Justice For George Floyd Is Served In Minneapolis - Change Is Gonna Come

People! I haven't posted here in a while, mainly because life has been so insane. There's been plenty to post about, and almost all of it has had something to do with the murder of George Floyd here in Minneapolis last May. Marches, art exhibits, protests, fundraisers, town meetings, petitions, social media posts, heated arguments ... all of it to try and get justice for a victim of police murder this time. And yesterday we got it. 

Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all three murder counts yesterday, and Minneapolis erupted in a collective sigh of relief and complete jubilation through sobbing tears. People that weren't here cannot imagine what it felt like in the city. The TENSION. I'm somebody that has to DO something, or I'll go crazy, so yesterday I set out to get the vibe of the day, having no idea that a verdict would come in that afternoon. 

I began on Lake Street, where guys in yellow vests were everywhere, frantically boarding up the few glass windows that remained exposed. Business owners were torn about doing this again after the uprisings last May when Floyd was murdered, because you only board up if you think there's going to be riots, and there's only going to be riots if the murderer was found not guilty, and we didn't even want to let ourselves imagine that that could happen. But you also don't want to be sweeping up glass all over again, so most businesses caved in and threw up the plywood. 

 

Armored trucks and National Guard members with machine guns were patrolling nearly every corner. It was all very unsettling - but it didn't stop a couple from standing outside of my beloved Ingebretsen's trying to get some curbside sausage! (They were successful).

People were trying to go about their business, but you couldn't escape the ominous feeling of either impending doom or complete joy - it would only be one or the other, no in between. It's terribly sad that there was any sense of suspense AT ALL, as the entire world has watched George Floyd's life being snuffed out under Chauvin's knee on repeat for almost a year. 

There should have been exactly zero debate, but it's 2021 in America ... and you just never know. I had highly respected and intelligent activist friends tell me that thought there was no way Chauvin would be convicted. But we kept marching and yelling about it. We're EXHAUSTED, and I can only imagine how the Floyd family felt throughout. 

I decided to head downtown to see what it felt like, and I really didn't think there would be a verdict in until maybe the end of the week. It was so eerie. Very quiet, all was boarded up, and there again were National Guard people guarding - against the People. Very sad. Mary Tyler Moore was tossing up her hat in front of a fenced off Dayton's. 

First Avenue was done up in black boards, and featured a red star with George Floyd's name there with all the other luminaries. 

The Irish Bar across the street was locked up tight, and they too were rooting for George Floyd. 

I love that there are always people who try to brighten things up, and one boarded up street had a row of crocheted flowers all along that added a bit of cheer into a very heavy atmosphere. 

Nicollet Mall was on lockdown, but there too someone had come along to make it a little more beautiful amidst the chaos. 

Over at the Hennepin County Government Center, where the trial had been held, reporters lined the streets with their news cameras, but not very many.

The plaza in front of the Government Center had a few people milling around, being interviewed by out of town media, holding signs in support of George Floyd, and generally just waiting around for something to happen. Feeling a little bit helpless.

I chatted with some guys there in a car with Daunte Wright signs on it (the next police murder victim we have to fight for justice for, after he was unbelievably murdered during the trial just ten miles away!), and they were cautiously optimistic that there would be a guilty verdict. That was hard to hope for when you looked around at all the things being done to protect buildings and property from people that would be rightfully upset with any other verdict. I was truly and deeply afraid for the city that I grew up in, that it might never recover from such a blatant injustice. 

Suddenly there were murmurs going through the little cluster of reporters that a verdict had come in and might be read in the next hour! WHAT?! As I have been torn the entire year, I was again torn at staying put to see what happened, or going home because I'm the main caregiver to both my Mom and brother right now, and if something went really bad, I really can't risk something happening to me that I can avoid. TOUGH ONE for me, who likes to be in the mix all the time, but this was HISTORY. I headed home as fast as I could. 

The news was already on, and Mom and I sat on the edges of our seats. The spot where I had just been standing at the Government Center was now filled with thousands of hopeful and nervous Minnesotans. At just after four pm, the jerk Judge (didn't like him the whole time, very condescending and power tripping) took the mic, and began reading the counts. I was sweating, shaking, already in tears. When I heard the first "GUILTY", I jumped up and screamed. The second "GUILTY" had me sliding down to my knees. The third "GUILTY!" collapsed me into heaving sobs of relief and bittersweet happiness. That FOR ONCE justice had been served, but that didn't bring back the life of George Floyd for his family. It didn't convict Daunte Wright's murderer, or all the other many, many victims of police murder and brutality - but it did FINALLY show accountability in law enforcement, and the hint of better days ahead for everyone - IF we keep all the feet to the fire. And we WILL. I needed to get back out there immediately, for now I knew that there would be no danger - only my People rejoicing. 

