismarckdac.com

(701) 391-8803

April 22 – June 5

The Arts Center

115 2nd Street SW

Jamestown, ND 58401

https://jamestownarts.com

(701) 251-2496

June 10 – July 15

The Taube Museum of Art

2 N. Main Street

Minot, ND 58703

www.taubemuseum.org

(701) 838-4445

August 1 – August 27

James Memorial Arts Center

621 1st Ave. West

Williston, ND 58801

www.thejamesmemorial.org

(701)774-3601

E D Q

Sale of Artwork

Certain artists have choosen to host their

work for sale as part of the exhibition.

Proceeds of the sale go directly to the

artist, with a small percentage supporting

the hosting gallery.

For more infromation on which peices

are for sale and the purchase price, visit

www.NDHRAF.org.

WITH GRATITUDE

Thank You

The North Dakota Human Rights Arts Festival would not exsist without the support of

organizations and venues through out North Dakota. Thank you for your investment in the

arts and for supporting the discussion of human rights, social justice and civil rights issues.

Finacial Support

This project is supported in part part by a grant from the North Dakota Council on the

Arts, which receives funding from the state legislature and the National Endowment

for the Arts.

Exhibition dates in Fargo, North Dakota, are supported in part by a City Arts Partnership

grant administered by tThe Arts Partnership, with support from the cities of Fargo,

Moorhead and West Fargo.

James Memorial Preservation Society

CONTENTS

Land Acknowledgment 2

Welcome 4

The Exhibition 5

With Gratitude 6

Invited Artist 8

The Artists 10

INVITED ARTIST

n 2021, the North Dakota Human

Rights Arts Festival is introducing

Invited Artists

program. The

exhibition will seek out those artists

creating relevant social justice work

and invite them to display in the

exhibition. Invited artists receive a

honorarium in support of their work

and humanitarian eorts.

The ﬁrst Invited Artist to the festival is

DC Houle.

DC has been painting professionally

for nearly forty years and, not

content with one singular style, has

become an artist of many mediums.

DC has taken his abilities to all

avenues of “Art” and sees no

limits as to what a person can

accomplish.

DC sees his artwork as a tool that

is borderless and has the deeper

purpose of bringing understanding

and clarity to the viewers about

“universal” thinking. Meaning there

are really no borders or restrictions

on the freedoms of healthy living

and becoming.

DC describes himself as a “Universal

Artist”; meaning his expressions in

artwork have a place for everyone.

DC is an enrolled member of the

Turtle Mt. Band of Ojibwa, from

northern North Dakota, and is of

mixed blood-lines. French ancestry

is common among the Ojibwa in

the area DC is from.

DC openly accepts who he is and

has become a man able to bridge

many gaps in his life by achieving

and exhibiting “balance” through

his reﬂections in any medium.

DC is a self-taught artisan who

has never let others decide what

to paint or create. DC’s prayer

is to share life’s experiences with

the world and share openly and

honestly.

DC is a constant evolution and looks

forward to creating continuous

beauty with you and for you.

“Miscarriage of Judgement ” | DC Houle | 2019

Excerpt from “A Cup of REesitance ” | Brandi Malarkey

The Artists

EXHIBITED ARTISTS

ACRYLIC

Chriscell Bedard

Beth Bradley

Kayla Branstetter

Kimberly Christianson

Rhoda Elmi

Joseph Larson

Anna N Lassonde

DRAWING

Brett Lysne

Ted Martin

Timothy Peek

Beth Twomey

FABRIC

Laura M. Forgie

Sister Nancy Gunderson

Rebecca Oehler

EXPERIMENTAL FILM

Samira Barragan

Marc Cartwright

Pamela Falkenberg

Jessica Lin

Karman Rheault

Rasika Ruwanpathirana

Phoebe Wong

INTERACTIVE FILM

Claudia Reig Valera

INSTALLATIONS

Lisa Arnold

Angie Swiec

MIXED MEDIA

Beth Kelley

Melissa Kugler

Ali LaRock

Leigh Nelson

Paul Noot

Delia Touche

OIL

Tom Block

Isaiah Johns

Susan Morrissey

Liz Pawlak

PHOTOGRAPHY

Shane Balkowistch

Anastasia de Celle

Annie Prafcke

Frances Taylor

PRINT MAKING

Marissa J Philipp

POETRY

Liz Minette

Nita K Ritzke

Katie Ryan-Anderson

Emily Vieweg

SCRIPT

Yael Deynes

SCUPTURE

Jeremy Colbert

Rebecca Martens

Jon B Outt

Donald Paul

WATER COLOR

Brandi Malarkey

VIRTUAL REALITY

Claudio Casale

Lisa Arnold is a teaching artist from Saint

Paul, MN, specializing in art and

social change.

