Cultivate Bottineau: Culture, Community and Commerce
Cultivate Bottineau: Culture, Community, and Commerce is a collaborative effort to activate spaces, build connections, celebrate diversity, and promote opportunity through local artist-led creative placemaking projects in the Bottineau Corridor where the planned Bottineau Light Rail Transit line will run.
With support from the McKnight Foundation, this work is coordinated by Hennepin County Bottineau Community Works and Springboard for the Arts, in partnership with the cities of Minneapolis, Golden Valley, Robbinsdale, Crystal, and Brooklyn Park, and other community partners.
Cultivate Bottineau Artists in the Community
Artists who live, work, or have a connection to one or more of the Bottineau corridor cities (North Minneapolis, Golden Valley, Robbinsdale, Crystal, Brooklyn Park), are using their creative talents to benefit their neighborhood, local businesses and organizations at these events this summer:
Tater Daze, June 15, 12PM-3PM, Brooklyn Park (Completed)
Featuring Angela Davis (Design a light rail train activity), Laura Galaviz (Get your portrait drawn), Geno Okok (African mask painting Activity) and Holly Nelson (Make a braided bracelet and “Your Face Here” cut-out).
Whiz Bang Days, July 12, 5PM- 8PM, Robbinsdale (Completed)
Featuring Keiona Cook (Felting activity), Angela Davis (Design a light rail train activity), Susana di Palma (Flamenco dance lesson and performance) and Laura Galaviz (Get your portrait painted).
Woody Bat Softball Tournament, July 13, 1PM- 3PM, Robbinsdale (Completed)
Featuring Susana di Palma (Flamenco dance lesson and performance), Kristi Evanger (Plein air painting activity), Elisa Oliva (Salsa dance lesson) and Ange Hwang (Youth-led arts activities).
Market in the Valley Family Day, July 28th 9AM-12PM, Golden Valley
Featuring Keiona Cook (Felting activity), Mia Johnson (Dance charades), Nick Knutson (Robot dance party), David Kang (Photo competition), Holly Nelson (Make a braided bracelet and "Your Face here" cut-out), Patti Paulson (Make and take lawn signs) and Ange Hwang (Youth-led arts activities).
Community Celebrations, August 24th 1PM-4PM, Minneapolis
Featuring Angela Davis (Design a light rail train activity), Susana di Palma (Flamenco dance lesson and performance), Laura Galaviz (Get your portrait painted), Ange Hwang (Youth-led arts activities), Mia Johnson (Dance charades), Carolyn Sayers (Community painting activity), Peter Jamus Holme (Polaroid photo booth), Nick Knutson (Robot dance party) and David Kang (Photo competition).
Downtown Meet and Greet, September 9th, 5PM-8PM, Robbinsdale
Featuring Kristi Evanger (Plein air painting activity), Peter Jamus Holme (Polaroid photo booth), Mia Johnson (Dance charades), Holly Nelson (Make a braided bracelet and "Your Face here" cut-out), Geno Okok (African mask painting activity) and Carolyn Sayers (Community painting activity).
Market in the Valley Eat an Apple Day, September 15, 9AM- 12PM, Golden Valley
Featuring Kristi Evanger (Plein air painting activity), Peter Jamus Holme (Polaroid photo booth), Elisa Olivia (Salsa dance lesson), Geno Okok (African mask painting activity) and Patti Paulson (Make and take lawn signs).
Art on the Strip Festival, September 28th, 10AM-1PM, Crystal
Featuring Keiona Cook (Felting activity), David Kang (Photo competition), Nick Knutson (Robot dance party), Elisa Oliva (Salsa dance lesson), Patti Paulson (Make and take lawn signs) and Carolyn Sayers (Community painting activity).
