Family Day: Everyday Icons

Celebrate the exceptional historical and cultural contributions of African American artists during Black History Month at Mia. Learn about artist and activist Gordon Parks and see his groundbreaking photographs in “American Gothic: Gordon Parks and Ella Watson,” on view in the Harrison Photography Gallery now through June 23. Join local artist Alexandra Beaumont in art making for the whole family, listen to stories from local author Timi Bliss, and explore different kinds of families and relationships on a gallery scavenger hunt.

About Alexandra Beaumont

Alexandra Beaumont is a textile artist and dancer. She was born and raised in South Carolina to a Jamaican father and American mother, both working musicians. She attended the residential South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities throughout high school, focusing on dance and visual arts, and went on to Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY where she studied fashion design. After working in New York City as a menswear designer, she returned to a fine arts practice, incorporating her love for fabrics and hand sewing. She now lives in Minneapolis, MN, where she makes work centering themes of personal reconstruction, community, and celebratory display. Her first solo exhibition “Version” was presented at Ridgewater College in Minnesota in the fall of 2022. She is a 2022 recipient of the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council “Next Step Fund” grant, and a 2023 Forecast Early Career Project grantee. She is a member of PF Studios in Minneapolis, MN and contributes to the development team of Public Functionary, a gallery, performance space, and café supporting BIPOC and LGBTQ artists in the Twin Cities.

Find more at: https://www.alexandrabeaumont.com/

About Timi Bliss

Timi Bliss is a hybrid picture book author, digital collage illustrator, and publisher of books that highlight and celebrate the everyday lives of culturally diverse children. Her rhyming books include the bedtime story, In Search of the Sandman (2017); a new twist on the old classic, In Search of the Gingerbread Man (2019); and the personalized book celebrating diversity, The Magic in Me (2021) – published by I See Me, in partnership with Crayola®, and illustrated by Kamala Nair.

Her forthcoming picture book, Kenya Make Some Room?! (2024/2025), is her first book written in prose, and shows how solutions to problems can be found in the most unlikely of places, and we can reach great heights when we work together. Soon to follow, will be the publication of Nana’s Magic Cornbread Spoon, an endearing story showing the powerful connection between food, family, and tradition.

Timi has created community artwork for the Black Lives Matter street mural and Metro Transit buses and shelters in Minneapolis; and produced a virtual story time video series for the Ramsey County Library. In 2022, In Search of the Gingerbread Man was one of six Minnesota picture book authors’ books included in the “Stars of the North Storytime” picture book exhibit at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International airport. She lives in Minneapolis and is a doting grandma to her granddaughter, Charlie.

About Taylan De Johnette

Taylan De Johnette is a Minneapolis based Designer and Visual artist from Southern California. In 2019 she Graduated with her BFA in Visual Design from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. She was previously a member of the inaugural cohort of Studio #400 and Public Functionary studios (#285) in the Northrup King building. She is a 2020-2021 PLACES: Research and Design Fellow, as well as the 2021 recipient of the Forecast: Early career and Research Grant award. Taylan recently lead the Graphic Design studio at Juxtaposition arts in North Minneapolis.

Taylan is passionate about the socially innovative side of Art and Design. She loves storytelling, translating experiences, and showcasing alternative perspectives. Her favorite quote is by Social Entrepreneur and equity Designer, Antionette Carol: “What many designers don’t realize is that they have the power to truly create change…we have the power to develop approaches around systematic impact, from micro-campaigns to macro policy changes. Our mode of being moves beyond visual to intellectual and actionable.”

For Family Day, Taylan has designed 15 coloring sheets featuring Black artists in and out of Mia’s collection.

Find more at: https://tdejohnette.com/

 

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