Art in the Alley will run from August 16th through the Holiday Stroll.
Some items may be removed due to weather considerations. New items may be placed at any time, so keep your eyes on our Facebook Page for updates!
The "Art in the Alley Challenge" is designed to turn overlooked spaces in downtown Red Wing into vibrant, engaging places, through the power of community art. This project will invite local artists and creatives to produce site-specific installations and interactive art pieces; turning hidden spaces into destinations that celebrate creativity and community spirit. We want a wide variety of people, art forms, and ideas. Winners will be funded up to/not exceeding $300 for materials.
Check out our Art in the Alley Challenge Winners!
Artist: Ashley Andrews Title: Visible Light Spectrum Description: I love this wall. The different windows and door that leads to nowhere had me immediately thinking of ways to connect them together. This project has become more than just an art piece and really showed me how important community is. It felt good having someone around to help me out with the whole thing, even when things were feeling a little bumpy. Thanks Stacy for all your help and for your brain. Thanks Katie for letting me borrow your ladder. Bio: Ashley Andrews is a BFA graduate from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls with an emphasis in printmaking and drawing. She also has interests in ceramics and choral music. She moved to Red Wing shortly after graduating and began her involvement in the art community when working at Red Wing Arts. Always having an interest in art (no matter what the form), Andrews connects to her audience through familiar imagery and expressive line work. She often switches between mediums, although printmaking and ceramics have remained at the forefront in recent years. You can find some of her works at the Red Wing Arts Depot Gallery.
Artist: Heidi Bacon Title: “A Very Hungry Monarch Caterpillar” Description: I love seeing ordinary utility boxes and pipes transformed into lovable characters. For many years I’ve admired the creativity exhibited through these art renditions and have wanted to create one myself one day. That day is now! By using spray paint, I’ve chosen to transform a multiple meter unit into one of Minnesota’s pollinator favorites - a Monarch caterpillar. Bio: Heidi Bacon was born in LaCrosse, WI and grew up across the Midwest including Southern Minnesota. Heidi has lived in a diversity of places including Colorado on her hobby farm/petting zoo and Paola, KS (an iconic small town much like “Mayberry”). Heidi has been living in Red Wing since 2015 where she has continued showing her artwork regionally, participating in Red Wing Plein Air and winning first place for consecutive years in the Mantorville Stagecoach Days Plein Air. Tying nature to art through workshops, demonstrations, and murals, she has worked in conjunction with the Frontenac and Whitewater State Park. In 2018 Heidi founded and leads The Artist Sanctuary, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to be a catalyst for artist success (currently located in a historic repurposed church building but soon to relocate to downtown Red Wing). Heidi has been a featured artist on the public television show “Let’s Go, Minnesota!” and an illustrator in The Artist Catalog, Today, and Country Living magazines. “How to Make Grandma Skarstad’s Lefse”, the children’s book “My Grandma Makes Lefse”, and Operation Pollination all showcase her illustrative talents. Heidi is an author and filmmaker (participant in the Sundance Producers Conference) and released her first book “Ratliner” in August, 2024. https://www.facebook.com/heidibacon.artist https://www.instagram.com/heidibacon1/
Artist: Chrono Ronan Title: “The Bird in Boots” Description: “The Bird in Boots” is a character from a storybook that I haven't yet written, but has been floating around in my head for a while. It is just a friendly heron, with the odd addition of red boots and a scarf. He's a mixture of all manner of mediums; from wire screen, recycled plastic, cotton fabric, and carpet glue. This was my first time I’ve tried to make an art piece of this caliber (fully 3D and life-size). It was certainly a lot of fun, too, and I hope he makes you as happy as he makes me! As an artist, my main focus is on traditional drawing, in a more manga-esque style. I’m a writer and hopefully a movie director someday. I spend a good deal of time plagued by inspiration to do projects that really require a full animation team to achieve ( I've got way too much goin’ on in my head on a given day)! Bio: I mostly started out drawing animals (foxes, cats, ferrets). When I was younger, I read a lot of graphic novels and would choose them over a traditional novel any chance I could. I suppose that probably influenced my love for drawing. In this last year I decided to take a class on storyboarding and tripped down an endless pit of animation. The art of movement, the techniques used to portray it, and the dizzying scope of effort that goes into creating a simple children's cartoon, slammed me back in my figurative seat. I was in awe; and still surely am. I've been spending just about all my free time hastily inking out characters, yanking out scratch paper to sketch a scene, and desperately writing out script lines and plot ideas before they fade from my mind. That's about my story. Woke up one day with a plague; a plague called ‘inspiration.’ If you would like to see more of what I do, my artist profile is currently on Cara, @chronoronan .
