As an Indigenous person the concept of home is one that can fill me with deep gratitude and visceral rage. The rates of homelessness for Native people is 10% though we represent 1.5% of the population. And these are not just statistics, chances are if I see a Native person on the corner of Lake St, Lake Ave, I will know either them or we will know the same people. This is a reminder how most of us are only a few paychecks and rough times away from that same hard life. Every person deserves the integrity of a home. And as the powerful art installation in Minneapolis by Courtney Cochran states "Noone was homelessness before 1492". As Native people...
On a steamy 98 degree day, over 24 volunteers, 4 youth hired artists, and Heart Berry’s Giizh Agaton Howes created the Mazini-Miikana (Painted Trail) a large scale mural on the Spingboard for the Arts building in St Paul. Colorfully painted with trillium, berries, our beloved wild rice, oak leaves, and the vine that connects all covers the entrance to this dynamic artist hub. “Celebrating our beautiful foods and art with this outpouring of support really shows how powerful our art is. Community, art, and entrepreneurship, is the heart of what Heart Berry is about” Giizh, Heart Berry Following the collaboration with Holly Young (Standing Rock) wrapping the whole building with a stunning art installation of Dakota and Ojibwe women sharing...
“The Great Rice Race” Mural by Heart Berry’s Sarah Agaton Howes now at the Duluth Children's Museum Our mural shares the fun and work of wild rice harvesting, canoeing, and the animals that share our ecosystem (our earth) with us. Going ricing is a fun time of community, sharing, full of stories and hard work. “I love to hear the stories the old guys tell of their amazing rice harvests or the time they tipped their canoe, this mural depicts the fun and also the work of this beautiful way of life.” In the Great Rice Race, Rabbit and Turtle playfully race while Bear, tired from a long day naps on the canoe. Fish and Otter watch the excitement while...
Heart Berry is so excited to announce we have been awarded the Native Presence Mural for the new Springboard Arts building
Our project will launch in Dakota territory in St Paul! We decided to bring a collaboration forward with the incredible ledger artist Holly Young and photographer Nedahness Greene. Artists Howes and Young will collaborate on a piece bringing the story forward about the relationship between Dakota and Ojibwe people. Greene will create a series highlighting the tribal communities in Minnesota.
Stay tuned for updates and photos!
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Today Mayor Emily Larson, Ordean Foundation President Don Ness, and Arrowhead Regional Arts Council Direct Drew Digby, unveiled the new "Center of Good Things" murals alongside myself and our community on the Ordean Building. When I was asked to submit a proposal for this project on the Ordean building, I took it as an opportunity to learn, ask questions, and look closely. Because inside this building is incredible work to support our community through the arts, direct service, and philanthropy. And outside and underneath this building are the stories, the history, and the land and water. My brother Tom Howes told me about when Chief Biauswa talked about this place so full of wildlife, food, and medicine that it was...
