FY22 Veterans Memorial Grant
This solid steel memorial with attached didactic plaques will celebrate Minnesota?s women veterans and their prominence in the military from 1948 to present, representing nearly 75 years of Minnesota women's service to the Nation. The outcome of the work will be an inviting and reflective space where representative female veterans can be honored and recognized by the community. It will be created by collaboration between real Minnesota veterans and our artist community. Artists from both groups will be the driving force of this memorial creation and will be duly recognized.
The memorial would be a carbon steel metal silhouette sculpture of 2 women figures. These silhouette figures reflecting military branches that our Minnesota Women Veterans have served. Each veteran will direct the design herself with the help of another artist as needed. We are fortunate to have a strong art community in Minnesota, including membership of the Rumriver Art Center in Anoka County who will be influential in the completion of the silhouette figure sculpture project and all steps to successfully completing the memorial.
The silhouette sculptures will be made out of powder coated carbon steel and will be able to be moved periodically for maximum effect and exposure. The silhouettes will be hinged together and then bolted to the base. The size of the sculpture is 10 feet high and 4 feet wide. The original location will at the Veterans Administration Building in Ramsey. A sampling of mobile locations include; the Rumriver Art Center in Anoka, Ramsey City Hall, at The Draw Summer Concert Series, the annual Elmcrest Art Fair in Ramsey Et. al. Other public venues and jurisdictions will also be invited to host the exhibit at opportune times.
The Grant Funds provided by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund will be used to design, create and construct the silhouette figure sculpture memorial (including the attendant plaques) - as well as the initial installation.
Martin Howes, Veteran; Ashley Laganiere, Veteran; Lul Osman, OGM; Sarah Hernandez, OGM; Greg Peterson, Veteran; Jenna Schmidtke, Veteran; Kenneth Voigt, Veteran
$72,750 in Fiscal Year 2022 and $72,750 in Fiscal Year 2023 are for a competitive grants program to provide grants to local units of government for veterans memorials to preserve the culture and heritage of Minnesota. The local unit of government must provide a nonstate cash match equal to the amount of the grant received under this paragraph.?
Quantitative. Reflected in the number of visitors to the monument. Including Veterans from the NW Metro VA Clinic. People using the site for their lunch break from neighboring businesses and housing. Number of attendees at veteran celebration on site. Number of visitors using to Train to come and visit the site.
Qualitative: The viewer of the memorial will find reflections of our Minnesota Female Veterans, their personal stories and their military experiences and branch affiliates. They will gain a better understanding of the history and strength of the women veterans of Minnesota. They will recognize the accomplishments of these woman veterans and feel a pride for them. They may finally recognize that, yes, we are here. They may feel contemplative and enveloped in the experience.