Join visiting graffiti and mural artist Thomasina Top Bear on Tuesday, June 16 at The YES! House to learn all about graffiti as an art form and try it out yourself on a community canvas!
Thomasina will share about her life journey as an Oceti Sakowin woman in this modern sub-culture and how utilizing this craft transitioned to creating large scale community based mural projects.
Next attendees will head outside to learn basic safety and spray paint techniques on a portable wall.
During this time Thomasina will facilitate an open freestyle discussion about the history of graffiti in North America.
All materials will be provided. Feel free to bring your own supplies if you have them, sketchbooks and markers are encouraged!
Registration cost is on a sliding scale ranging from $0 – $25 so pay what you are able!
Artist Bio:
TopBear is a self taught artist, muralist, published illustrator and organizer from the Oglala Lakota & Santee Dakota Nations. She is a board member of the international all female paint crew Few & Far Women and co-founder of City Mischief Murals, an artist collective centered on healing through art. Specializing in large-scale murals her work can be seen on the sides of buildings throughout the country.
Thomasina has organized a number of events focusing on empowering and creating safe spaces for youth and fellow artists to practice their crafts. Often using Dakota language to normalize the use of Native culture as a form of honoring her Ancestors along with the land we all now share. She draws influences from her Oceti Sakowin culture while using art to express thoughts on community, social justice, spirituality and togetherness. Thomasina has worked with numerous institutes and organizations including, Indigenous Roots Cultural Arts Center, Phipps Center for the Arts, Hennepin Theatre Trust, Minnesota Public Radio, Minneapolis College of Arts and Design, University of MN and Saint Paul College. She is a grant recipient of Forecast Public Art, Knight Foundation, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation and the Minnesota State Arts Board.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
Graffiti 101
Tuesday, June 16 | 5:30 – 7:30 PM
@ The YES! House | 726 Prentice St, Granite Falls, MN