Community Art is a powerful tool to engage people creatively and socially to build relationships. I have facilitated a variety of community art projects and found my true niche as a community artist.  I am currently working with a grassroots initiative, Smalltown Eclectic, in my hometown of Belle Plaine, MN.  Smalltown Eclectic's mission is "Cultivating big talent in small communities through Open Mics, Art Exhibits and Concerts featuring all ages and abilities".  Since the spring of 2016, we've been hosting LOUD at the Library Open Mic + Art Night, a monthly event with opportunities for community members to display original art and participate in art making activities.  This is a partnership with the Belle Plaine Public Library and MELSA and is supported with funding from Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Belle Plaine ROCKS!

Belle Plaine ROCKS draws on the idea of kindness rocks and other "my city rocks" projects around the country.  There's nothing formal about it - just inviting people to paint rocks with positive words and images to place around Belle Plaine to promote community pride and friendly interactions.

 

Southwest Center Community Mosaic Mural

The Southwest Center Community Mosaic Mural was created in the fall of 2008 as a collaboration between Volunteers of America of MN's Southwest Senior Center, Barton Open School, CARAG, and neighborhood residents.  We started the project with four community visioning sessions, brainstorming together on what we love about Minneapolis and our dreams for the future.  Multiple community workshops were held where participants of all ages helped build the 100 square-foot mural – sorting and cutting tile, gluing tile to mesh, and finally installing the mural on the south side of the Southwest Center.  The mosaic features a young tree growing beside a wonderful old tree with their roots woven together, celebrating our interconnectedness.  People walk, bike, and stroll through the mosaic of flowers, birds, butterflies, sailboats on Lake Harriet, and music flowing from the Bandshell.  “This process was a great example of how art can bring people together.  People of all ages worked with each other to create this beautiful piece.  I think everyone who sees the mosaic will be inspired by the work and its celebration of our neighborhood,” said Mary Ann Schoenberger, Director of Southwest Senior Center.

The mural is located at the Southwest Center, 3612 Bryant Ave S, Minneapolis, MN.  Funding for the mosaic mural was provided by a City of Minneapolis Innovative Graffiti Prevention Micro-Grant, Volunteers of America-Minnesota and Calhoun Area Residents Action Group (CARAG).  Special thanks to the volunteers that worked incredibly hard to get this mosaic completed and installed before the snow flew!

Snelling Avenue Mosaic Planter Project

The Snelling Avenue Mosaic Planter Project was a collaboration with the Hamline Midway Coalition and Mosaic on a Stick.  Over 100 residents of the Hamline Midway neighborhood participated in mosaic art making workshops to create mosaic medallions to beautify concrete planters on Snelling Avenue.