In the Ties that Bind, we challenge you to hold the tension with or without a partner as you weave yarn into a story.

The Weavers Guild of Minnesota invites you to step into a weaving-strap and try out weaving on a rigid heddle backstrap loom. Backstrap weaving—a tradition of the Mayans that continues today in many parts of the world—requires the use of your body to hold the tension needed to weave. In the Ties that Bind, we challenge you to hold that tension with a partner as you take turns weaving a yarn and a story together, finding balance and unity in that tension. There’s also a solo option where you can get the hang of your weft and warp as you find your own balance of tension. Drop in to try your hand at continuing the thread of event-goers before you and be a part of the Ties that Bind.

WGM Hashtag for the event: #tiesthatbindmn

WGM Facebook event RSVP: 
https://www.facebook.com/events/975833369238388/

WGM Volunteer sign up: 
https://www.volunteersignup.org/8AW77

This years theme: Commonality
The theme of this year’s Northern Spark takes its cue from the festival’s venues in downtown Minneapolis: The Commons, Minneapolis Central Library, and Nicollet Mall. What is a 21st century commons? A 21st century library that serves everyone? A pedestrian avenue that is open to anyone?

At a time when the darkest parts of our collective identity surface daily in public forums — overt racism, casual sexism, challenges to our rights to free speech, policies that fly in the face of climate science — we at Northern Lights.mn are committed to providing platforms that resist discriminatory ideas, open dialogue and create relationships. What do we have in common? More specifically in the context of Northern Spark, what do we share when we gather together in physical space?

Festival Background
Since 2011 thousands of Minnesotans and visitors have enjoyed Northern Spark, an annual all-night arts festival illuminating public spaces and streets of Minneapolis and Saint Paul with video projections, temporary installations and experimental performances. Memorable projects from past Northern Spark festivals include Chris Larson’s Celebration/Love/Loss, Jim Campbell’s Scattered Light, Luke Savisky’s Ex-MN, Pramila Vasudevan’s In Habit, and countless other projects from artists such as: Works Progress, Piotr Szyhalski, HOTTEA, Cloud Cult and Futures North’s Phase Change, which won SxSW’s design award in 2016.

Northern Spark is produced by Northern Lights.mn, a Twin Cities arts organization whose work ranges from large-scale public art platforms like Northern Spark to Art(ists) On the Verge, a year­long mentorship program for 5 emerging artists working with innovative uses of technology. We support artists in the creation and presentation of art in the public sphere, such as at Saint Paul’s Union Depot (Amateur Intelligence Radio), “choir karaoke” at the Minnesota State Fair (Giant Sing Along) and most recently Words For Winter, programming poetry into the construction landscape along Nicollet Mall. Through projects such as Ruination: City of Dust, a location-­based environmental mystery game played on bicycles along Minnehaha Creek, and the monthly climate conversation series, Anthropocene Awareness Association, our work helps audiences explore expanded possibilities for civic engagement through art.

NORTHERN SPARK MEDIA CONTACTS
Steve Dietz
952.994.4118
stevedietz@northern.lights.mn
http://2018.northernspark.org/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/NorthernSparkMN/
Twitter: @NL_mn
Instagram:
@Northern Lights.mn
#northernspark