Community Arts

Art in the Hollow encourages artists to demonstrate their process as they display their work. Some examples of how this goal was met this year include the Karen Weavers, whose booth included a loom to show the weaving process. The Midwestern Avian Adoption and Rescue Services booth featured photographs of rescued birds painting the art that was on display. Another example was the “Pop-Up Ting,” which explained and demonstrated the artistic elements of a classical China garden. This year we excelled at attracting exhibitors who were new to Art in the Hollow, and in some cases, who were displaying their work for the first time. Cameren Torgerud from the newly opened “Studio Payne” gallery commented, “Everything went well for me!” First time outdoor exhibitor Saskia Nichols of Sheherazade’s Daughters commented, “I have ideas for next year already!” Potter Joanie Miller commented, “I sold my pottery for the first time there and did well.” The goal of recruiting talent via our immediate ethnic community was also met this year. One great example is the American Indian Magnet School dancers and drummers, who explained the meaning behind each dance they performed and invited the community to join them in a pow-wow as a finale. A volunteer commented, “What I love best about our community is our diversity. Art in the Hollow provided opportunity to speak with women whose culture is new to me, 20 somethings finding a path in life, artists describing their work, and friends.” Local students were integrally involved. We were delighted to have the East Side Thrive after school program return to present a musical production about Swede Hollow history. Johnson High School students sold ceramics at the Teen Activities tent and youth from the Dayton’s Bluff Recreation Center staffed the Kids Activities tent. Other successes this year included: Improved sound for the performance stage, which was powered by a solar generator for the first time. Hope Community Academy has been a great partner, providing a rain site and parking free of charge. In spite of some issues with recruiting artists, the sculpture contest was much better than last year and we had excellent entries. Many artists reported successful sales, including potter Carin Ekstrand, who said “I did better at Art in the Hollow than Grand Old Days the next day.” There also seemed to be great camaraderie among the exhibitors, and one first-timer said “I did learn a lot about what it takes to be in an art fair. Other vendors near me were very nice and helpful.” Challenges included: We had slightly fewer exhibitors (45 total) and attendees this year (1500 total), probably due to the forecast which predicted rain all day, and we did get a brief shower. Some volunteers and a few exhibitors expressed exhaustion due to the physical demands of the location and not enough support. Some exhibitors said the sites were a bit cramped and requested that the grass be cut back more. Outreach included social media (Facebook, artinthehollow.org), flyers at local businesses, and a press release that was distributed to local media (including St. Paul Pioneer Press, Minneapolis Star Tribune, East Side Review, and Dayton’s Bluff District Forum). This year for the first time MPR broadcast an interview with organizer Romi Slowiak. The CABARET! “East Side’s Got Talent” fundraising event was a great success and had the benefit of attracting new talented performers and serving as a preview to the Art in the Hollow Festival for the community. We make Art in the Hollow accessible to our low-income community by offering a day of performances, artistic demonstrations, and public sculpture free of charge. We also offer affordable entry fees for exhibitors and vendors. To help meet the physical challenges of this venue, volunteers provided assistance with set-up and tear-down. We also provided dollies to help artists carry their materials to the sites. The police returned this year to offer assistance with their “mule” mini car. The Wise Elders history booth was relocated to a more central location to make it easier to access, especially for the elderly. Some exhibitors were also located above the park entrance so they would not have to transport their materials up and down the steep tunnel. We will continue to offer this option at future festivals. In spite of its challenges, Swede Hollow Park remains a beloved location. An exhibitor commented “This is a beautiful way to introduce people to the park…I saw a bluebird, a hummingbird, and cardinals!” Another vendor described the park as “magical.” While difficult to quantify, Art in the Hollow is a gathering where our community uses art to connect with our history, our diverse cultures, and with nature. East Side resident Cathy Saunders commented “I made an effort to let all of the vendors I visited know that I appreciated them sharing their talents with the neighborhood. It certainly has made an impressive impact on my life…”