Career Development Grant

2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$1,232

Fund Source

Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund

Recipient

Aaron C. Squadroni

Recipient Type

Individual

Status

Completed

Start Date

March 2015

End Date

March 2016

Activity Type

Grants/Contracts

Counties Affected

Itasca

Hennepin

Project Overview

Career Development Grant

Project Details

Iron Range Land Portraits. To tell the story of the Mesabi Iron Range, I will create a series of land portraits: graphite drawings that convey a narrative of the land. I want to produce drawings that record the history of landmarks and sacred spaces based on traditional legends, government treaties, current disputes, and future visions. These land portraits will create continuity where great changes have occurred in the landscape or are likely to occur in the future. I hope that the Mesabi Iron Range and its story can become part of the public consciousness in a way that influences the future of Minnesota’s landscape.

Competitive Grant Making Body

Board Members and Qualifications

Erling Ellison: jewelry designer and creator, speech coach and judge, director of Garrison Art Fair; Ken Bloom: Director of Tweed Museum of Art, University of Minnesota-Duluth; Janeen Carey: vocalist, retired Hibbing Community College librarian and information media specialist; Kate Fitzgerald: Program Director North Shore Music Association, writer; Peter Pestalozzi: furniture maker, wood worker; David Beard: Assistant Professor University of Minnesota-Duluth writing studies; Mark King: actor, theater reviewer, musician; Adam Guggemos: graphic designer, art events promoter; Michelle Ronning: jewelry designer and maker; John Gregor: photographer, art educator, community art advocate; Ann Russ: music performer, community song leader, choir director, workshop leader, past director and founder of North Shore Music Association; Tara Makinen: Executive Director of Itasca Orchestra and Strings, musician; Dana Mattice: Development and Communications Director of The Art Institute Duluth, Shannon Sweeney: stage manager for Duluth Playhouse and former production manager for the Minnesota Ballet; Moira Villiard: visual artist and student of arts and communication at University of Wisconsin-Superior.

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

John Gregor: photographer, art educator, community art advocate; Michelle Ronning: jewelry designer and maker; David Beard: Assistant Professor University of Minnesota-Duluth writing studies; Ann Russ: music performer, community song leader, choir director, workshop leader, past director and founder of North Shore Music Association; Moira Villiard: visual artist and student of arts and communication at University of Wisconsin-Superior; Catherine Meier: website designer, printmaker, drawer, animator; Janeen Carey: vocalist, retired Hibbing Community College librarian and information media specialist.

Project Details: 2015 Fiscal Year

Legal Citation / Subdivision

Laws of Minnesota 2013, Chapter 137, Article 4, Section 2, Subdivision 3

Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access ACHF Arts Education ACHF Cultural Heritage

2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$1,232

Other Funds Leveraged

$1,768

Direct expenses

$3,000

Administration costs

Number of full time equivalents funded

Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

I will create a new body of work that expands my understanding of what drawing can be and yields insights about the landscape of northern Minnesota. The drawing series will engage the public, inviting people to see Minnesota’s land debate in a new way. I want to make the past, present, and future of controversial land come to life. I am excited about my current work and believe that continuing to explore the relationship between industry and landscape in northern Minnesota will lead to a very dynamic series. By showing the work in the metropolitan area I hope to bring awareness of the Iron Range region to the Twin Cities. A strong body of work will be evidenced by positive feedback by gallery owners and visitors to my exhibitions. I will also gauge my success based on the public conversations that the work provokes.

Measurable Outcome(s)

I created a new series of 13 drawings that stretched my understanding of drawing through using a medium I have not used before. I was able to engage with many new viewers in the Twin Cities and bring attention to the debate about copper nickel mining on the iron range. I also had positive reviews and feedback from both the public and gallery staff.

Description of Funds

Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Project Manager

Aaron

Squadroni

Aaron C. Squadroni

(612) 423-0718

aaronsquadroni@gmail.com

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