Awesome Foundation Grant & "Made Here" Exhibition - Dwelling

Last year, I met an amazing artist, an elderly gentleman named Hassan Nor (goes by Nor), who draws his memories from Jubaland, Somalia, before the war; when life was peaceful, and food plentiful.

The artist's daughter was a catalyst for our meeting. Earlier, she had given some of her father's drawings to her neighbor, whom she met at Neighborhood Night Out. When the neighbor was preparing to travel out of the country for a year, he reached out to me on FB -- where he knew me only through my art.

The neighbor brought some of Nor's drawings over to my studio, and I was blown away by the artworks, which depicted nomadic and village life back home, in Jubaland and Kismaayo, where Nor was a pastoralist, a tailor, a farmer; also, there were drawings of the artist's life here in Minneapolis, where he has lived for 14 years.

Drawing by Nor

Detail of drawing by Nor

Drawing of Wedding, by Nor

After meeting with his daughter, I met with Nor, and since have had several opportunities to chat with him. His daughter, Farhio, interprets for us. I learned that Nor had been drawing his whole life, since age 19 (he's now 76); he is self-taught; he has become interested in showing and selling his art. Since last fall, I have searched for opportunities for him -- written some applications for exhibitions, and reached out to some curators who had helped me in the past, on his behalf. 

As I received some nibbles of interest, I began to understand that some funds would be needed to frame his work, which were primarily works on paper and neon cardboard, and prepare it for exhibition. I did not have the funds to assist with this, and didn't quite know where to turn.

Late in 2015, I heard of the Awesome Foundation, and wrote a grant for Nor to move his art forward. The Awesome trustees loved his work, and appreciated that I wrote the grant specifically to benefit another deserving artist. When the foundation contacted me in January with an award, I was thrilled for the support and encouragement this would bring to Nor's ambitions and aspirations. The grant was just what was needed to frame the work, purchase art materials, bring his art to exhibition, and make it more archival. A small amount of money remained, which provided honorariums to the artist and interpreter (what we call 'food money').

The interest in Nor's work seemed to propel this artist into new realms, increasing his detailed observations and nuances in his storytelling. With assistance from the grant, I was able to bring him new kinds of papers and markers to experiment with, to frame artworks, buy easels; but the other gift that developed was the dialog between us, often in the common language of art.

As Paul Wellstone once said, "We all do better when we all do better." -- this is especially true for artists, and one reason I enjoy collaboration. Our application to Made Here, Represent was created after an idea of Malidoma Patrice Soma, "Being born into this world in a particular place is like having the signature of that place stamped upon you." - from the Healing Wisdom of Africa. Our showcase, Dwelling, is rich with pictorial narratives of home and homeland; along with memories, dreams, and fantasies of the places we call home. 

I'm honored to show my work with Nor downtown, in a place of high visibility, and for the premier exhibition for this exceptional artist. Dwelling will be on view both day and (lit up at) night, installed in a window and viewed from the street, in a building on the corner of 8th and Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN. 

The exhibit will remain up all summer, until 29 September.

Hey, Aren't You Somebody?

At Hennepin Hustory Museum until September 13th - Don't miss it!

Portrait installation at "Hey, Aren't You Somebody?" top row, l to r ~ Salah, Bobo, Jenny, Pete, Mune; middle row ~ Bill, Osman, Sarah, Lu, Frank; (dog portraits) bottom row ~ Kari, Abdiweli, Diane

The museum curator is an incurable ailurophile;

from the gallery entrance ~ front center - portrait of Frank; l - portraits by Pam; r - weavings by Ubah and Nura

Portraits and weavings installed in "Hey, Aren't You Somebody?" at Hennepin History Museum

Two Recent Exhibitions - Instinct Art Gallery and Made Here

Self & Others ~ Instinct Art Gallery, 940 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis MN ~ July 26 - September 8, 2014

Miss the exhibition? Here is more information:

http://www.secretsofthecity.com/events/view/opening-reception-self-others
http://www.gypsyartshow.com/2014/07/instinct-art-gallerys-self-and-others.html