My phone was almost dead and texts started flying in as the rest of the country heard the good news too. I knew George Floyd Square would be the place to go, but I had to charge my phone! I paced around and watched the joy and tears on the news until I had enough juice to go capture it for myself and all of the people around the world that I knew were sharing in our relief and elation. 

I had to park a few blocks away, but you could hear the celebration easily from there. Everyone was masked up but smiling with their eyes. Passing by people on the way to George Floyd Square (38th and Chicago), we'd say things like, "Happy day!" and it really, really was. 

It got louder as I got closer to the Square, and more and more people were arriving in droves. Old folks in wheelchairs, hyper elated teenagers, little babies strapped to their parents' chests, strollers, white kids holding "Black Lives Matter" signs ... it was the scene of humanity we all hope for, united in their same cause. It was beautiful. 

There were speeches in the middle of the sea of humanity, all met with thunderous applause and cheers. Chants went up for George Floyd, and it was way better this time, because we knew that George DID get justice, at least in the sense that his murderer will PAY. 

Grills were being fired up, and food handed out to any and all who needed or wanted it. This was the street party we'd all been waiting for - and there was one just as big happening at the same time downtown! I imagine (and hope) it was happening in every household all over the city too. Pure ecstasy in the eyes of all that you met. It was an extra special day that I'll never forget, and was so happy to be a part of. We had WORKED for it.

Of course there remains much to do. The awful MPD must be reformed, but I'm doubtful it can, so it may have to be reimagined as a peacekeeping force of some kind, because it ain't working. We have to get justice for all of the other victims of police murder. We have to prevent these murders from ever happening in the first place. We have to examine the racist tendencies of normal, every day people too, because their tolerance is how this injustice has persisted for so long. 

 

As happy as I was yesterday, I was also a little bit sad, because I was alone, as I have been for most of the actions around the George Floyd murder for the last almost year. I would have no problem finding marching buddies in L.A., but here I almost never could. People aren't comfortable talking about race things here that much, and I can't stop talking about it. I had childhood friends mad at me for being on the 35W Bridge marching when that psycho in the Semi truck came barreling through. Not concerned about me, but thinking I was a dumbass for being there. I've had some say "I donate" or whatever, because they can't bring themselves to be out in the streets showing up for justice. It's been really sad and hard for me, but not enough to stop me from showing up. And I'm a much richer, much better person for it, and hold out hope that they will join me one day. Change is coming, and you'd better be ready for it. 

I have met so many good people, out doing the work, out fighting the fight, out making the art (the ART! SO much of it - they all deserve their own story), out getting into the "Good Trouble". I don't think anyone ever imagined that real change in systemic police brutality and systemic racism would come in a city like Minneapolis, but why not? It IS happening, and it all kind of makes more sense to me now as to why I'm still here (aside from the pandemic, that is).

Today is the five year anniversary of Prince's death, and I wouldn't be surprised if there might have been some divine intervention in play. Prince was all about social justice and equal rights, and he certainly would not want to see his city burn - which it definitely would have. It's a better day in Minneapolis today - and also in the whole world. Now we all know that police WILL be held accountable. We know that people from all walks of life will stand with each other in solidarity in the face of outright evil. And we all did this together. Don't forget that this would all have just been another little incident swept under the dirty police carpet if now for the bravery of Darnella Frazier, the true hero of this whole story. And now we must all be Darnella Frazier. Speaking up, filming, whatever it takes to be sure that we put an end to systemic racism once and for all. It's not that hard to love, and I for one am not threatened by melanin. No one should be. C'mon. It's 2021. Time to grow up, America. 

The sun began to set on this historic day, but the party at 38th and Chicago showed no signs of stopping, as a brass band led a kind of second line around the square. At this point I realized that I had forgotten to eat anything the entire day, and was about to faint from starvation - and emotion.

I walked back to the car, raising my fist to all who passed, and getting one back every time. This time HAD been different. We HAD gotten some sense of justice for George Floyd and his family. And we knew that we could do it again. And WILL.

