Art in This
Present Moment
A Celebration of Minnesota Artists and Their Work
Art in This Present Moment is an initiative of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation that provides support to artists who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color who are changing and challenging dominant narratives through their craft.
The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation is pleased to announce our fifth group of Art in This Present Moment grantees. We have partnered with three organizations, each of which has selected two artists who will work on a project that responds to something significant to them in this present moment.
This year, we are working with Ananya Dance Theatre, Dakota Wicohan, and One Voice Mixed Chorus.
About the Organizations
We appreciate the following partner organizations for identifying and selecting the participating artists.
Ananya Dance Theatre (ADT) is an ensemble company of transnational feminist professional dance artists who create and perform social justice choreography.
Their selected artists this year are Kealoha Ferreira, who is working on a new solo dance project called Inoa, and Queen Drea, who is creating a multimedia visual album.
Visit Ananya Dance Theatre's Website
Dakota Wicohan works to revitalize the Minnesota Dakota language, known as the eastern or D-dialect.
Their chosen artists are Raine Cloud, who works in multiple mediums such as beadwork, moccasins, quillwork and textiles, and Rochelle Lamebull, who creates innovative pottery based in Dakota tradition.
Visit Dakota Wicohan's Website
One Voice Mixed Chorus is one of Minnesota’s largest and most vibrant LGBTQIA+ and straight ally choruses.
One Voice has chosen artist Butchy Austin of Brass Solidarity — a convergence of musicians, activists, and community members using their sound as a voice for justice and an advocate for Black Lives — as well as their artistic director, Waigwa, who is an educator dedicated to the goal of intentional music making.
Visit One Voice Mixed Chorus’ Website2024 Artists
Juana Garcia: Celebrating Cultural Traditions Through Dance
Dance has been a way for Juana (Jaynie) Garcia to connect to her Mexican heritage, introducing Ballet Folklorico to others in the city of Willmar.
See the project
Drumming for Unity: A Vision for Community Change
Created by John Salgado Maldonado, Cimarrón Batucada uses the art of drumming to address social justice issues and promote cross-cultural community engagement.
See the project
From Lab to Stage: Kenji Shoemaker's Unique Path in Theater
There’s a unique art and science to prop and stage design. These skills helped former scientist Kenji Shoemaker switch careers, showcasing his talents behind the curtains.
See the project
Sara Ochs: Bridging Theater and Music in a New Artistic Journey
Sara Ochs is a multidisciplinary theater artist and songwriter. With support from Art in This Present Moment, Sara will be exploring her talents as a songwriter, writing new music and potentially a one woman play.
See the project
Mother and Son Duet Bridges the Gap Between Old and New
Mothers often have close relationships with their sons, but in the case of Maria Biagetti Cortez and Vladimir Garrido-Biagetti, that bond is deeply immersed in their culture and music.
See the project
Songs of Connection: Conductor Strives to Desegregate the Choral Community
Music is a universal language, and no one knows that more than Ahmed Fernando Anzaldúa El Samkary.
See the project2022 Artists
Suzanne Victoria Cross: Exploring Her Story to Help Others
In her theatrical one woman piece, This is How We Stand, Suzanne Victoria Cross explores the ideals of empathy and understanding through storytelling and movement.
Watch the video
Indigo: A Music, Dance and Video Project
Indigo is a Hmong girl group created by Lucy Vang, Nancy Thor and Alexis Vang, whose goal is to shine light on their community through music and dance.
View the Artists' Work
Sharon Day and Sir Curtis Kirby III Honor Loved Ones through Art
Grandmother Sharon Day and her grandson Sir Curtis Kirby III honor loved ones who have passed on by doing a series of ofrendas celebrating the lives they lived.
View the Artists' Work
Immortalizing Moments with Artist Thai Phan-Quang
For Art In This Present Moment, Thai Phan-Quang uses his passions for skateboarding and photography to create an innovative project using photo graffiti.
Watch the video
Chief Buffalo Memorial Mural
The Chief Buffalo Memorial Mural in Duluth visually tells the story of a community and the descendants of Chief Buffalo, remembered as a prominent figure in northern Minnesota.
View the Mural
Dudley Edmondson Sheds Light on a Fellow Photographer
Dudley Edmondson is best known for photography depicting his love for nature, but for his most recent project, he decided to take on a human subject, Walter Griffin.
See the project2021 Artists
Broderick Poole
Artist Broderick Poole showcases his artistry by shining light on prominent Black leaders through jacket patchwork.
View the Artist's Work
Kazua Melissa Vang
Artist Kazua Melissa Vang uses photography and mixed media art to preserve the legacy of her father and tell the stories of her family and Hmong heritage.
View the Artist's Work
Robin Hickman-Winfield
Robin Hickman-Winfield celebrates the stories, elegance, beauty and talent of Black men and women through soulful dolls.
See the Art
The Manidoo Ogitigaan Artist Collective
The Birch Bark Canoe was created by the Manidoo Ogitigaan Artist Collective, a group of Indigenous artists who work to preserve the teachings, practices and traditions of their people through traditional Anishinaabeg art forms.
View the Artists' Work
Thomas Stillday, Jr.
Thomas Stillday, Jr. is an Indigenous beadwork artist who mixes unique stitching techniques with a distinct choice of colors to create unique Ojibwe designs on bandolier bags.
View the Artist's Work
Xavier Tavera
Latinx in Rural Midwest consists of film and photography from Xavier Tavera as part of an ongoing series about the Latinx community and their unique historic tie to American land.
View the Artist's Work2020 Artists
AICHO
Artists painted a mural that aims to bring color and life to Duluth’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, utilizing Anishinaabe symbolism to shed light on the city’s Indigenous history.
Watch the video
Brownbody
Artists develop the score to Tracing Sacred Steps, which Brownbody initially presented in April 2019 as a work-in-progress.
Watch the video
Catalyst Arts
Artists form a collaborative on a Black/queer living & cultural experience in an RV while following their acting, writing and filmmaking dreams.
Watch the video
Don’t You Feel It Too?
Don’t You Feel It Too? is a movement meditation practice, and part of our Art In This Present Moment series.
Watch the video
Gizhiigin Arts Incubator
Artists Clyde Estey, Jr., and Kent Estey collaborate on a work reflective of their shared artistic upbringing in the White Earth Nation.
View the photos
Indigenous Roots
A new mural in Saint Paul by Indigenous Roots and City Mischief Murals celebrates four Twin Cities multicultural women dancers and the strength, beauty & power we hold when uniting our communities together.
Watch the video
Million Artist Movement
Million Artist Movement worked on two collaborative art projects – a quilt sourced from community and a project based around food sovereignty.
Watch the video
Monkeybear's Harmolodic Workshop
Artists created a shadow puppet piece to share narratives and stories from the uprising in the Twin Cities.
Watch the video
Penumbra Theatre
Penumbra company member Hannibal Lokumbe composed an original score for a video in tribute to George Floyd and all of the victims of state-sanctioned violence. Sarah Bellamy wrote the narrative and she and Lou Bellamy provide the voice overs.
Watch the video
Soomaal House of Art
This Minneapolis-based Somali artists’ collective supports a growing number of emerging and established Somali artists.
Learn More
TruArtSpeaks
TruArtSpeaks highlights the work of a dancer and ceramicist who center the Black experience in their art.
Watch the video
Walker West
Walker West Music Academy worked with musician William E. Duncan to bring a new composition to life.
Watch the video