Photo credit - Instinct Art Gallery - Self & Others at Instinct Art Gallery, portraits by Stu Mead (l) and Pamela Gaard (r)  (also in exhibition although not seen in this photo ~ Frank Gaard and Nancy Robinson)

Portrait of Salah

Portrait of Matt

Portrait of Char

Thanks to Euan Kerr and MPR for their interest in the exhibition~!
http://www.mprnews.org/story/2014/08/01/your-minnesota-weekend-

Also, my Portrait of Osman, the Founder of Somali Museum of MN, is installed at the Somali Museum's pop-up gallery, as part of Made Here @ http://www.madeheremn.org/

Portrait of Osman

Shalom / Nabad Opening Night -- January 31, 2014

The torah commands us thirty-six times to "Welcome the stranger and love them as yourself."

I was born in North Minneapolis and my family moved to St. Louis Park when I was five. My friend Mark Z, who lived up the street from us growing up, had parents who were holocaust survivors -- his mom, Sabina Zimering, wrote a book about her experience, called Hiding in the Open. My friend Mary R had parents who came from Poland to escape the war. My grandmother lived with us often, although for many years, she had an old house in Duluth, too. She was Russian, and by modern standards, rather unkempt and frighteningly direct. My friends were scared of her, but I always thought she was a pussycat, and that she was instrumental to my survival.

This show is an artistic rebirth for me. It's my first solo exhibition in Minneapolis, in an indoor space! I've made these portraits for the past five years -- they are of friends, other artists, people I've worked with, or know in the community. They're all made from live sittings and photos I take of the model, with one exception (Mogadishu Calling Minneapolis, which is an invention).

The first time I met a group of Somali elders, I worked at a clinic on the west bank in Minneapolis. My manager gave me a stack of surveys, and said, "Go out in the waiting room, and give these out." So I went out in the waiting room and found the room full of pairs of people, young and old, or sometimes middle-age to old, as most of the east African patients at the clinic were with their interpreters, as they didn't speak English. I spent a lot of time over the next several years working with these patients, in groups of two or three, with interpreters, and found these elders generally to be friendly, sweet, polite, more European than mid-western, to have a sense of humor, and  that many are willing to teach as well as to learn.

When I was growing up and there was need for a dentist, we called Irving. Need a butcher? Call Mordechai! Need an accountant? Call Sheila!
Working in the local east African community, when you need a physical therapist, you call Mohamed. Need a mortgage banker? Call Abdi! Need an interpreter? Call Nafiso!

Shalom / Nabad ~ Pamela Gaard portraits at Traffic Zone, Minneapolis

This article written by Brian Klaas appeared recently in the StarTribune, and it represents the successful community that I see here - http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentaries/242492981.html
One in five Somalis is employed in a Somali-owned business, and I see a strong entrepreneurial workforce and a community flourishing -- many folks getting their citizenship, completing college degrees, starting families, gaining professional employment, and buying homes.

I've worked in the east African community for six years now, and feel fortunate to have a job I love.  Learning a few words in Somali has brought me new friends and closer to the elders in particular. I love to see the joy and surprise on their faces when we exercise together and I count from one to ten in af Soomaali!

Galab wanaagsan. Bal an iskaa baro. Magacaygu waa Pam, Magacaa? Waxaan aqaan wax yar af Soomaali! 

Shalom / Nabad

Traffic Zone Gallery presents Shalom / Nabad, an exhibition of new artworks by Minneapolis artist Pamela Gaard.

 

Opening Reception ~ Friday, January 31, from 6:00 to 8:30 PM (remarks at 7 PM)

Traffic Zone Gallery, 250 Third Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55401

Gallery Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 - 5:30 PM

 

Shalom / Nabad is "peace" in two languages (Hebrew / Somali) and both words are also used as greetings in their respective cultures.

Pamela Gaard’s portraits transcend the barriers of language, examining cultural identity and preservation. They illuminate faces which often go unseen ~ Somali and other east African elders, who now (some for up to 20 years) call Minnesota home. Her portraits of friends, colleagues, and other artists ~ along with elders from east Africa ~ create a utopian society where people of all ages, religions, and cultures unite. These pictures reflect the changing face of Minnesota, now home to 75,000 Somalis who have settled here through the African diaspora; becoming the largest community outside of Mogadishu.

