Artist Bruce Jacobson (SpiritWood Fine Jewelry) creates hand-crafted jewelry from selected sustainable hardwoods. Individually selected for distinct grain and features, sustainable hardwoods are shaped and contoured to accentuate the uniqueness and beauty of the wood. Bruce hand-shapes and finishes one-of-a-kind earring deisgns using a variety of woods: Plum, Mulberry, Koa, Ash, Purpleheart, Tulipwood, Blackwood, and more. To view the incredible selection of SpiritWood Fine Jewelry, visit brucejacobson.art/spiritwood

Created by: Dying to Film (www.dyingtofilm.com)

This project is made possible by ArtPlace America’s National Creative Placemaking Fund, awarded to Region Five Development Commission.

Ole Lake Farm is the home of the Flowers family. Since 1966, the same land has provided three generations of the Flowers family a place to live, work, hunt, and play.

Debby Flowers planned on being a produce farmer until she introduced her goat's milk soap at the farmers market. The soap was so popular, "now, I don't have time to grow produce," jokes Debby.

Depending on the season, Ole Lake Farm offers wheat, flour, corn (for cornmeal), rye, straw, eggs, pork, produce, straw, and of course, goat's milk soap.

Follow Ole Lake Farm's blog for a peek into life on the farm with great stories and pictures from Debby and her family: olelakefarm.blogspot.com.

Created by: Dying To Film (www.dyingtofilm.com)

This project is made possible by ArtPlaceAmerica’s National Creative Placemaking Fund, awarded to Region Five Development Commission.

​Artistic Contributors to the March 2019 Growers & Makers Marketplace Included:
Buddy King studied Community Development at St. Cloud State University (SCSU) and is a playwright, percussionist, and teaching artist. As Unit Director for the Roosevelt Boys and Girls Club in St. Cloud, MN, Buddy is engaged in numerous youth arts initiatives in the community and through the Club.

​Proskuneo Dance Ministry of Higher Ground Church was established in 2015. The name Proskuneo is from the Greek which means worship. The group is lead by choreographer Keshia Anderson King. This powerful dance expression pulls from a variety of dance forms including sign, mime, lyrical and African movements, to express the gospel through music and dance.

Debra Leigh is a dance artist and choreographer who has been creating dance in Central Minnesota since 1989 when she accepted the position as the Director of Dance at St. Cloud State University. Debra founded the Repertory Dance Theater and the Summer Dance Institute at SCSU, and the Multicultural Children’s Art Connection and the Full House Children’s Dance Company. Debra has choreographed for several shows at GREAT Theater in St. Cloud, including West Side Story, The Wiz, The Little Mermaid, Adams Family, Nunsense, and Ragtime. Debra earned her undergraduate degree at University of Missouri, Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance and a MFA from the University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana in Dance Performance and Pedagogy. Debra was a Fulbright Scholar in Indonesia and has taught at the Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

Janette Yiran is an educator and has a strong passion for community. She has been very dedicated to and engaged in enriching her community and many others over the years through her deep knowledge of symbolic African arts and tales. She loves sharing, and teaching African values through folktales, stories and symbols, to inspire and strengthen communities in our diverse and changing world. As Managing Director of Yiran African Arts and Designs, and the Fred Yiran Legacy Project, Janette is dedicated to the mission of Yiran Arts of connecting with the community by sharing Fred Yiran’s art work expanding the knowledge and understanding of African arts and culture.

Valeria Evans is a visual artist, born in Joliet Illinois in 1979 to Dorothy May Evans, a beautiful southern soulful gospel singer and community advocate. Being the youngest of five children, Valeria spent a lot of time in her imagination. "Since I can remember I have found freedom in the arts. To dance, sing, draw, decorate, stimulate the artistic growth of a peer, indulge in the beauty and or uniqueness of something or someone and to create has always fulfilled me in a way I can’t describe with words." Throughout her school career at SCSU, Valeria participated in the arts at every stage. As a mother of four, she has used the arts to broaden the minds of her children, their peers, and community. Valeria uses art to express herself and to create memorable moments for all who care to see. "After years of unknowingly limiting my artistic ability, I was blessed with an opportunity that opened my mind in many ways. It has ultimately unlocked my gift and shown me a level of potential that I never knew I had. I am blessed and extremely excited at every opportunity that presents itself because I see them with
new eyes and I experience a level of freedom that I for long lost. I find great pleasure in the sharing of my art and from the reactions of all who partake in it with me. I pray to touch the lives of everyone that I or my art comes in contact with. Thanks to everyone who supports my purpose, motivates my growth and shares my gift."