She likes to create work that connects us

in the quest for social justice and human

rights and challenges the status quo.

By questioning authority, perspective,

and privilege, her work implicates, and

empowers us in injustice issues and

pushes us to make a change: to see

dierently, understand anew, feel

deeply, take action.

LISA ARNOLD

“THAT NIGHT” | MIXED MEDIA & PHOTOGRAPHY | ST. PAUL, MN

This work will be travel as part of the festival March - August

Facebook @xolaartsandobjects

Instagram @Xolaoutloud

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

Website http://sharoncol.balkowitsch.com/wetplate.htm

Facebook @nostalgicglasswetplate

Instagram @balkowitsch

Twitter @balkowitsch

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

Each day the world is ﬁlled with millions and

millions of digital photographs with no value,

character, signiﬁcance, or physical form.

That is not the case with a wet plate. The

wet plate process is magical, and the end

result is tangible and precious.

Digital photography of today relies on

technology. Wet plate photography relies

on 160-year-old chemistry, a bit of magic,

and some luck. I think it is essential that as

technology moves forward, we embrace

and continue to celebrate and not forget

important processes from the past.

Wet plate photography is one of those

processes. I am very proud to be one of ﬁve

artists pouring wet plates in the state of

North Dakota at this time. Every time I show

someone the wet plate process, they are

absolutely amazed. The process gives us a

photograph from some chemicals and

pieces of glass that I cut by hand.

SHANE BALKOWITSCH

“NORTH DAKOTANS DEPARTED” | 11” x 14” GLASS REPLICA WETPLATE | BISMARCK, ND

A young woman reﬂects on how

gentriﬁcation has changed her

neighborhood and wiped out the

people who have worked there and

lived there for years.

SAMIRA BARRAGAN

DIRECTOR, “GENTRIFICATION” | 6 MIN | ROSS, CA

Love art and sharing my love to create with

others. The First time my doctor called to tell

me I had breast cancer, I was in the middle

of teaching a painting class for kids in my

home. The second time cancer came for

a rematch, I put up my paint brushes and

created “City Girl.”

CHRISCELL BEDARD

“CITY GIRL” | 11” x 10” ACRYLIC ON CANVAS | WOODBURY, MN

TOM BLOCK

“KARLA FAYE TUCKER” | 20” x 10” OIL ON CANVAS | WOODSIDE, NY

Website ihraf.org

Facebook @ThomasAlanBlock

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

Tom Block is a playwright, author of ﬁve

books and 20+ year visual artist. His plays

have been developed and produced at

such venues as the Ensemble Studio Theater,

HERE, Dixon Place, Theater for the New City,

IRT Theater, Theater at the 14th Street Y,

Theater Row, A.R.T.-NY and many others.

He was the founding producer of the

International Human Rights Art Festival

(2017), the Amnesty International Human

Rights Art Festival (2010) and a Research

Fellow at DePaul University (2010).

Tom has exhibited his artwork and

spoken about his ideas throughout the

United States, Canada, Europe, Turkey and

the Middle East. All of his work carves out a

space at the intersection of mysticism and

contemporary society.

Beth Diane Bradley took some art history

and photojournalism classes as a college

student. She has written about art and artists

for local publications, is a photo enthusiast,

and has always been a “gallery rat.” But she

never thought she could paint. In November

of 2018, she ﬁnally got the courage to pick

up a paintbrush, and now she can’t put it

down. Her biggest goal is to make a

dierence in the world with her art.

Beth’s hope is that the North Dakota Human

Rights Art Festival will change minds and

hearts, and she is humbled that her paint-

ing is part of that collective eort. Serving,

like the crow, as a messenger of hope for a

better tomorrow.

BETH BRADLEY

“AND IT BECAME BLOOD, LIKE THAT OF A DEAD MAN” | 16” x 20” ACRYLIC ON CANVAS | FARGO, ND

Facebook @BethBradleyFargo

Instagram @boomerbliss

Twitter @boomerbliss

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

KAYLA BRANSTETTER

“CHAOS” | 11” x 17” ACRYLIC ON CANVAS | PURDY, MO

Facebook @KaylaBranstetter

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

Kayla Branstetter is a wife, mother, educator,

artist, and writer from Missouri.

Her artwork, photography, and writing have

appeared in journals throughout the world.

She holds a Master of Liberal Studies in Art,

Literature, and Culture from the University

of Denver.

As an educator, she has been exposed to

both the positive and negative sides of

humanity. She uses these stories to inspire her

to paint and write.

MARC CARTWRIGHT

“ORBITAL DISCOURSE” | 8 MIN | STUDIO CITY, CA

Website GlassCabinFilms.com

Facebook @GlassCabinFilms | @MarcCartwright01

Twitter @GlassCabinFilms | @McPhotog

Instagram @GlassCabinFilms | @McPhotog

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

Marc grew up in New York on Long Island’s

East End. Partially raised by his grandparents,

who were avid fans of Hollywood classics,

he developed a passion for the

entertainment industry.

