Twin Cities residents are not lacking for reasons to stay indoors this January. A cold snap swept across Minnesota, bringing freezing winds and subzero temperatures, and the area is still facing a brutal crackdown by Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE). For many, staying inside is not a choice, but a necessity. It can be difficult to cope with these circumstances in isolation, which is why Art Shanty Projects is inviting residents to leave their homes for four weekends of immersive art, performances, activism and community-building.
From Jan. 17 to Feb. 8, the icy surface of Lake Harriet (in Dakota: Bdé Umáŋ) has been covered by an array of shacks constructed by local artists. Each “shanty” has a unique design and purpose. Some invite discussion and relaxation, while others encourage play or dancing. The aptly-named “Quilt Shanty” invites attendees to warm up in a den made out of quilts. Another shanty, “SUB BDé UMáŋ,” uses electronics to simulate the experience of piloting a submarine under Lake Harriet. A third, “Medusa,” posits itself as an galactic dance club attempting to bridge the divide between humans and aliens through dance.
Erin Lavelle, the artistic director of Art Shanty Projects, described the event as “a temporary community on a temporary surface in public space.
“We are inspired by … ice fishing villages, where these temporary communities pop up in the wintertime on frozen lakes, and people gather in little structures called shanties that are warm and protect you from the elements,” Lavelle said. “All of our shanties are made by artists, and have different participatory, immersive activities inside and around them.”
Macalester alum Sydney Petersen ’19 is the production director of Art Shanty Projects. Petersen, who joined the project in 2022, hopes that this year’s Art Shanties will offer a reprieve from the ICE occupation. Petersen aims to provide people with the chance to gather and build community in a joyful and relaxing environment, as opposed to the high-intensity environment of a protest or strike.
“There’s a different way that you show up to [protests],” Petersen said. “Coming to Art Shanties, hopefully there’s more space for contemplation.”
Lavelle echoed this sentiment, adding: “Our bodies all need breaks. We cannot keep working 24/7 at anxiety-inducing panic levels.”
She stressed that Art Shanty is not “a break from reality.” Rather, Lavelle sees it as “a break from the stress [which] is nourishing [and] grounding.”
Lavelle’s description of Art Shanty mirrors my own experience at the event. I danced to Klezmer music, holding hands with strangers, the cleats on my boots carving circles on the lake surface. I joined a group storytelling session set in a cozy sunlit wooden shack. I even tried group yoga — though I may have spent more time slipping than I did stretching. These activities made space for joyful gathering and, in participating, I recovered from the emotional harms of political turmoil while deepening my connection to the Twin Cities community.
Although Art Shanty was crowded when I attended, Pamela Vázquez Torres, Art Shanty Projects’ administrative director, noted that ICE presence has prevented some local artists from working on or attending this year’s event, while others are running their shanties from afar and employing performers and volunteers as intermediaries. Petersen added that all artists who worked on this year’s event will be compensated regardless of their ability to attend.
Art Shanty will be open on Feb. 7 and 8 at Lake Harriet for its final weekend of the season. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged. If you choose to attend, I encourage you to dress warm, and bring ice cleats if you own them.
Macalester students looking to get involved in next year’s event should keep an eye on the group’s social media pages for artist and performer applications, which will open in the summer. Art Shanty Projects will also be soliciting applications for their jury, who will decide which projects get approved for 2027.