Danielle Daniels has a career that includes a wide variety of theater projects, storytelling programs, and workshops. Her tour shows, The Incarceration of Annie, and The Magic of Laughter, Spirit of Our Ancestors and Connecting through Stories, have been presented at the Southern Theater, Pillsbury House Theatre, Purdue University, Northwestern University, University of Louisville, Southern University, the Paramount Theater, St. Cloud, the University of Minnesota, and in Europe. She is the author of "Ghost of Old Man Willie", a children’s book. Danielle is a recipient of a LIN Grant, Minnesota State Arts Board Fellowship, Jerome Fellowship and Many Voices from the Playwrights’ Center. She has a B.A. degree in Communications from the University of Minnesota, and completed The Kennedy Performing Arts Center’s “Artists as Educator” program through Northern Iowa University. In addition to collecting and sharing stories, Danielle is a teaching artist, helping students of all ages find and develop their own creative voice and style.

Habso J. Mohamud is author of "It Only Takes One Yes!," a children’s book to inspire and ignite passions for positive change, no matter one’s age or background. A proud Somali American and first-generation graduate of St. Cloud State University, she holds a bachelor's degree in Geography Travel & Tourism and a masters in Global Education, Gender & Leadership Development. As a youth champion, social activist, and community advocate, she has traveled around the globe to speak on the importance of women and children’s education.

When is dinner more than just dinner? When stories are told. And connections made.

That's the premise of a new documentary, which focuses on the stories of immigrants and other minorities living in the small towns and rural areas of central Minnesota. "Who's At your Table?" brings together people of widely varying experiences to share a family-style meal and tell their stories - Where they came from, how their cultures shaped them, and how they find life and acceptance in Minnesota.

​A big thank you to Sprout MN and Arlene Jones for hosting and facilitating. Also, a big thank you to Region Five Development Commission and ArtPlace provided funding, along with assistance from Lakeland Public Broadcasting for giving us a place to share this piece.

On March 23, 2019, Yiran African Arts and Sprout MN partnered in giving the community a cultural experience to remember!

Visit: Yiran Arts (www.yiranarts.com)& Sprout MN (www.sproutmn.com)

FAH Bissap Tea is a brewed & bottled, tart & tangy hibiscus tea, steeped in my cultural history and journey from West Africa to Minnesota.

​FAH Tea’s story follows my own. Our hibiscus flowers are imported from the gateway to West Africa, Senegal, and our proceeds support the development of an orphanage, school, and clinic in Liberia. I became an orphan in Liberia when I lost my mother at the tender age of 10. Years of civil war and Ebola outbreak in Liberia have drastically increased the number of parent-less children. I brew this traditional tea to honor my mother and support these children who share this experience with me. 

I am entering FAH Tea to the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest, and you can help us increase the scale of our tea process & production by voting. Cast your vote every 24 hours until April 1st, and give us the chance to win $50,000 to build our business and support our mission.

Created by: Dying to Film (www.dyingtofilm.com). This project is made possible by ArtPlace America’s National Creative Placemaking Fund, awarded to Region Five Development Commission. 

Chef Jenna from Prairie Bay Grill prepares a special menu to show how tomatoes can be used in a variety of cultural dishes. What's on the menu? Click each dish below to get the recipe!​
​
PICKLED TOMATOES - RUSSIAN
PEBRE CON YUZU HALIBUT - CHILEAN
CAPRESE SALAD - ITALIAN
SHAKSHOUKA - NORTH AFRICAN

When we share a meal together, we share our stories. Who's at your table? Share your story with us here!

Sponsored by Region Five Development Commission and ArtPlaceAmerica.​

Recipes by Jenna Brower Von Siebolds:
​
​PICKLED TOMATOES - RUSSIAN

1. Sterilize the glass jars and lids in boiling water for a couple of minutes. Carefully pick out of the pot and sit them upside down on the clean tea towel to dry.
2. Wash your tomatoes and prick a little hole in the stem connection point of each one with a cocktail stick.
3. Put tomatoes mixed with larger herbs into jars tightly.
4. You'll need to estimate how much brine you need: Fill the jars with tomatoes with cold water to the top. Now, pour the water from the jars into the measuring cup and take notice of the volume. You will have to adjust the salt, sugar, vinegar and spices accordingly depending on that volume of water. 
5. Boil the kettle and fill the packed jars with hot water for 5 minutes. The boiling water will make the tomatoes' skins break, it is to be expected so don’t worry.
6. At the same time put the estimated volume of boiling water into a pot to make the pickling brine. Add salt, sugar and vinegar and mix the water with spoon until the salt and sugar are fully dissolved.
7. Pour the hot water out of the packed jars. Add the rest of smaller spices into the jars (black pepper, seeds, cloves and sliced garlic) and pour in the hot pickling brine up to the very top. Immediately cover the jars with the lids tightly and turn them upside down onto the tea towel. The lids are supposed to be sucked in straight away and there should not be any leakage. If there is you will have to redo the problem jar.
8. Cover the jars with a warm blanket to keep them hot for as long as possible. Let sit over night. The next day put the jars normally into the cupboard and store the pickled tomatoes at room temperature. Refrigerate after opening!