A graduate of NYU, Marc runs a successful

photography business, where he photo-

graphs established, as well as up-and-

coming talents in Film and Television.

With his experience behind the camera as a

photographer, Marc founded motion picture

production company Glass Cabin Films

to direct and produce short and

feature-length content.

CLAUDIO CASALE

“OM DEVI: SHEREOS REVOLUTION” | 20 MIN | ROMA, ITALY

Website sibillaﬁlm.com

Facebook @omdevisheroes

Instagram @sibillaﬁlm

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

Born in 1986, after graduating in

Economics, he moved to Asia and lived

between India and Southeast Asia, where

his passion for documentary began.

Back in Rome, he gradually approached

directing and made his ﬁrst independent

documentary, Piccolo Mondo Cane (2017).

In the same year he attended a directing

course at the New York Film Academy in

New York city.

In 2020, his documentary Om Devi: Sheroes

Revolution is in ocial selection at the 77th

Venice International Film Festival in the

`Venice VR Expanded section.

KIMBERLY CHRISTIANSON

“HEALING CIRCLE” | 36” x 35” ACRYLIC ON CANVAS | BISMARCK, ND

Facebook @Christianson.Studio

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

Kimberly Christianson is an artist, essence /

nature photographer and photojournalist.

A native of North Dakota that has returned

to her roots after traveling extensively as a

career ﬂight attendant. The opportunity to

travel and discover dierent cultures has left

her interested in environmental concerns

and a sincere desire for equal rights and

inclusion of all people.

Kimberly is a member of Bismarck

Downtown Artist Cooperative. She was a

participant in the 2019 ND Human Rights Art

Festival, and 2019 Bismarck Library The Art of

Books.

Kimberly is known for often adding precious

and semi-precious gems and minerals along

with Missouri River sand to her artwork.

JEREMY COLBERT

“I CAN’T BREATHE” | 18” x 6” x 6” CAST IRON, CAST BRONZE, STEEL, ROPE | LEXINGTON, KY

Instagram @jeremydale74

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

Born and raised in southern Oklahoma

among the rivers, rolling hills, and beautiful

land, I was taught to respect nature and to

embrace my rich Native American heritage

of the Chickasaw Nation.

My connection to the Chickasaw tribe has

always been important to me, although,

for many years, I avoided using the Native

American content in my work. My grand-

father, a Chickasaw Legislator, taught me

to be proud of my heritage, my people and

would tell many stories about the Chickasaw

Tribe and its importance to the American

Nation. He shared lessons about our culture,

traditions, and stories of our family.

These lessons and stories were precious to

me, and I was afraid of allowing them to

become cliché through my artwork. As I

have become more comfortable with

myself, my art, and my content, I have

found it important to face the challenge

of exploring my Native American heritage

through sculpture

ANASTASIA DE CELLE

“HEALING CIRCLE” | 36” x 35” ACRYLIC ON CANVAS | REILES ACRES, ND

Facebook @AnastasiaDeCelle

Instagram @decelle.bnw

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

Anastasia de Celle is a Visual Arts student at

North Dakota State University who works in

Photography and other media.

She is passionate about mental health.

“Cognitive Distortions” examines how

inaccurate thinking can aect our

behavior by reinforcing negative

perceptions of ourselves and others.

Her work is a reﬂection on how recognizing

our broken thinking can heal our behavior,

emotions and relationships with others

and ourselves.

YAEL DEYNES

“S.T.A.R” | SCRIPT | CALIFORNIA

Yael Deynes entered the ﬁlm industry in 2015

with his ﬁrst screenplay, “175”, a historical

drama inspired by real survivors who opened

up to Deynes about the persecution of the

LGBTQ community during the Holocaust and

after. The script led to a signed deal with a

top Hollywood talent agency. His work also

caught the eye of Marsha Posner Williams,

a two-time Emmy and three-time Golden

Globe-winning producer. Williams produced

his directorial debut, “My Secret Lake,”

which picked up an SFAAF Award and is

distributed on Amazon Prime Video.

While working as a writer for several stream-

ing networks and ﬁlm studios, Deynes has

consulted and held seminars for universities,

writer’s groups, and non-proﬁt organiza-

tions. In 2017, due to the damage of Hurri-

cane Maria, Deynes was unable to reach

his mother in Puerto Rico for two agonizing

weeks. This inspired him to create a cinemat-

ic message of hope for the island entitled,

“Who We Are”, which won an award at the

My Hero International Film Festival and a

Telly Award.

Entirely self-taught, Deynes attributes his

knack for storytelling to his grandmother’s

vivid tales as well as the everlasting desire

to do the right thing.