Artist: Hannah (Tameling) Taylor Title: “My New home” Description: This piece is inspired by the city of Red Wing from my eyes. I moved here in March 2023 when I married my husband Paul; who had lived here over a decade. This city has beauty, history, and depth of industry from over the decades (which I wanted to encapsulate in one piece as best as I could). I recently bought a piece of art from “Charming Farm Creations” at the Cheese Curd Festival in Ellsworth, WI and it deeply inspired this piece — as I’m not usually one to work in wood! I’m typically an acrylic-on-canvas painter or digital artist. So I’m very proud to present my first attempt at a work in wood! I’m pleased with how it turned out and all that it represents, as I’ve truly come to love and appreciate Red Wing for all its wonderful attributes. Bio: I’ve been raiding the supply closet at my mother’s law firm since I was a toddler. Markers, highlights, file-boxes, and paper products all became my playthings. For many years I thought I wanted to be a fashion designer. But once reality checked in, I quickly realized I’m a terrible seamstress! While studying for my BA at the University of Iowa in Studio Art (emphasis on the nude form), I also co-founded a modeling company Alison Models - a talent development agency. I also had a short summer stint in Florence, Italy at Santa Reparata International School of Art where I studied fashion illustration, fabric design/silkscreen at Fuji Studio, and History of the Italian Fashion Industry. Later in life, I studied fashion design at The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago. Halfway through the degree (failing a screen-printing class, and working three jobs), I realized sewing wasn’t as inherent as my painting and drawing was. It wasn’t already in my soul or my hands and I dropped out. In hindsight, nothing good comes easy, you’ve got to work for it! I know better now, and this piece is a great example of that exact idea. Over the years I’ve always continued to paint, having sold and shown a few pieces here and there. Right now I’m in an abstract phase (acrylic is my muse). I just recently opened an Etsy shop. I’ve got two bedrooms full of a decade of canvases and I’m ready to clear out my inventory, start fresh! MrsTaylorPaints's shop on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MrsTaylorPaints https://mrstaylorpaints.etsy.com/
Artist: Liz Zolondek Title: “Best Friends Are Found Here” Description: A photo mosaic piece of the many dogs and cats that were adopted from River Bluff Humane Society over the past 2 years. This piece represents the feeling you get when you adopt an animal from your local shelter. The feeling of love, joy, and excitement when adopting a new best friend is all encompassing ( just as much for the animal as it is for you). They know when they have been chosen and that they get to leave the shelter for the last time. Em-barking (pun intended) on a new journey of fun and love with a family of their own. Bio: Working at River Bluff Humane Society, I see this type of joy first hand and wanted to share some of the faces that got to experience all the good that comes with adoption. Hopefully this piece will inspire others to adopt a new family member someday, and realize the impact that their choice of pet ownership has on the animals and people involved.
Artist: Mari Hanson Title: “Petite Postal Place Featuring: Brandon” Description: A miniature postal room with shelves filled with packages. Brandon the UPS man is standing proudly in front of the boxes, ready to deliver parcels with his radiant personality. Bio: Once I had the capability to hold a marker, I have been creating artwork. One thing that has been on my Christmas list every year is art supplies. Our dining table was always filled with clay, markers, paint, and paper. When my Dad moved to a new office in the house, I got his old one (which is now turned into my art room). It is filled with every art supply imaginable and is all in its own organized spot. Now I spend hours there every day, creating whatever I think up.
Additional Projects
Artist: David Allen Title: Fairies in the Alley Description: Fairies moved into the alley to take in the art and fun! Bio: David is a prolific artist who lives in Northfield. He is a painter, sculptor, and fairy house builder. He's also Megan's (the director of DTMS) Dad!
Name: Red Wing Arts Clay and Creative Center/Honoring Dakota Project Title: “The Fabric of Red Wing: A Collaborative Textile Mural” Description: This is a community-driven art project aimed at turning an ordinary fence (located between RWA CCC and RW Public Library) into something special. Community members are invited to weave fabric and clay hearts into the fence, symbolizing the interconnectedness of the people of Red Wing. This project is an accessible shared arts experience with the ability to inspire new ideas, challenge perspectives, and ignite the imagination. Bio: Our vision is a community alive with creativity. We embrace differences and commonalities across race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, mental and physical ability, religion, and age. We commit to expanding our awareness about, and representation in, the greater diverse arts experience and strive to make art an intrinsic part of everyday life.
Artist: Pam Dusbabek Title: Red Wing Keychain Exchange Swap a keychain or leave a trinket to be turned into a keychain!
Artist: Meyer Beckner
The proposal submission is closed.
Deadline for Proposal: ***DEADLINE EXTENDED TO SUNDAY, JULY 14th at 11:59pm***
Proposal Form: https://forms.gle/r7kLLCSVX4yzuGnY9
For additional questions, contact meyerbeckner@gmail.com
We are Looking For:
Art from diverse mediums (ex. clay, textiles, metal, chalk, paint)
Unique Collections (not your grandpa’s stamp collection)
Miniatures, interesting objects, little scenes and scenarios
Art that utilizes the alleyway in distinct ways
Goals:
1. Enhance Aesthetics: Beautify downtown Red Wing by transforming alleys into vibrant art spaces, making them safer and more inviting.
2. Foster Community Engagement: Encourage community participation in art creation, fostering a sense of ownership and pride in downtown spaces.
3. Support Local Artists: Provide a platform for local artists and creatives to showcase their work and gain recognition.
4. Boost Economic Activity: Attract more visitors to downtown Red Wing, supporting local businesses and increasing foot traffic.
Considerations for Proposals:
Easy to install and remove
Withstand outdoor elements (ex. rain, direct sun)
*Exception for unique collections (yo-yos, rubber ducks) which will be held in a secure display box
No proposals that paint directly on brick (ex. large mural on brick building)
Paint on electric boxes, gutters, pipes etc. is OKAY
Please avoid City-owned property (ex. parks and public parking lots)
We will organize building owner approval and assist with finding the ideal location
Locations:
Two main locations to consider are:
Jordan Court Alley- Mandy’s Coffee and Cafe and Indigo Salon
Heimie's/Red Wing Computer Alley to former Ferrin’s building
Timeline:
Wednesday, July 10th: Request for proposals due
Monday, July 15th: Pieces are selected by the judges’ panel
Wednesday, July 17th: Winners notified
Saturday, August 10th: Completed art pieces due
Friday, August 16th: Public celebration during the new Fairy Festival
Next Steps:
Deadline for Proposal: Wednesday, July 10th, 2024
Proposal Form: https://forms.gle/r7kLLCSVX4yzuGnY9
For additional questions, contact meyerbeckner@gmail.com
