Artist Initiative

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2020 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$9,886
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Sharon K. Nordrum AKA Waabiigaagaagiikwebik
Recipient Type
Individual
Status
Completed
Start Date
March 2020
End Date
May 2022
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Hubbard
Mahnomen
Hubbard
Mahnomen
Project Overview

Artist Initiative

Project Details

Fibers held the Ojibwe world together. Anishinaabe artist Nordrum will harvest, prepare, dye, and weave fibers in a series of woven creations reflecting the seasonal lifestyle of Ojibwe and reconnect with tradition.

Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications

Ardell Brede: Mayor of Rochester, elected 2002.; Peggy Burnet: Businesswoman, art collector, and community volunteer. Chair of the Nominating Committee, Smithsonian National Board. Trustee, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.; Uri Camarena: Business consultant, Metropolitan Economic Development Association. Board chair, Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Michael Charron: Dean of the School of the Arts, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Sean Dowse: Mayor of Red Wing, elected 2016. Former executive director, Sheldon Theatre. Board member for Minnesota Citizens for the Arts. Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Philip McKenzie, Oboe and English horn player; adjunct oboe faculty, NDSU. Secretary/Treasurer, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Mary McReynolds-Pellinen: Executive director, Lyric Center for the Arts; coordinator, First Stage Gallery. Officer at-large, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Thomas Moss: Consultant to nonprofits and government agencies.; Dobson West: Senior advisor, Spell Capital Partners Fund.; Christina Widdess: Arts organization consultant; former managing director, Penumbra Theatre.

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Krista Anderson-Larson: Director, CIRCA Gallery; gallery and collections coordinator, Macalester College; sculptor; Martha Bird: Visual artist and public health nurse; AK Garski: Visual artist and activist; art and art history adjunct instructor, St. Catherine University; Kristi Kuder: Sculptor, textile processes in metal and mixed media; Arts Board grantee; Andrew Messerschmidt: Painter; Kimber Olson: Visual artist, curator, and educator.

Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2019 First Special Session, chapter 2, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access

2020 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$9,886
Other Funds Leveraged
$316
Direct expenses
$10,202
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

With additional time I will research and advance my skill and cultural knowledge of gathering, preparing, dying and weaving Wiigob (basswood fiber). I will host a public exhibit of my weaving projects with a reception and weaving workshop to follow. I will encourage audience feedback on both my artistic creations and my teaching techniques through guided discussion. 2: I will engage youth in the art of weaving basswood to increase their cultural understanding and introduce weaving skills. I will offer two culture camps teaching youth the entire process from harvesting, preparation, dying and weaving a small make and take project.

Measurable Outcome(s)

I advanced my skill using black ash and sweet grass. Gathering the wiigob proved to be to nard on my shoulders and hands so I turned my attention to black ash and sweet grass. I made several different items including baskets and medallions using these materials. 2: Two cultural events were held during the grant cycle one was just a demo and the other a hands on project. Do to Covid we did not have weaving class. We did make projects using fiber, we talked about different fibers used, such as wools, sweetgrass, black ask,basswood and cattails. 2nd public event was a demo - how to weave a basket using sweetgrass.

Project Manager
First Name
Sharon
Last Name
Nordrum
Organization Name
Sharon K. Nordrum
State
MN
Phone
(218) 224-2622
Email
sharon.nordrum@laporte.k12.mn.us
Administered By
Administered by
Location

Griggs Midway Building, Suite 304,
540 Fairview Avenue North,
St. Paul, MN 55104

Phone
(651) 539-2650 or toll-free (800) 866-2787
Email the Agency