Art Shanties Bring Art to the Lake

I challenge you to find a more Minnesotan art form than a creatively-executed ice-fishing shack. These traditional structures are built on a frozen lake. Anglers bore through the ice, set up their fishing poles, and huddle around propane heaters and beer and tell tall tales. Many fishermen decorate their huts with amusing or practical accessories.

For the sixth year, a gathering of Twin Cities artists seeks to redefine the ice hut in a gathering known as the Art Shanty Projects. At least from the photos, it looks like a little like Burning Man with more parkas. The installation is located on Medicine Lake in Plymouth, MN and is family friendly.

Art Shanty Projects is an artist driven temporary community exploring the ways in which the relatively unregulated public space of the frozen lake can be used as a new and challenging artistic environment to expand notions of what art can be.

The project provides a unique opportunity for artists to interact with their audience, and vice versa, in an un-intimidating, non-gallery like environment. Artists can choose to work in a way that directly engages the audience i.e. knitting or singing Karaoke or in a more passive way.

The project must self-govern to respect the environment of the lake and the community of fisher-people that already exists, we are bringing a new use to a place that already has an established relationship with its patrons.

Installation begins January 10th and the show opens on the 17th, running through February 14th. For more information check out the Art Shanty Projects Web site.

Also, if you're looking for more nordic excitement, check out the Art Sled Rally in Minneapolis!

(More photos after the break)

All photos (c) the respective artists.