So much love to all of Minneapolis, and all around the world who joined together in this struggle to make better days ahead for ALL people. As much as we know there is still to do, I fell into an exhausted sleep with a smile on my face, ready to get up and get going again today. 

When there is justice, there IS peace. But there is also actual, tangible joy, and we all felt it here in Minneapolis on April 20, 2021. Praise JAH! 

 

 

Art In Ice By MIA - A Winter Treasure Hunt

Minnesotans think of all kinds of cool stuff to keep being cool in the winter, and I've been really impressed by the creativity I've witnessed here since being back home to help out my family. No one lets winter slow things down much at all, and no one is afraid to be outside, as the old adage here goes, there is no bad weather, just bad clothing. So, I bundled up my Mom the other day and went all around Minneapolis to find Art In Ice, the ice sculptures of famous art works put on by the Minneapolis Institute of Art and the Minneapolis Park Board (site of my Mom's recent exhibition, Foot In The Door!) We decided to make a big circle around the city, and started with Longfellow Park, which featured Veiled Lady by Rafaello Monti done in ice. It was easy to find because there was a crowd gathered around the beauty, taking photos as it gently started to drip under the quickly warming conditions (Hurry if you go search for them! They're up til the 28th, but I don't think they'll last that long.). It was lovely, but we couldn't linger long if we wanted to find them all in the daylight. Off to Boom Island! 

I'd never been to Boom Island Park there on the banks of the Mississippi in downtown Minneapolis. The skyline outlines the park, and it's a lovely little bit of peace in the middle of the city. A little crowd had gathered there too, around the Aphrodisiac Telephone by Salvador Dali. The original lobster phones (?) created by the Surrealist actually worked. I'd have liked to have been privy to the meetings where they decided which MIA works they were going to create out of frozen water ... and I like that they went with funkier, less obvious choices. Like a lobster telephone. 

Our big circle took us next to North Commons Park in North Minneapolis, where the Celestial Horse was right there next to the parking lot - Mom didn't even have to get out to see it. The heavenly horse was done in bronze for a Chinese Emperor to be escorts to the afterlife. The ice version was so clear that I had to wait for people to get out of the way because you could see them perfectly through it. How do they get it so clear, I wonder? It was beautiful, and I believe it tied with the Veiled Lady for top in my heart. 

We were losing light, so raced on over to the park right across from MIA, the Washburn-Fair Oaks Park. There they featured Van Gogh's Olive Trees, but this time it was really just the picture in an ice frame. I suspect it is not the original. We spent the least time here, though were tempted to pop into the museum again. But our light was waning, so to Lake Bde Maka Ska we flew. 

There were a lot of people gathered around Your Dog by Yoshitomo Nara there at the end of the lake where they have the rentals and things, and the brightly painted Adirondack chairs. Everyone loves dogs, and this one was probably the most popular among viewers ... so popular, in fact, that someone had broken off the dog's tail, and replaced it in the middle of its back like a strange growth. It was still cool, and we particularly enjoyed the dog's little red nose. 

We did it! We saw them all in one afternoon, and greatly enjoyed being out of the house seeing art out there in our neighborhoods, and SO many people appreciating it. Minnesota - cold nose, warm heart. Thank you to MIA for another excellent curation of accessible art for the people of Minneapolis. We really enjoyed it, and very much look forward to seeing what you get up to next. You're cool.

{I hear the dripping of icicles off of our eaves right now as I type and the sun shines outside, telling me that you have increasingly less time to go see these ice sculptures as they were meant to be, and not puddles. Chop chop!}

Illuminate The Lock - Madweyaashkaa: Waves Can Be Heard. GO!

Happy 2021, Everybody! Phew, a LOT has happened since I last posted a story, and that's for many reasons, but here I am, and HI! I hope you're doing awesome (as awesome as can be expected during the still global pandemic and within such a deeply divided nation, but I bet you can think of SOMETHING awesome going for you), and are still here for good stories. Cause I am! The something awesome for me at the moment was the beautiful, excellent, deeply moving event I attended last night at the Upper St. Anthony Lock and Dam in downtown Minneapolis. Illuminate The Lock was the highlight of 2021 for me so far (other than getting vaccination appointments for my Mom and myself), by far. Just WOW. 

Madweyaashkaa: Waves Can Be Heard was the title of the piece by Moira Villiard that was projected on the Lock above the Mississippi River last night, and for the next two nights, Friday and Saturday. I cannot recommend this event highly enough, and if you're in the area and you can still snag a time slot for this thing - just go and thank me later. Seriously. 