​PEBRE - CHILEAN

1. In a bowl add tomatoes, green onions, serrano pepper, garlic and cilantro. 
2. Add olive oil and lemon juice to the bowl and mix well.
3. Add salt and oregano to taste. Mix well.

​CAPRESE SALAD - ITALIAN

1. Layer alternating slices of tomatoes and mozzarella, adding a basil leaf between each, on a large, shallow platter.
2. Drizzle the salad with extra-virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

​

​SHAKSHOUKA - NORTH AFRICAN

1. Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan on medium heat. Add chopped bell pepper and onion and cook for 5 minutes or until the onion becomes translucent.
2. Add garlic and spices and cook an additional minute.
3. Pour tomatoes into the pan and break down the tomatoes using a large spoon. Season with salt and pepper and bring the sauce to a simmer.
4. Use your large spoon to make small wells in the sauce and crack the eggs into each well. Cover the pan and cook for 5-8 minutes, or until the eggs are done to your liking.
5. Garnish with chopped cilantro and parsley.

Created by: Ryan White Photography & Design. This project is made possible by ArtPlace America’s National Creative Placemaking Fund, awarded to Region Five Development Commission.

Leech Lake Early Childhood has been making many strides to revitalize language and indigenous foods. Ryan White Photography & Design, a Leech Lake local company, captures these budding initiatives in a powerful and artistic manner to show the strength within the Leech Lake communities. Using a combined skill set White beautifully weaves together the many parts of this cultural and community revitalization movement.

​For more information about Ryan White Photography & Design or the Leech Lake Early Childhood please see the following links:  
facebook.com/RyanWhitesPhotographyDesign
llboearlychildhood.com/headstart

Miigwech.

Leech Lake Early Childhood Development:
Aabinoojii Oshkii Bimadiziiwin Center (AOB)

The creative commissioned projects showcased in the video engaged five local artists:

Sharon Nordrum: Sharon is an experienced artist that started painting in 2012. Her inspiration comes from her dreams, her Ojibwe heritage, language, and stories and the natural world. Her work is filled with traditional Ojibwe symbolism. She is active in the communities of northern Minnesota and they range from art projects, youth work and radio shows. She has been a member of the Indigenous Foods Experts’ committee which keyed the foods highlight in AOB’s Farm to Early Care initiative and has been a key piece to its success in the classroom and in the kitchen. For this project, she created the traditional floral designs with needle felt work and taught of how we use our surroundings in our art and how they connect to tell a story.

Lolly Aguilar: Lolly is an experienced artist and has offered various classes with women teaching them different techniques and teachings that go along with her art as well as teaching involving the Three Sisters. She is a lover of mandaamin (corn) and reaches beyond central Minnesota to become known as “the corn lady” in the tribal communities of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. She has been gifted many beautiful corn seeds, teachings and stories from all across Turtle Island and Mexico. One of the teachings she highlighted during this project is how to make the traditional corn husk dolls and the teachings of mandaamin and the Three Sisters. She created a beautiful corn husk doll that is now displayed at Sprout.

Wesley Mays: Wesley is an experienced artist whose art gained popularity in 2011 and later evolved into authentic Native American Wearable Art. He views his art as a positive image for ourselves and has provided a positive influence and a positive example with the words and images he shares with everyone he comes into contact with. His art and his businesses help him raise American Indian people up, increase self-esteem, and increase pride in one self. Wesley created a collaborative canvased painting with some of the youth and families that are part of the Leech Lake Early Childhood program. This provided a more modern take on indigenous paintings and highlighted the importance of those teachings and the impact of community.

Ryan White: Ryan is an experienced artist with 5 years of professional photography. He currently works with the Leech Lake Tribal College (LLTC) as their Multimedia & Marketing Specialist and also does professional photography outside the LLTC and at several community events. He has captured amazing photos from different cultural events and the community of Leech Lake as a whole. He documented the various teachings through photographs and video and compiled them to create the video above. This highlights the intergenerational transfer of knowledge and skills in Indigenous culture as a whole and the methods and the meanings of their stories told through their art.

David Northbird: Dave is currently the Director of Operations of the Boys and Girls Club of the Leech Lake Area. Dave is a life long learner of Anishinaabe song and dance culture. Dave has instructed drum teachings in the Leech Lake area for 20 years in the Cass Lake-Bena School District, Boys and Girls Club, and Leech Lake Tribal College. Drum making is an important part of a singers development so learning how to construct ones owe drum provides a high level of respect for his/her drum.

This project was facilitated by Claire Chase, Leech Lake Area SNAP-Ed Coordinator.