Cultivate Bottineau Artists- Art in the Public Realm
- Robot Park by Nick Knutson (Community Plaza Elements; Brooklyn Park, MN)
Engage and explore, with the new robot activity and recreation space! Gather with friends and family to watch performances on the stepped stage. Enjoy the cozy and cool seating areas; perfect for games, picnics or watching performances. Gaze into the glowing eyes of the robot, and maybe see a familiar face hanging out inside the robot's head! Fun and adventures to be had at 85th and Broadway, just west of the Brooklyn Park Library building. (See concept art: Concept / photo)
- Stand UP! by Shawn McCann (Mural; Crystal, MN)
- Pop-up Printshop! by Amy Sands and Gretchen Mathiason (Mobile Unit; Minneapolis and Golden Valley)
This mobile unit will attend community events and participants will be able to make/take home a monotype print using found (or provided) foliage, celebrating the nature that surrounds and connects all of us. (Website.)
- ROOTED Mobile Engagement Stage by Marcus Kar (Mobile Unit; Minneapolis and Golden Valley)
Rooted is a community engagement tool. A mobile stage equipped with a PA system, seating, and shelter, made of wood, and build on a boat trailer that attaches to any vehicle with a hitch. This project is apart of a long history of creative space making collaboration between Marcus Kar (Musician, Organizer, and Program Director in North Minneapolis) and Peter S. MacDonald (Architect). (See concept art.) (Website/ Facebook for Marcus Kar / Facebook for Free Range Music Cooperative / Bandcamp.)
- Cart of CINEMA (Community Improvement, News, & Engagement through Media Arts) by David Kang (Mobile Unit; Minneapolis and Golden Valley)
Cart of CINEMA is a mobile tool for people to engage in community projects through media arts and technology. Community members will be attracted to Cart of CINEMA by the multiple screens showing short movies and the smell of popcorn. Then, they will be drawn in further by the media arts activities we will be hosting around the theme of the Bottineau LRT: a mini film festival for folks to watch and judge a short film competition and a media arts studio for people create their own media artwork. (Website.)
COMPLETED PROJECTS (2018)
- Stayci Bell (art installation), Destination Unknown
A community-informed art installation.
- Josh Bindewald (art installation), Gardens Doing Good
Now on display. Go to Robbinsdale City Hall to see designs for the vinyl wrap that will be installed this spring. The artistic and informative vinyl wrap will cover the generator at Robbinsdale City Hall. You can also see the design here.
- Keiona Cook (art-making experience/felting), Felting Fun Coaster Contest
January 19, Homewood Studios, 2400 Plymouth Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55411. Community members will learn about felting and have fun creating a coaster set for a loved one or for themselves.
- Nancy Cook (art-making experience/writing), Writing the Autobiography of a Northside Neighborhood
October 27, November 10, November 17, 10am – 12pm. Sumner Library, 611 Van White Memorial Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55411. Participants will experiment with poems and stories to capture the rich history and culture of North Minneapolis neighborhoods.
- Angela Davis (art-making experience) Design a Train at Sumner Library
October 27, 2 – 4pm, Sumner Library, 611 Van White Memorial Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55411. By creating and coloring paper light rail trains, this experience will give community members a sense of connection to the blue line extension and their neighbors.
- Kristi Evanger (art-making experience/painting), Paint the Town, Robbinsdale
September 15, 22, 29, October 6 and 13. 6 locations around Robbinsdale. A gathering of artists painting outdoors in Robbinsdale. See photos here.
- N'Kol Imani Dowls (photography), Envision Us Whole
An outdoor photo gallery.
- Darren Isaacson, Reid Jarvi and Jeremey Paulson (dance event), Innovate
February 24, 4 - 10pm, Asian Media Access, 2418 Plymouth Avenue N, Minneapolis, MN 55411. Youth-led, hip-hop dance battle. See event poster here.
- Snoti Jappah (music performance), Music in Crystal
December 28, 2018, Rostamo's Bar. Original music and song requests from the audience.
- Callie Kalogerson (cultural music performance), L'Chaim a Jewish Musical Journey
November 17, 1- 2pm, Brooklyn Park Library, 8500 W Broadway Ave, Brooklyn Park, MN, 55443. Community members will hear and learn about various styles of Jewish music.