RHODA ELMI

“DOMINANCE AND DESPONDENCY” | 16” x 12” ACRYLIC ON CANVAS | FARGO, ND

Facebook @RhodaElmi

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

Rhoda Elmi is an entrepreneur, artist, and a

strong proponent for women and children.

She has been actively involved in

community work in all the places she has

lived, including the Middle East, Canada,

and the USA. She is originally from Africa. She

is a mother of four. The wealth of

experience and diverse perspective over

the years lead her to start a child care

center in Fargo, ND.

Rhoda is the founder and director of

Jasmin Child Care and Preschool, where

we prepare kids to succeed in a multilingual

and multicultural environment. Her vision is

to prepare children for success and support

low-income new American families to

access quality child care. She is a

passionate advocate for her community

and has big dreams for the future.

PAMELA FALKENBERG & JACK COCHRAN

“I WANT TO BREATHE SWEET AIR” | 11 MIN | AUSTIN, TX

Facebook @outliermovingpictures

Twitter @outlierpics

Instagram @outliermovingpictures

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

Pam is an independent ﬁlmmaker who

received her PhD from the University of Iowa

and taught at Northern Illinois University,

St.Mary’s College, and the University of

Notre Dame. Jack is an independent

ﬁlmmaker who has produced, directed, or

shot a variety of experimental and personal

projects. As a DP he has extensive

experience shooting commercials,

independent features, and documentaries.

For over ﬁve years, they have been

making personal ﬁlms together again

under the name Outlier Moving Pictures.

They hope their work will prove worthy of the

name: avoiding the usual patterns and

approaching their subject matter from the

margins (which sounds better than saying

that as ﬁlmmakers they’re oddballs and

cranks).

LAURA M. FORGIE

“DRESS FOR COWBOY CRUISING” | 38.5” x 28” x 20” WEARABLE ART | MOORHEAD, MN

Instagram @la.mifo

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

Laura M. Forgie is a mixed-media artist

specializing in needlepoint, collage,

and photography.

Within these mediums she explores topics of

sexuality and gender issues. Raised in

Eastern Iowa, she has been working out of

the F-M area for the past 6 years.

SISTER NANCY GUNDERSON

“SAVE THE CHILDREN” | 24” x 24” x 23” MIXED MEDIA | BISMARCK, ND

Sister Nancy is a Benedictine sister of

Annunciation Monastery, where she taught

in the School of Arts and Science at the

University of Mary. She is primarily a

self-taught artist who loves to “dabble,”

as she calls it, in ﬁbers and color.

As Sister Nancy states, “Both nature and

spirituality have been rich sources of

creative energy for me. I seek to create

works with meaning that invite people

to come closer and enter a world I have

opened – to discover its mysteries and

intricate beauty.” Sense of place would

describe what inﬂuences many of her works

from what she sees out her window or

on her walks.

Sister Nancy has used her art as a teaching

tool in her classroom and has used her art in

retreats combining art and spirituality where

participants made creations of their own.

ISAIAH JOHNS

“SITTING FOR PEACE” | 36” x 36” OIL, ACRYLIC, SAND | WEST FARGO, ND

Instagram @ijohnsﬁneart

This piece is on loan from the collection of

Renae Reinardy Spiry.

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

“Sitting for Peace” is references the most

photographed native in American History.

What many may be surprised to know is that

he sat for peace. He sat for photographers

hoping that these images would contradict

the highly published “cartoon savage” that

many newspapers back east would use in

their publications. Even though deep down

he knew this would not aect the move west

by settlers from all over the world, he still sat

in hopes that they would see a human, and

not a concept or cartoon creation.

This portrait represents those of us who know

strength but are humbled. Those who know

pride but have been defeated. Those who

know love but have hated. Those who know

the truth but have lied. Those who teach but

do not follow. Those who want peace but

have destroyed. We are all the same.

BETH KELLEY

“CIRCLE OF SACRED HEALING” | 8” CIRCLE MIXED MEDIA | EDMOND , OK

Instagram @beth7th

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

Beth is a Gaelic Oklahoman who is

thankful for the roots of her ancestors. Her

work focuses on ﬁnding the words for

healing the broken heart. With this piece

she began with the poem, which she hopes

speaks to the humble hearted women,

asking them to know that if they do speak

from their hearts they will be heard.

Continuing on she worked in media and

motifs that spoke to her and are strongly in

her wheel house. Bringing plenty of healing

to the circle of life.

Beth spent 4 months, labor day weekend to

new year’s eve, as a loving member of the

tribe of people who made the

Oceti Sakowin encampment their home.

She worked as a spiritual healer, working out

of her Gaelic, Tsalagi, and Christian roots.

