When it comes to grassroots movements in the Minneapolis/St. Paul art community, nothing beats out a few summer art fairs and festivals. The warm temperatures and sunny days make the perfect setting for a stroll through an outdoor art gallery. Of course an art fair is not exclusive to the Twin Cities. Nevertheless, most everything about the Twin Cities’ fairs scream “local,” and they certainly scream “hip” and “new.” The aim of these festivals is to bring out unknown and burgeoning artists in the community. There is no better way than to go for the freshest pack. And they start really young.

Every summer, Father Hennepin Park is host to the annual Stone Arch Festival of the Arts. The focus is bringing out local artists and creating a space where children can explore different mediums, whether it is finger painting or scraping crayons across a canvas. Participating kids even create their own art to take home.

That’s a large focus of the “smaller” art movements in the Twin Cities; bringing it back around to the young ones. They will learn and develop and in time, turn around and give it back again. The circular nature of this method cultivates a strong sense of community and rich experiences in all members. Every summer, art festivals (Loring Park, Powderhorn, Uptown Art) have youth oriented contests designed to draw in young artists. Prizes are significant, most being a spot to show the completed work at a festival, a spot that would otherwise cost a hefty sum. For any aspiring artist, this prize is a must-have.

Such is the case of the Uptown Art Fair, which in its forty-five year history has grown into a massive showcase of local art. The “Tomorrow’s Stars Seen Today” contest gives the winning young artist a chance to set up a gallery next to seasoned veterans in the community. Such an opportunity would certainly promote the experienced mentoring the newbies. It’s all about conversation, inspiration, and creation.

From there the growth moves on into the galleries. The local mixes with the global and these perspectives meld to create pieces of art that have been twisted beyond the conventional borders of the past.

But don’t be fooled into thinking that art fairs get all the fun. The Soap Factory gallery is all about unconventional, visual stimulation. The Soap Factory certainly pushes the envelope in terms of what “art” is and invites creators from all over the world to the Twin Cities. From ceiling high installations built
from plastic straws and push pins, to inflatable modular trash bag symbols, the art put on display at this gallery does what it wants. The same could be said of the artists.

This wild and experimental choice of exhibits runs throughout the community. A step inside the Walker Art Museum will provide a walk down an unconventional road. So what does all this experimentation mean? The Twin Cities are looking onward with their art, pushing the limits on what can be done, and once again children are a great resource for this forward direction.

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, among other museums and galleries, has several resources for teachers and students in the Twin Cities. Besides having various educational opportunities for students at the Institute, there is a joint online database combining full-color images of artwork from both MIA and The Walker Art Center. All of this is accompanied by audio and video samples and textual information. A student only needs a computer and online access to discover the past and think about the future.

For those who don’t have ready access to the Internet, the art will travel to them. The Art Adventure Program brings trained volunteers to participating schools. Students are able to view posters and pictures with the theme of their choosing. From animals to culture to relationships, the way students can learn these ideas and concepts from the art they view will instill creative thinking and a knack for working out puzzles.

The fertility in the Twin Cities’ art community comes from the acknowledgment of what past creators have done with their initiatives and turning those lessons into something of our own. The equal taking and giving though that art helps to form a view of what the Twin Cities are all about. But that image is FYOI: for your own interpretation.