- Chris Kalogerson (music performance), Music From around the World
November 26, 1 - 2pm, Copperfield Hill, 4200 40th Avenue North, Robbinsdale, MN, 55422. Performance of music from various countries around the world.
- Mary Kalogerson (music performance), A Greek Wedding
August 24, Becker Park, 6225 56th N Ave, Crystal, MN. A cultural music experience.
- Mira Kehoe and Ray Kivlahan (music/multimedia performance), Art on the Line
September 14, 63rd Avenue Park and Ride, 7000 63rd Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55428. A multi-cultural art and music experience featuring Brazilian music, an African drum circle, and visual art.
- Nicholas Knutson (video), Northern Explorer
January 16, 2019, 7 - 9pm. CCX Media, 6900 Winnetka Ave N, Brooklyn Park. An artsy, fun, 5 minute informational video tour of the area surrounding the 85th Avenue light rail station. See the trailer here.
- Caron Learned (art-making experience/mosaic), Piece it Together
September 16, October 3, November 4, December 2, Crystal Community Center, 4800 Douglas Drive North, Crystal, MN 55429. In this introduction to mosaic art, students will complete one project: a mosaic mirror or wall pane.
- Lola (dance/fitness event), Witness the Fitness
November 8, 6:30 - 8pm, 8432 Xerxes Avenue, Brooklyn Park, MN, 55444. Zumba and dance routine featuring Caribbean, Latin, Afro fusion, Calypso, and Hip-Hop to get the community moving and motivated to live an active life.
- Devonne Mayweather, Shardae Robinson and Cici Turner (music event), R "n" Believe
November 9, 7 - 10pm, 7500 Brunswick Avenue North, Brooklyn Park, 55443. An artist showcase.
- Jila Nikpay and Mike Terati (video), Blue Line Conversation
September 16. United Minneapolis Church, 4000 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, MN 55422. Screening of a 4-minute video exploring people's perception about the impact of the Blue Rail Extension on their lives and the natural environment around Golden Valley Station.
- Geno Okok (mural), African Market Mural
September 26. An abstract mural was painted on the African Market building.
- Lili Payne (installation/painting), Visit the Beehive Grill
A painting depicting a family enjoying a summer's grilling at the "Beehive" in Graeser Park. Displayed at Robbinsdale Historical Society.
- Amy Sands and Gretchen Mathiason (art-making experience/printmaking), Pop-up Print Shop!
August 11 and September 2. Homewood Studios, 2400 Plymouth Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55411. Participants made and took home a stratograph print using found foliage, celebrating the nature that surrounds and connects all of us.
- Laura Stigen, Jason Flynn and Tay Tep (performance), One Mic + One Canvas = Open Minds
February 23, 2 - 4pm, Brooklyn Park Library, 8500 W Broadway Ave, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443. Community events and open mic performances with a painted mobile backdrop.
- Hawona Sullivan (art installation/poetry), Our Lives are on This Line
February 16, 12pm, North Regional Library, 1315 Lowry Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55418. A poetry reading and writing workshop (workshop will immediately follow the poetry reading).
- Sue Trosvig (stained glass), Roll on into Beautiful Golden Valley
December 9, 10am - 12pm, Saint Margaret Mary Church, 2323 Zenith Ave N, Golden Valley, MN 55422; final installation spring 2019. A stained glass sculpture.
- Bryan Thao Worra (interdisciplinary pop-ups), Laomaginition: Transitions
October 19, 3 – 5pm, outdoors clearly visible from the proposed Van White station Blue Line Station (Corner of VanWhite blvd. and Olson mem HWY). Community members will participate and share in traditional folk arts, storytelling, creative gaming, poetry, and performance arts centered around themes of community, transition, imagination and memory.
- Brittany Wright (community dialogue and video), Community Dialogue and Pie Sharing
February 19, EMI Audio, 4719 42nd Ave N, Robbinsdale, MN 55422. A community dialogue and pie sharing in partnership with Rose McGee and Sweet Potato Comfort Pies (see the video created here).
Keep an eye out this spring/summer for more Cultivate projects!
For more information about Cultivate, contact Sam Buffington