Minot Arts Podcast: a MAP to the Arts in Small Town America

Katie Ortman, Program Manager at Arts Midwest, sits down with Justin and Chandell to talk about her work with the World Fest program, the benefits of cultural exchange, particularly in rural communities, and the importance of showing up.

Chandell and Justin sit down to talk with Okra Playground’s Päivi Hirvonen and Veikko Muikku to discuss their personal journeys toward using music to share and celebrate their Finnish traditions through Okra Playground’s unique electro-folk sound with audiences all over the world. They speak on the important role that music education played in their lives, the band’s collaborative and research-based creative process, the rich musical traditions that are woven into the history of Finnish culture, and the sometimes-eerie relevance that old stories have in our modern world. Päivi and Veikko share some of their favorite experiences from their US residencies through Arts Midwest’s World Fest program, reflect on why the opportunity has been important to them, and share their advice for aspiring artists.

Local artist Arvin K. Davis Jr. joins Justin and Chandell to discuss creativity’s inherently compulsive nature, finding inspiration and renewed artistic freedom in the seemingly absurd, confronting the vulnerability of pursuing art as a profession, his perspective on the evolution of Minot’s arts ecosystem, and the hard work and collaboration that goes into building a sustainable arts hub in a growing rural community. Arvin reflects on the debut of the Candy Clown experience, shares an update on his on-going DOOM Banana project, and encourages us to look for art in unexpected places!

Mixed media fiber artist and Executive Director of the Taube Museum of Art, Rachel Alfaro, joins Justin and Chandell to discuss finding and following her passion for art, and how that journey led this native-Floridian to discovering her place in Minot’s art world. She discusses her philosophy of giving ALL artists a platform to share their works and gives us the run-down of upcoming exhibits at the Taube, their arts education programming, and shares her excitement about part of an international collection that will soon be calling Minot home!

Episode 1: In the Minot Arts Podcast premier, Justin and Chandell chat with local artist, community organizer, and co-owner of Prairie Sky Breads, Jazmine Schultz. Jazmine discusses her experience growing up as a creative in a rural environment, her passion for cultivating community, the benefits and challenges presented to artists in smaller communities and leaves us all with some inspiration and advice on how to be better champions of the arts in our local art scenes.