Artist Statement

“My interest in portraying Somali and other east African elders is to honor those who traditionally are leaders and healers in their community. Most of the elders don't speak English, and I work with interpreters to sketch and photograph the models, and later finish the portraits in my studio. These paintings would not be possible without the help of many scholars, teachers, colleagues and friends in the community. I have been creating portraits for six years. They are made with thin glazes of acrylics, and sometimes collage, on heavyweight archival French paper, and indulge my interests in cultural diversity, ornament, costume, and psychology.”
-- Pamela Gaard

Artist Biography

Pamela Gaard studied at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and later received advanced degrees in the sciences. She is largely self-taught as an artist. Her work has been included in 50 exhibitions nationally and in Europe. For the past six years, she has worked with Somali and other east African elders in healthcare and community settings, and recently has created portraits of some of the elders in our community. Through her studies, she is acquiring rudimentary skills in Somali language. She also knows some Hebrew and Yiddish. The Islamic art influence evidenced in her work is inherited from her Turkish grandfather. As a Jew and second-generation American, she is intrigued with how cultural traditions, language, and customs are preserved through the generations; and she is compelled to welcome newcomers to our community.

Sponsorship

Pamela Gaard is a fiscal year 2013 recipient of an Artist Initiative grant from 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.

Mogadishu Times

Honored to see the story about my work in Minneapolis in the Mogadishu Times ~!

Self-Exposed

Self-Portrait with Dorothy Parker Quote

Self Portrait as Edyth Bush, by Pam Gaard (l)
Portrait of Edyth Bush, By Frank Gaard (r)

Self-Portrait Behind Pink Curtain, 2013

Portrait of Axmed

Gratitude

Thanks to everyone who came out to Susan Hensel Gallery on Cedar and 35th Ave. in South Minneapolis to see my portraits and proverbs ~! The next exhibit of these works (and further development) will be in late January, and, in winter months in Minnesota, it will be a challenge to get people out ~ thanks to Munira Hassan and Kayowe Mune for the photo.

Exhibition Review ~ Paintings & Proverbs

This art review Paintings & Proverbs ~ Exhibition Reviewwww.lasplash.com by Amy Munice, captures the breadth of my work with Somali and other east African elders. I teach that a healthy diet, exercise, fresh (outdoor) air, visits to waters edge, community engagement, yoga, tai chi, breathing, friendship, creativity  (poetry, music, dancing, gardening, drawing, painting, stitching, I might even add cooking) along with mediation and/or prayer, all can make positive contributions to our health -- improving ills of all nature - physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

My exhibit at Susan Hensel (window) Gallery is up through June 24th. I'll also exhibit my portraits and proverbs in the early part of next year at Traffic Zone, in Minneapolis. Many individuals in the community have helped and acted as interpreters to create my portraits of elders, who are non-English speakers -- including scholars, teachers, colleagues, and friends.

Installation view at Susan Hensel Gallery - through June 24

Pamela Gaard “Painting and Proverbs” Exhibition Review – Transcending History of Genocide, Religious and Language Barriers | Splash Magazines | Los Angeles

Paintings & Proverbs ~ Susan Hensel Gallery (window) installation

Paintings & Proverbs will exhibit through June 24 ~ 3441 Cedar Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55407

The twin cities DailyPlanet ~ http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/events/paintings-proverbs  lists it as top pic~!

Add caption

Exhibition Announcement

A few of my artworks were selected and will be on view at the next production of Workhaus Collective at the Playwright's Center, in Minneapolis. The performance The Great Divide, by Alan Berks is 4/18 through 4/21, and the art is in the entry space of the building, which is on Franklin Ave.