MELISSA KUGLER

“WE CAN DO IT” | 24” x 30” MIXED MEDIA | PLYMOUTH, MN

Instagram @bymelissakugler

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

I ﬁnd when I create I’m able to be me,

painting takes me to a place of peace

and joy.

ALI LAROCK

“LET THE MONUMENTS INSIDE YOU FALL” | 12” x 24” MIXED MEDIA | BISMARCK , ND

Website www.alilarock.com

Facebook @alilarock

Twitter @AliLaRock

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

Ali LaRock is a visual artist living in Bismarck,

North Dakota. She received her B.F.A. in

painting from Minnesota State University,

Moorhead in 1998. She works in the areas

of painting, drawing, and mixed media. Ali

grew up in New Town, North Dakota.

Ali has been exhibiting her artwork around

the United States for the last 15 years. She is

a founding and active member of the Bis-

marck Downtown Artist Co-op, where much

of her art is on display. Ali’s work can also be

found at the Toasted Frog in Bismarck and

the Hotel Donaldson in Fargo. In addition to

creating and exhibiting her art Ali teaches

art through various artist in residence

opportunities throughout the state in schools,

art centers, and summer camps. She has

worked with organizations such as the North

Dakota Council on the Arts, International

Music Camp, and Sleepy Hollow Summer

Theatre and Art.

JOSEPH LARSON

“PRIDE BOUQUET 2020” | 9” x 12” ACRYLIC ON CANVAS | MOORHEAD, MN

Pastor Joe Larson of St. Mark’s

Lutheran Church in Fargo, ND, has created

art throughout his life, including hanging

murals and mosaics commissioned by

Lutheran Church of Christ the Redeemer

(in Minneapolis, Minnesota) and other

congregations and organizations.

Larson has a Master of Divinity from Luther

Seminary, and a Bachelor of Arts from

Gustavus Adolphus College, where he

minored in art. Larson has served as pastor

of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church since June

2016. Previously, he worked as Executive

Director of The Aliveness Project in

Minneapolis, Minnesota for 14 years.

ANNA LASSONDE

“CONCEALING THE PAIN” | 12” x 24” MIXED MEDIA | DETROIT LAKES , MN

Facebook @ jollybirdstudio

Instagram @jollybirdstudio

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

Anna Lassonde is a Minnesota artist that

uses acrylics and water-based mediums to

create paintings, collages, and murals. She

works out of her studio in Detroit Lakes, MN.

Her work focuses on animals (particularly

horses), portraits, and landscapes. One of

her favorite things to create is mini collages

with favorite quotes or witty sayings. When

she isn’t creating portrait commissions, she

is usually painting what she sees around

her. Her farm very inspires her in rural Detroit

Lakes. One of her accomplishments

include creating and coordinating a 126’

x 10’ mural for a clinic in Lubango Angola

Africa. She ﬂew to Africa and coordinated

the project to create the mural.

Currently, Anna is working on putting classes

together to share the creative process with

people in the community

JESSICA LIN

“BEYOND THE MODEL” | 7.5 MIN | ROSS, CA

After the assaults and discrimination of

Asians because of COVID-19, this ﬁlm

shines a light on what it is like be a “model

minority” in an increasingly divided America.

BRETT LYSNE

“THE LOWER FORTY-EIGHT (A HOUSE WITH TWO DOORS)” | 16” x 20” DRAWING | FARGO, ND

Instagram @brett.lysne

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

Brett Lysne is an artist and graphic

designer who lives in Fargo and

currently teaches drawing and

printmaking at Minnesota State University

Moorhead.

Through his detailed creative projects

that muddy the territory between

science and poetry, he aims to

reconsider the conventions of language,

mapmaking, and other systems

of knowledge.

BRANDI MALARKEY

“A CUP OF RESISTANCE” | 8” x 10” WATERCOLOR | FARGO, ND

Facebook @ItsAllMalarkey

Instagram @ItsAllMalarkey

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

My name is Brandi Malarkey, and I am a

creative from Fargo, North Dakota.

According to my allergist, the outdoors

is trying to kill me. So, naturally, I am

primarily a nature artist.

I work in a variety of mediums,

depending on what I am trying to

accomplish, including resin, ink, paint,

glass, photography, and botanical

illustration.

I love to focus on the small things that

exist around us that can remind us that

we are surrounded by little miracles.

REBECCA MARTENS

“2020” | 12” x 22” x 1” METAL SCULPTURE | FARGO, ND

Facebook @rebecca.martens.969

Instagram @shop_girl_art

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

Rebecca Martens is a sculpture student

who specializes in metal artwork.

Martens’s ceramic teapot was

accepted into the spring student

juried show at Minnesota State

University of Moorhead.

Currently, she has two pieces at the

Rourke Art Gallery and Museum. Martens

will be graduating in the spring of 2022.

