Putting Art at the Center of Engagement

WHAT IS GRAPHIC RECORDING?

Traditionally, Graphic Recorders take visual notes – using words and drawings – in real time during meetings and events. Studio Thalo combines this visual note-taking with their experience as muralists to create art that captures the heart messages of events and community conversations.

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP

Join us for a two-part, sequential Workshop on how to develop the skill of Graphic Recording, taught by artist collective Studio Thalo. The sessions will be held virtually on Zoom.

THE TEACHING ARTISTS

Studio Thalo is composed of Donald (Bayou) Thomas, Olivia Levins Holden and Nell Pierce, whose Graphic Recording style grew out of their collaborations as muralists.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Studio Thalo will share the process of their Graphic Recordings from start to finish — from logistics to creative collaboration. Participants will reflect on their strengths as artists and how they might transfer their skills to this new medium. Participants will do hands-on activities to develop their own styles of Graphic Recording. The Zoom sessions will be recorded, and select screen shots or video excerpts may be used by Friends of the Falls, NACDI and Studio Thalo for promotional purposes.

Materials required: drawing utensil and a surface to draw on.

FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES

This free Workshop is a collaboration of Friends of the Falls, Native American Community Development Institute (NACDI) and Studio Thalo.

Friends of the Falls is committed to using adaptive methods in its community engagement for The Falls Initiative. We see art and art-making as key tools to facilitate conversations between diverse communities and express stories and values about place.

This Workshop is the first of many opportunities for artists to engage at The Falls. We intend to offer additional training opportunities and art programming as the project develops.

In 2021, we anticipate offering a Graphic Recording apprenticeship. Under the leadership of NACDI and Dakota Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, Friends of the Falls is working to establish a Native Advisory Council to guide the planning process. The apprentice, or apprentices, would join Studio Thalo in attending Native Advisory Council meetings and visually depicting the heart messages that shine through their conversation.

A more formal application and selection process will apply to the future apprenticeship and artist engagement opportunities.

ELIGIBILITY & SELECTION

BIPOC artists of all skill levels are eligible to participate in the Workshop and encouraged to apply. Our target audience is Native artists or artists with knowledge of Urban or Tribal Native Communities. Experience as an illustrator, graphic designer, painter, muralist, sketch artist or writer is helpful but not required. Attendance will be capped at 10 participants.

HOW TO APPLY

Submit the Expression of Interest form below to be considered for the two-part Graphic Recording Workshop. Submissions are due by January 8. Selected participants will be notified by January 15. If you have technical difficulties accessing the form below, you can access the form here. Questions can be emailed to [email protected].

Studio Thalo artists in front of Graphic Recording for Third Thursday: Artists Respond, organized by Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN

Studio Thalo Graphic Recording for the Environmental Justice Symposium, organized by Voices for Environmental Justice at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

Graphic Recording for #SilentNoMore: Resisting Conquest, Liberating Bodies, organized by the Center for Sustainable Justice at the SpringHouse Ministry Center, Minneapolis, MN

Studio Thalo Graphic Recording for the BETA Cohort Meeting, organized by Leveraging a Network for Equity and National Performance Network, Minneapolis, MN

Graphic Recording for Latin American Studies Symposium: Shifting borders; movilizaciones inciertas/mobilizações incertas, organized by Latin American Studies, Macalester College, St. Paul, MN