Minneapolis Mosque

Welcome to Frank-and-Pamistan

Cad iyo Caano

For the past six years, I've taught elders from east Africa about diabetes and carbohydrates, exercise and frostbite, but (as is the case with teaching. . .) I learn a lot along the way. The folks who lived in rural Somalia lived healthier lives in many ways than we do here -  there was not much diabetes or obesity, and, routinely folks tell me that when they return to Africa they lose weight that they gained here.

Waxaan ku hadlaa wax yar af-Soomaali (I know a little Somali language.)

Back home, traditionally, one-third of our Somali elders were agricultural; one-third nomadic, and one-third city-dwellers. The agrarian folks grew their own maize and ground it into meal to make the staple food, cangeero. They grew pumpkins and greens, as well as sorghum, which was eaten as a grain. (Check out xawaash.com for more info -- including recipes -- on Somali cuisine.)  The nomads traded meat and milk from their goats and camels for grain and vegetables with the agricultural folks, and both traded with city-dwellers for other things they needed. There is an insulin-like substance in camel milk, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22751901 which partially explains the lower incidence of diabetes back home. Herbs and barks were used as medicine, to treat everything from GI illness to broken bones.

Elderly men who were nomadic earlier on in their lives are still in good health today, defying western medicine with their dietary habits of eating 'cad iyo caano' (pron. 'aad iyo aano'), which means a piece (of cooked goat meat) and milk. But, back home the meat was lean, grass fed, organic, and just moments from walking around to cooking on the fire. The camel milk, likewise, was fresh from grass fed animals, unpasteurized, with the cream on top.

Deg-deg door ma dhasho ~ [Hurry hurry; no blessing (Haste makes waste)]

I am learning af-Soomaali (Somali language) from small groups of elders who live here in Minneapolis, and these discs and small painted objects act as mnemonics. The proverbs are rich in narratives that tell the wisdom of the culture, often as they are spoken by its elders.  They represent my research into learning the language and proverbs from different parts of east Africa, mostly Somalia. These small paintings are made on re-purposed cd's, lp's and airline trays and they are about 6" x 6" to 12" x 12".  These, along with my portraits will be featured in my next exhibition ~ at Susan Hensel Gallery (the window gallery) in Minneapolis (Cedar Ave. S. @ 35th Street) in mid-May.

Yet Another New Portrait

Minneapolis Mosque

Portrait of Abdiweli

New Portrait

Portrait of Pam K

Stranger Danger, Wu-Chi, & On Vacation

Hello, Sweden (twice as many views from Sweden as US the last few months)~ what's up?!
This short video made in Stockholm warmed my heart - and, it tells a story which is so universal to the diaspora.


"There is no such thing as luminous grey. Is that part of the concept of grey, or part of the psychology, i.e. the natural history, or grey? And isn't it odd that I don't know?" - Ludwig Wittgenstein -Remarks on Colour

Portrait of Ellie

Portrait of Rafi

A Couple More Portraits

Portrait of Frank, acrylic on canvas

These pictures may have been posted before in various incarnations, because sometimes I'll put them away for awhile and let them ferment, come back later, and work on them some more.

Portrait of Jennie, acrylic on BFK Rives, 29" x 22"

New Painting - Habaryarooyin at Lake Calhoun, Minneapolis

Habaryarooyin at Lake Calhoun, Minneapolis ~ acrylic on BFK Rives, 30" x 22"

Kohler Arts Center

I have a postcard in the exhibition which is now on view at the Kohler Arts Center, in Sheboygan, WI - the exhibition is called Wisconsin Confidential. My contribution is the photo below, which I shot in the '80's in rural Wisconsin.

Madonna in Cast Iron Bathtub Shrine

Islamic Designs

Patterns (just made of squares) have been on my mind lately. Creating a design based on Islamic art, I invited 12 Somali women elders to create their own artworks. After I made the outline, each woman created her own unique design. Twelve of these together make a whole of this design, reminiscent of  mosaic tiles in a mosque.  As you see by their choice of clothing, often beautiful and colorful patterns, each woman brings a specific and individual approach to her art.

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 The meditative creation of these works and the effort of building out the geometric pattern, which can be infinite. . . . the sound of the pen on paper. . . . . is said to be like the voice, or breath, of Muhammad.