She has a local studio that allows her

to make and sell work while attending

school full-time. Martens is always

working to expand her metal working

skills in order to sell her artwork fulltime

in the future.

TED MARTIN

“UNTITLED” | 25.5” x 35.5” DRAWING | FARGO, ND

Ted Martin is retired and living in Fargo,

ND. He moved to Fargo in to be near

family.

He draws as a hobby, usually using ink

pen, markers and Crayola crayons.

To be fed up with

violence, so much

that one never

picks up a gun,

never touches a

bullet.

To plot peace

from one's room

surrounded by

scented candles,

dark chocolate

and poetry.

And from this place

work the dreams

of tolerance and unity

into being.

Yet,

if one's blood

is shed along

some lonely road

in the name of –

to at least have

that blood unite

everyone to live

in peace.

~ in memory of Hevrin Khalaf

Facebook @liz.minette

Twitter @Liz_Minette

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

Liz Minette lives in Esko, Minnesota.

The poem “To be fed up” was inspired

by the January 2020 Rolling Stone

article “The Betrayal of the Kurds” by

Jason Motlagh.

LIZ MINETTE

“TO BE FED UP WITH” | POEM | ESKO, MN

SUSAN MORRISSEY

“DRUID DREAM” | 25.5” x 35.5” DRAWING | FARGO, ND

Facebook @SusanMorrissey

Instagram @SusanMorrissey

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

I’ve been making art for over 50 years.

You can imagine how many avenues

one is likely to take in that amount of

time.

With family, I’ve lived in four separate US

states and Britain. I studied art in three of

those states at dierent times of my life.

I am married, have children and

grandchildren.

My work most often begins with

something going on about me, though

it may not seem so. Once started, the

imagery takes on its own life, at times

leading to a surreal quality as in this

particular piece.

Greg Tardi

Website gregtardiemusic.com

Lucas Cilberti

Website lucascilibertifan.wixsite.com

Facebook @LucasCilibertiFans

Twitter @lucasloves2sing

Instagram @Lucas_Singer

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTISTS

Greg Tardie, is an independent song-

writer who has written for a number of

award-winning artists. He is a native of

Caribou, Maine and is a 4th-generation

military veteran. He works closely with

music producer Curt Ryle of Big Matador

Recording and Black Ribbon Records.

Greg is a member of the Nashville

Songwriters Association International and

the Texas Country Music Association.

Lucas Ciliberti is a talented 20yr old

singer/songwriter, and musician, with a

heart of gold, and a voice to match.

He was raised with family values, working

hard on his 4 Generation Family Farm,

in Enid, Oklahoma.

He got his start in Nashville, TN when his

Grandma sold a cow, to pay for his trip

to Pigeon Forge, TN, to compete in the

North American Country Music Singers

Association International Competition.

Lucas’s roots are in his Native American

Heritage. He was recently chosen, as the

youngest Artist to Win “Debut Artist of

the Year” for the Native American Music

Awards, held at Niagara Fall

GREG TARDIE & LUCAS CILBERTI

“TRAIL OF TEARS” | SONG | NASHVILLE, TN

LEIGH NELSON

“WE GROW OLD” | FOUR 25.5” x 35.5” MIXED MEDIA | DETROIT LAKES, MN

Instagram @leigh.creates

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

“We Grow Old” visually explores

constructs of identity through a

synthesis of print, typography, design,

and abstract mixed media evolving into

a narrative discourse of self through the

elasticity of time. Fevered, physical

compositions shift between layers of

past, present, and future – a voyage

interweaving the old and the new, the

familiar and the unknown, the physical

and ethereal.

The interplay of anthropomorphic and

preternatural forms among a rhythm

of geometric ﬁgures explore the

imaginative and surreal in immediate

presence and juxtaposition with the

conventional and predictable.

The human experience traverses timeless

landscapes through fragmented and

nostalgic representations of self,

transcending viewers beyond the

bounds of the present, invoking self-

reﬂection and curiosity, while

maintaining the certitudes of life – a

visual paradox of the mundane and

miraculous, the deﬁnite and obscure,

the immortal and ephemeral.

Website bismarckdac.com

Facebook @Paul.Noot.Artist

Twitter @paulnoot

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

Paul Noot received his BFA from the

University of North Dakota and his MFA

from Brooklyn College in New York.

He is currently the department head

of Bismarck High School.

In 2014, his art toured galleries in

North Dakota.

PAUL NOOT

“LOST AND FOUND” | 8” X 11” MIXED MEDIA | BISMARCK, ND

REBECCA OEHLER

“BLANKET STATEMENT (DO YOU FEEL SAFE YET?)” | 6’ x 5’ SCREENPRINT | FARGO, ND

Instagram @rebecca.oehler

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

I am a visual artist living in Fargo, ND and

a recent graduate from Minnesota State

University Moorhead.