 

There have been so few cool things to do during the pandemic, that when I hear of something - ANYTHING - that might inspire or beguile, I go. Even in the dead of winter in Minnesota. My creative soul needs to be fed. And THIS event was magically delicious. 

We checked in at a little tent, and were then led across a metal gangplank out to the Lock and Dam. That alone was cool, as I'd never been out on this structure in my life. We lined up and looked way down over the railing at the bottom of the Lock and nearly frozen river. All were dressed for the occasion, bundled up to our eyes to protect against the cold. One woman stood out in a beautifully embroidered long skirt, and I dearly hoped that she had long underwear on underneath (while also admiring her style).

We had the first time-slot and the sun had just set over the beautiful skyline of Minneapolis - one of the most beautiful cities in this country all on its own. But when the animation began to be projected on to the Lock wall, it was truly magical. A Native American woman narrated the story, as illustrations swooped along the concrete. Speaking to how difficult it is to retain the Native culture in the middle of a Metropolis, especially during this pandemic, that is hitting our Native citizens extra hard. I have a deep love for Native Americans, as well as a deep sense of shame for what has been done to their culture and their people by our Government since the very beginning. We owe them SO much, yet they continue to give us beauty and wisdom and dignity, and always remind us to connect with our beloved nature. Thank you. 

She instructed all to remember to offer your tobacco to Grandmother Moon and Grandfather Sun, and always to honor our nature. Seeing this spectacular spectacle in its bright colors and Native symbology among the skyscrapers and industrial areas of the city made it all the more moving, and nearly all jaws watching had dropped (also because someone dropped a thing for their camera over the edge).

 

The time slots were for 30 minutes, so they can get more people through and still be social distanced, and we timed our visit perfectly. We watched the story twice, and then they let you go around the top of the Lock and look at St. Anthony Falls from the other side, which was also very cool (by now, COLD). Thirty minutes was just perfect for both body and mind. My heart was more than full. 

 

 

My friend, Tracy, and I were totally enchanted as we made our way back across the slick metal catwalk (Use caution!). I was so proud of my Minnesotans, both for conceiving of and putting on such an event, but also for all the hearty souls who will bundle up and go do something fun and amazing on a weeknight in the city. I LOVED IT. I saw the woman with the beautiful skirt again, and had to go compliment her - and to find out if she had long undies on, because now I was worried. She laughed and thanked me, saying she had many layers underneath, including sweatpants. I'm totally going to copy her now. A long skirt as a mobile blanket is genius!

 

 

 

We capped off the night with a martini and wings at The Monte Carlo - where I hadn't been in well over a year and it was a delight. When I got home, I went to look up Moira Villiard on Instagram so I could tag her beautiful work in my photos of the evening. Guess what? She was the woman in the beautiful skirt. Perfect. 

 

Illuminate the Lock was one of the coolest and best things I've been to in quite a while. It is my pleasure to share it with you here, and my hope that you will be able to see it for yourselves if you can. If not, remember to offer your tobacco and to honor your Mother Earth every day! So that waves will always be able to be heard ... 

*Thank you to the Mississippi River Park Connection, to Moira Villiard and her skirt, All My Relations Arts Gallery, and to all who helped to put on this utterly charming event. Truly. 

Gingerbread Wonderland At Norway House - Virtually, Because 2020.

Oh, 2020. You've really been something else. This holiday season will be like none other ever, and we're all having to get creative to keep it special and magical. One of the beloved newer traditions in Minneapolis is the Gingerbread Wonderland show held each year at Norway House, and this year's production was truly outstanding ... until it had to close down for another Covid lockdown. I feel really bad that there are so many wonderful gingerbread creations that are now stuck inside with no one to appreciate them, so I thought I'd share some of my favorites here in an attempt to spread some Christmas cheer ... starting with the sheer marvel by Maggie Karschnia MVP most crowd pleaser in the bunch before the doors had to be shut - Holidays at Hogwar's! WHAT?!?! That's pepperkake?! Incredible, truly. 

There are so many gingerbread houses in the gallery that it smells like gingerbread is currently baking, but it's just the sheer volume of cake in there! 

The blue facade of Norway House greets you as the first gingerbread house, and it only gets better from there. 

It's kind of hard to shoot photos in the gallery because it's dark and there's black light going on, which makes it all rather enchanting in person, but tough to capture. This delightful carousel by Renee and Kirsten Poppenhagen (great name!) was very impressive because it really rotated. Pretty awesome. 

