Community Crafting Circles
Community Crafting Circles are a vital component of the Honoring Dakota Project, providing a space for individuals to come together and engage in the rich traditions of Dakota and Red Wing peoples through hands-on artistic expression. These circles are more than just gatherings; they are a celebration of cultural heritage, storytelling, and community building.
Through collaborative crafting, individuals experience firsthand the power of shared creativity and the deep bonds that can be formed through communal art-making.
Upcoming Sessions
nature’s Chimes
Date/Time: March 29th, 9am - 1 pm
Location: Red Wing Arts Clay & Creative Center, 436 W 3rd Street Downtown Red Wing
We invite community members to gather to create chimes that capture the essence of the natural world. Using found objects like shells, twigs, stones, and other items considered waste, we will craft wind chimes that invite us to reflect on their relationships with the land, the community, and themselves. These chimes serve as reminders of the beauty and tranquility found in our environment, encouraging a deeper connection to the earth.
This is the first of four 2025 quarterly Community Crafting Circles that explores the Honoring Dakota Welcome Home Model, which is an inclusive and holistic framework designed to guide all programming events towards realizing our mission and vision. And offered as part of Red Wing Art’s monthly “Community Saturday” artmaking program.
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.
bilateral mirror drawing: reflecting together
Date/Time: June 29th, 9 am - 1 pm
Location: Red Wing Arts Clay & Creative Center, 436 W 3rd Street Downtown Red Wing
Join us and bring a friend for a unique Honoring Dakota Project Community Crafting Circle that explores the power of collaboration and reflection through bilateral mirror drawing. In this engaging activity, participants will pair up to create mirrored drawings using paper and pastels, fostering a sense of presence, resilience, and reflection.
This is the final of four 2025 quarterly Community Crafting Circles that explores the Honoring Dakota Welcome Home Model, which is an inclusive and holistic framework designed to guide all programming events towards realizing our mission and vision. And offered as part of Red Wing Art’s monthly “Community Saturday” artmaking program.
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.
He Mni Can Hike, Storytelling, & Art Experience
Date/Time: Sept 27th, 9 am - 1 pm (2 sessions beginning at 9 am & 11 am)
Location: He Mni Can (Barns Bluff) Entrance Plaza
Join us on the He Mni Can Hike, Storytelling, and Art Experience, where the beauty of nature meets the rich cultural tapestry of the Dakota Oyate. Join us at the Entrance Plaza at the beginning of one of two sessions, 9 am or 11 am. The Plaza is a testament to the collaborative efforts between the City of Red Wing and the Prairie Island Indian Community, designed to foster connection and community. This experience begins with storytelling that immerses you in the vibrant history and enduring legacy of the Dakota people. As you hike the sacred paths of He Mni Can, you'll discover the land's profound cultural significance, learn about indigenous plant life, and deepen your appreciation for the interconnectedness of all living things. Clay will be provided during the hike so you can make impression and provides each participant a keepsake of the experience, grounding them in land.
This experience will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the interconnectedness of all living beings and inspire you to tread more lightly on the earth.
This is the third of four 2025 quarterly Community Crafting Circles that explores the Honoring Dakota Welcome Home Model, which is an inclusive and holistic framework designed to guide all programming events towards realizing our mission and vision. And offered as part of Red Wing Art’s monthly “Community Saturday” artmaking program.
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.
Community Quilt part two: Tell Your Stories
Date/Time: Nov 22nd, 9 am - 1 pm
Location: Red Wing Arts Clay & Creative Center, 426 W 3rd Street Downtown Red Wing
"Community Quilt: Tell Your Stories" brings the community together to express their unique stories, memories, and identities by piecing together individual quilt squares which were created by community members in May 2024.
This is the last of four 2025 quarterly Community Crafting Circles that explores the Honoring Dakota Welcome Home Model, which is an inclusive and holistic framework designed to guide all programming events toward realizing our mission and vision. And offered as part of Red Wing Art’s monthly “Community Saturday” artmaking program.
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.
Past Sessions
Indigenous Awareness Crafting - Nov 7, 2024
This session was a heartfelt community crafting circle dedicated to fostering awareness and recognizing critical issues affecting Indigenous communities. In this meaningful gathering, participants will craft two symbolic felt pins: one to honor Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) and the other to acknowledge the historical impact of Residential Boarding Schools. This session, facilitated by Charisse and Kris Nepoose, offeed a unique opportunity to engage in thoughtful conversation, deepen understanding, and express solidarity through the art of crafting.
Community Crafting Circle with Rubia Joy - Heart-Shaped Crocheted Earrings - June 13, 2024
Rubia Joy is a multidisciplinary artist who is a co-owner of Sota Scowi designs. Rubia works with quills, beads, crocheting, drawing, digital art, as well as photography, modeling and poetry.
Rubia has had her quillwork and beadwork at the Met Gala 2023 worn by Quannah Chasinghorse. She has also had work worn by Amber Midthunder and Isabella Star LaBlanc. Her art has also been shown at the Red Wing Depot Museum and various art markets.
Community Crafting Circle - Community Quilt: Tell Your Stories - May 9, 2024
"Community Quilt: Tell Your Stories" brought he community together to express their unique stories, memories, and identities by creating individual quilt squares using fabric and various materials (no sewing skills necessary). These squares will then be pieced together to form a collective story. This crafting circle is a beautiful opportunity to weave your story into the larger narrative of our community.
Artist Bio:
Cole Redhorse Taylor is a distinguished member of the Prairie Island Indian Community, a Mdewakanton Dakota tribe known for its rich heritage and continuous efforts to preserve its culture and traditions. Cole's journey is a testament to the resilience and strength inherent in his community.
Community Crafting Circle - Ozuha (Oh-zoo you-ha) Medicine Pouch - March 14, 2024
Storytelling and practicing the traditional arts of making a pouch with Jasmine Fiddle and Collins Provost.
Participants were taught how to make a pouch, bead on it and what it could be used for.
