After four years of mostly online programming, ArtMakers returns to the public eye with a benefit concert designed to reintroduce the southeastern Minnesota’s adaptive arts collaborative to the community.
ArtMakers, a nonprofit based in Northfield, strives to serve more people, with more programs, in more locations; create an arts day program for people with disabilities; and to grow the base of participants and supporters, to bring community engagement to people with disabilities.
Basically, to create community by creating art together.
Jim Rossow is the founder and artistic director of ArtMakers. He reflected on what it means to return to in-person community events.
“We’re thrilled to be back. It’s been a long four years. We’ve learned a lot in that time, connecting with artists around the world via Zoom. But it’s not the same as being together in person,” said Rossow. “I feel privileged to work with the caliber of talent we get to collaborate with, and I’m excited to get more people involved — and share the joy and connection of creating art together. It looks like a bright future.”
Andrew Rossow has been on board since ArtMakers’ first-ever performance in 2014 — a song from “Wicked,” part of Northfield Arts Guild’s Americans with Disabilities Act Celebration that year.
“I like playing songs and acting in different shows,” Rossow said, “and story writing, like the ‘Alice’s Wonder’ script we’re working on now and ‘Askeladden and the Good Helpers,’ a Norwegian folk tale. The fun part of a project is doing the work and getting joy out of it.
He added, “The best thing about ArtMakers is getting to work with all these people. I really like working with Paul Fried, Rafi Dworsky and Helen Forsythe because they’re all top-of-the-line musicians.”
Brianna Uphoff starred in ArtMakers’ Zoom production of “Seven by Seuss” this year, telling favorite Seuss stories and singing original music composed during ArtMakers sessions over several months.
“I like doing plays,” she said. “It was really fun doing ‘Seven by Seuss.’ I think other people might like singing the songs that we do – and being together with friends.”
Brianna really enjoys making music: she has perfect pitch, learns songs by ear on the piano, and harmonizes naturally with other singers, said her father, Jeff Uphoff.
“But Brianna doesn’t get enough opportunities in her current day program to learn and make music,” he said.
Although they have returned to public appearances, ArtMakers remains online, to include and accommodate people with health risks, limited mobility, personal preference in the space most comfortable to them, without need for transportation.
IF YOU GO: Out & About presents the benefit concert to help ArtMakers serve more people on Thursday, May 30 at 7 p.m. at Imminent Brewing in Northfield. All ages welcome. The event is free, but donations are requested. For more information, log onto artmakersmn.org .
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