I utilize printmaking, photography, and

drawing, along with sculptural elements,

to create artwork about women’s rights

and mental health.

I use repetition throughout my work, both

as a way of dealing with my own anxiety

and mental health, but also to create

feelings of anxiety and unease

among viewers.

Website outt-glass.myshopify.com

Facebook @jonoutthouseofmulciber

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

Jon Outt plays with ﬁre.

At his glassblowing studio in Fargo —

named after the Roman god of ﬁre

Mulciber — he uses roaring, 2,000

degree heat as a tool to transform

molten glass into beautiful, award-

winning glass vessels and sculptures.

Jon earned an M.F.A. in glass from

Southern Illinois University at Carbondale,

and he passes along his knowledge

to new students of glass. He also

demonstrates his craft for the public

and to a new generation as he travels

with his Mobile Studio.

Contact information: 4824 12th Street

South Fargo, ND 58104 701-298-3936

mulciberglass@hotmail.com

JON OFFUTT

“WHAT YOU SEE DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU LOOK” | 5.5” X 5” X 5” BLOWN GLASS | FARGO, ND

DONALD PAUL

“HERE I AM” | 14” x 20” MIXED MEDIA | EDGELEY, ND

I love to make sculptures from found

object pieces.

Twitter @stewieis4

Instagram @lbpawlak

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

Liz Pawlak is a St. Paul, MN oil and acrylic

artist who paints subjects that she is pas-

sionate about.

Alejandra’s Story: Estoy Sola is the third

painting in the series is called

The Refugees. Alejandra represents the

545 children separated from their

parents at the border.

The sunrise portends the promise of

opportunity and freedom; the bars the

loss of that dream. Liz believes that the

plight of the refugees is the responsibility

of all nations, that borders are obstacles

to peace, and that these children are

ours responsibility.

LIZ PAWLAK

“ALEJANDRA’S STORY: ESTOY SOLA” | 20” X 20” OIL ON CANVAS | ST PAUL, MN

TIMOTHY PEEK

“GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME COVID” | 6” x 10” DRAWING | FARGO, ND

Facebook @TimothyPeek

Twitter @TimothyPeek

Instagram @TimothyPeek

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

I am a self taught Artist living in the

Fargo/Moorhead Area.

My work often looks to capture light and

shadow play in a exploration of the

human form.

I am 19 years old and grew up in

Horace, ND.

I am currently attending my ﬁrst year

of college at NDSU, majoring in

Art Education.

I have always had a passion for art

growing up. To me, the powerful thing

about art is its ability to express a feeling

or say something you otherwise couldn’t

in words.

MARISSA J PHILIPP

“DELIVERANCE ” | 18” X 24” MIXED MEDIA | HORACE, ND

ANNIE PRAFCKE

“READY TO STAND” | 6’ x 5’ SCREENPRINT | FARGO, ND

Facebook @annie.prafcke

Twitter @AnniePrafcke

Instagram @annieprafcke

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

Annie Prafcke is a journalist from Fargo,

ND who enjoys exploring photography

and ﬁlm.

In 2018, she graduated from St. Olaf

College with a degree in Sociology

and Anthropology. Through her work,

she investigates issues of culture, race,

identity, and power.

Claudia Reig Valera (Valencia, Spain,

1990) has a degree in audiovisual

communication from the University

of Valencia.

Her career as a camera operator, editor

and ﬁlmmaker has developed at Barret

production company.

“Birth in the 21st century” is her third

transmedia documentary as a director,

after “En la brecha” (2018) and “Que

tiemble el camino.” She has also

directed the feature documentary

“Trans resistance” (2019)

CLAUDIA REIG VALERA

“BIRTH IN THE 21ST CENTURY ” | INTERACTIVE FILM | SPAIN

Website http://lab.rtve.es/webdocs/parto-respetado/en/

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

KARMAN RHEAULT

“THE YARN SCULPTURE PROJECT” | 5 MIN | FARGO, ND

Website snowﬁrestudio.com

Facebook @SnowﬁreStudio

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

“I draw my inspiration from multiple

aspects of life: relationships, mother-

hood, nature, femininity, and spirituality.

Comparable to nature, I aspire for each

of my pieces to be unique and reﬂect

the reality of the natural world where

nothing is an exact duplicate. Through

my art is how I feel my biggest

connection with others and I put my

heart and soul into every piece. “

Using a plasma cutter and welder, Kar-

man Rheault creates 3-Dimensional

sculptures from new and recycled metal.

She makes a wide range of work from

jewelry, to indoor sculptural pieces and

large scale outdoor work all depending

on where inspiration takes her.

Karman uses the inherent colors of the

metal and adds color and contrast with

paint, by heating it with a torch, or rust-

ing it to produce rich natural patinas.

