WILD RIVER

MNPAiR Artist Residency

I feel so honored and thrilled to have been awarded a yearlong MNPAiR Artist in Residence position at Wild River State Park for 2024-25. As part of this groundbreaking pilot collaboration between Minnesota Parks, the Met Council, and Forecast Public Art, I’ll be embedding myself in the park to learn about its history and ecology, as well as the challenges and aspirations for staff and stewards. (MN Public Radio story about MNPAiR)

As a composer, designer, and director, I create outdoor, site-specific sound + performance installations that I call “Sound Gardens”, and Wild River offers a multitude of amazing outdoor spaces in which I’ve already found much creative inspiration. (scroll down for videos from past Sound Gardens) My recent interview with the St Croix Valley Magazine.

Over the coming year, I am collaboratively developing a series of engagements and experiences for park visitors that spark a sense of curiosity, discovery, and belonging, working closely with the Park Naturalist, Sean Hoppes and the rest of the Wild River staff. It is such a thrill to spend extended time in these quiet, vast, and varied landscapes, and join the conversations, dances, and concerts that happen here everyday. During my 2-week onsite residency in February, I started composing and recording new music for this special place, and wrote my first blog post for the residency! Stay tuned here for updates and ways to join us! I will list events on my upcoming events page, and you can also sign up for email updates here.

Residency Highlights

We had a magical time at the Winter Candlelight Celebration at Wild River State Park on Sat Feb 8, where I presented my Winter Sound Garden near the Visitor Center. Click here to see photos and read more about it! Then, on April 5, we held the first ever “Maple Syrup Day” at Wild River, featuring the Sugarbush Sound Garden as part of an actual Sugarbush!

UP NEXT: SAVE THE DATE: Saturday April 26 Earth Fest!
Featuring an Earth Day Sound Garden at the Wild River Visitor Center!

My Sugarbush Sound Garden has been presented many times, including in far-away places like the UK, Canada, and California, but rarely has it been part of an actual SUGARBUSH! I’m so excited to share this Sound Garden as part of the Sugarbush and Maple Syrup Day activities at Wild River State Park this year and to celebrate the Anishinaabe New Year! Learn how to identify a Sugar Maple Tree and tap it for sap, and experience Ojibwe language and culture with Nashké Games!

Videos from previous Sound Gardens

Residency Events at Wild River State Park