I can't believe I STILL haven't been to Norway, being 100% Norwegian, but here we are. The Munch Museum has always been on my sights to see in Oslo, and the Norway House has it depicted in gingerbread. Takk! 

Even the very traditional gingerbread homes were impressive, and made you want to actually live inside of them. Like this one ... 

Bakers tend to create places that are either Norwegian or local Minnesota places is they're not doing the traditional gingerbread vibe, and it's always fun to see someone's interpretation of a local landmark. The Witch's Hat by Paula Gilbertson was one such cool one, and I learned that it had been designed by a Norwegian architect, Fredrick William Cappelen. Who knew? 

There's no place like Gnome, and those popular little guys populate the adorable house done by Pati Kachel from my own Mom's Daughters of Norway Pauline Fjelde Lodge #51 in Minneapolis! Great job, Pati! Skol! 

The downtown Minneapolis Milwaukee Road train depot is there in gingerbread, looking an awful lot like the real place - only maybe better. 

Mindekirken, the Norwegian American Lutheran Church located across the parking lot from Norway House is there, looking all ready for Christmas Eve (and who's service we will very much miss attending in person this year!). It even has edible stained glass windows!

Another local favorite is represented at Gingerbread Wonderland with a little replica of Bogart's Donuts! I don't know if they offer ginger donuts in real life, but they do at this location! Cute. 

A Minneapolis Mercado by Sharon Born reflects both a big part of the ethnicity of the Franklin neighborhood of Norway House, and also the uprising here this Summer after the murder of George Floyd by Minnepolis Police. Maybe not the first thing you think of when thinking gingerbread houses, but you know what? We can NEVER FORGET. SAY HIS NAME!!!

One of my very favorites was the beautiful depiction of the All My Relations Gallery right up the street from Norway House. Bright and colorful, and it really looks just like the fantastic cultural center. LOVE.

Minnesota is there in its entirety in a flat creation by Shannon Schaaf and Etta Fuhrman showing the entire state, even the Spam Museum! People were definitely getting creative this year, and no two entries are alike.  

I love an A-frame, and this was another house by Liz Mullen and The "Chowgirls Team" that I would actually like to live in. Yay for the Chalet! 

When we were kids my Mom would have us play "Little Red School House" on long road trips - really just a game of who could be the most quiet for the longest. It wasn't that fun, but it did give me a little kick of nostalgia to see this little red gingerbread Skole. 

An EverGreen House - with skylights! 

A fanciful Peppermint House! 

An adorable Barn! 

Another Barn with a cool silhouette barn dancing couple!

A beautiful Snowy House! 

A folky Clocktower by Shaynah Whitmore (age 14)! 

A Norwegian waffle tower by Nordic Waffles! 

A red sauna done by one of my best friend in the world's daughters, Inga Wilhoit! 

I think my absolute favorite was the gingerbread version of the Edvard Grieg house, Troldhaugen, in Bergen, Norway. It's an exact replica of the famous Norwegian composer's home, but the great thing about it is that the creator, Jay'd Hagberg, put a little miniature piano on the roof! 

I heard a little girl say that her favorite one was the "one with the piano on the roof", and you could see in her eyes that it had made an impression. I would not be surprised to hear that she grew up to have a piano on her own roof - and now I want one too. What a treat for everyone! Especially if it was Grieg. 

Everyone was having a grand - and very safe and very distanced - time taking in Gingerbread Wonderland as one of the very few things we could do this super weird holiday season, and then it all shut down on November 20th, and it doesn't look like it will reopen during the run of the show. It's a real shame, among many shames this year, but I hope you will enjoy these photographs, and maybe do the virtual tour via Norway House's website. It costs $5 to view, but this event is THE major fundraiser for Norway House each year, and it would be great to help them out. I made my own first ever gingerbread house this year, having been inspired by all of these greats ... but this is the only place you'll see it unless you come over to my Mom's, which you can't because she's at risk, so here you go - The Love Shack! 

 

I've been out of my mind crazy busy, and apologize for so long between stories, but I just know that this next year HAS to be better for us all, and that there will be so many great new stories to tell that it's all I'll have time for. Right? So ... enjoy this holiday season as much as you possibly can. Be inspired. Get creative. Know that there is still beauty and fun and magic in this world, and it's all right there if you really look for it. I send love and my Merriest Christmas wishes to one and all around the world! 

SKOL!!!