Nita Ritzke lives and works in Bismarck

with her adult daughter/roommate and

Mojo, the chihuahua-pug ambassador

of peace.

“Mucho Gusto” is a conﬂation of several

instances when Ritzke, long-time North

Dakota resident, met people from

warmer climates who marveled at snow.

NITA K RITZKE

“MUCHO GUSTO” | POEM | BISMARCK, ND

Facebook @NitaRitzke

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

RASIKA RUWANPATHIRANA

“GIVE US THE FREEDOM” | 17 MIN | BALTIMORE, MD

Website https://www.ﬂickr.com/photos/96902742@N04/

Facebook @rasika.ruwanpathirana

Instagram @rasika_ruwanpathirana

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

On Wednesday,, February 1, 2017,

inmates from James T. Vaughn

Correctional Center in Smyrna,

Delaware took three correctional ocers

hostage, demanding better conditions

and cessation of abuse by violent prison

guards.

The siege ended the next morning when

police breached the building and

rescued a female sta member who was

unharmed. The police claimed that they

found a correctional ocer dead.

The following are two audio recordings

sent by an inmate from James T. Vaughn

Correctional Center who is serving a

94-year sentence. He describes the

conditions inside the prison.

“When I say nothing” is a poem

about regret.

It’s also about our obligation as straight,

Christian-ish, white people – even in

small town Dakota – to combat racism

and bigotry.

We see it, all the time. Let me count the

ways. So, what can we do about it? And

what happens when we do nothing

at all.

My name is Katie Ryan-Anderson and I

live in Marion, N.D. with my husband and

two children.

KATIE RYAN-ANDERSON

“WHEN I SAY NOTHING” | POEM | MARION, MN

Facebook @katie.ryananderson

Twitter @ladyk80

Instagram @ladyk80

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

ANGIE SWIEC

“PRO-LIFE? ” | 5 MIN | BISMARCK, ND

Angie Swiec is a visual artist, yogi and

mom of two who lives in Bismarck.

She creates art that she hopes inspires

and makes her audience question their

perspectives.

She is privileged to live with her family

without fear of her children being ripped

away from her.

My name is Frances Taylor. I am a

junior at the University of Mary majoring

in Media Productions.

As someone who has not only

experienced depression but has also

witnessed severe depression in others,

the suicide crisis is something that is very

important to me. In this photo, I wanted

to capture the intensity of that moment,

where our self-concept is so negative

that it almost splits into dierent

personalities.

FRANCES TAYLOR

“US VS. THEM” | 8” x 10” DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY | BISMARCK, ND

Instagram @frances.taylor4

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

DELIA TOUCHE

“BEFORE AND AFTER” | 8” x 6” x 46” MIXED MEDIA | FARGO, ND

My name is Delia Touche I am from

Fort Totten, ND. I primarily work in

printmaking.

My work is stems from the impact being

surrounded by colonized spaces,

assimilating into white America as well

as rediscovery of my indigenous culture.

Instagram @deleeahhh

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

I am a West Coast transplant and have

lived in Fargo for the last 8 years.

It’s been dicult to be separated from

family during these dicult times,

especially when my young nieces were

exposed to tear gas in their own home

during the protests that occurred in

Portland, OR this last summer.

This piece is for them. #BLM!

BETH TWOMEY

“PORTLAND FOR JOZ AND INDIE” | 14” x 31” DRAWING| FARGO, ND

Twitter @bethtwomey

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

EMILY VIEWEG

“AN UNUSUAL CURE” | NARRATIVE | FARGO, ND

Emily Vieweg is a poet originally from St.

Louis, Missouri.

Her debut full-length chapbook,

but the

ﬂames

is set to publish in January 2021 by

Finishing Line Press.

She is a single working mom managing

two children on the autism spectrum, as

well as a cat with hyperactive nighttime

rituals. She lives in Fargo, ND.

Facebook @EmilyViewegWriter

Twitter @EmilyJVieweg

Instagram @EmilyJVieweg

ENGAGE WITH THE ARTIST

PHOEBE WONG

“AURORA” | 1 MIN | BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

I am an animation student from Hong

Kong, now studying at Pratt Institute,

Brooklyn, New York. I love ﬁlmmaking,

photography and sculptures.

2020 is a very unique experience to me.

While the world is busy ﬁghting against

the pandemic, this year has a very

dierent meaning to me. I chose to

collaborate with friends from Hong Kong

because we are the ones that share this

unique and bizarre experience together.

With the National Security Law imposed

in July, more and more people are being

prosecuted because of political beliefs,

it is increasingly dangerous to protest on

streets or even voice out, the

government is making use of pandemic

policies to quiet down social unrest.

We are not losing our hopes and belief,

but 2020 is deﬁnitely the long darkness

before dawn.

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