Guide to the Wakpa Triennial Art Festival

Featured Events

Navigating Wakpa

Saint Paul Art Locations

As “Wakpa” means “River” in the Dakota language, the St. Paul Public Art organized festival aims to emphasize the interconnectedness of the Twin Cities artistic scene. Over these 12 weeks, more than 100 artists will come together to share a piece of their work with the community at a series of free, public art events happening in St. Paul as well as Minneapolis and the surrounding areas. This year, the festival’s theme centers on “a Network of Mutuality,” a phrase from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his letter from Birmingham Jail, emphasizing the importance of interconnection. Events are free and open to the public, but some may require advance registration. A full up-to-date list of events is available on the website.

Featured Events

Critical Conversations, Reconciliation and Reparations

July 13, 11:30am - 1:30pm - Rondo Public Library, Main Meeting Room

This conversation, co-lead by Melvin Giles and Diane Dodge, will serve as a dialogue for the understanding and positive change through critical conversation. Melvin and Diane will be joined by Trahern Crews, a member of the Reparations Advisory Committee for the City of Saint Paul, along with Dominique Diaddigo-Cash, an Organizing Representative for Health Communities, Sierra Club North Star Chapter.

Register to Attend

Saint Paul Goes to Red Wing

July 15 - 9:45am - 5:00pm - Public Art Saint Paul > Red Wing

Start in Downtown Saint Paul and set off on a one-hour cruise to Red Wing to meet artist, Cecelia Cornejo who will talk about her project, Threads of Connection and Belonging which uses embroidery to tell stories gathered from people in southeastern Minnesota. Tour the buildings and sculpture garden, followed by lunch in the beautifully restored “Barn” space. Back on the bus, the group will visit a public art project in downtown by Seitu Jones about the African American history of Red Wing. The final stop will be at the new trailhead at He Mni Can (Barn Bluff) that recognizes the Dakota history of the site with a local tour guide.

Register to Attend

Critical Conversations, “Stories I Didn’t Know” Film Screening and Discussion

July 17 - 6pm-8:30pm - Minnesota Humanities Center

Join the community at this screening of the documentary Stories I Didn’t Know, which follows Saint Paul resident Rita Davern as she learns more about her ancestral history in Minnesota and its implications.

Register to Attend

Dakota Plant Walk

July 19, 6:30pm - 7:30pm - Crosby Farm Park

Walk with Tanaǧidaŋ To Wiŋ (Tara Perron) at Crosby Farm Park and learn about the native plants in the park, exploring the history and story of this natural area. This tour runs about 1 hour, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes and clothing.

Latino Conservation Week Festival

July 22, 1pm - 5pm at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

This free event celebrates the Latino community and culture through music, dance, art, and food. This event is presented by Saint Paul’s Indigenous Roots, Huellas Latinas, along with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and the City of Bloomington.

Flower Power VII

August 5, Sunrise to Sunset at Indian Burial Mounds Regional Park

At this annual event, artists gather together to create a joint work of art – a mosaic like piece made from cut flowers. Though only the artists create this art piece, the community is welcomed to watch the creation, and stay for the speakers and special music performed throughout the day.

Prairie|Concrete: Event Gathering

August 6, 2pm- 5pm at Western Sculpture Park

Join Prairie|Concrete in a series of movement workshops and embodied listening gatherings that focus on growing cycles of plants and natural systems. This project is led by artist Pramila Vasudevan and the Aniccha Arts Collaborative. Following August 6, there will be two more event gatherings with Prairie|Concrete: one at Hidden Falls Regional Park on August 13 and one at Frogtown Farm on September 10.

Public Sewing Party

August 24 - 5:00pm - 6:30pm at East Side Freedom Library

Join artist Rachel Breen for an interactive gathering that teaches visible mending and sewing basics. Attendees are invited to bring any clothes that need mending and use the provided materials (buttons, thread, patches) to practice their mending skills.

Constellation Video Projections

September 15 + 16 at Rice Park

The videos presented at Constellation are created by seven artists and will be projected onto the George Latimer Public Library in Rice Park. The videos will explore the interaction between art and its environment as the videos will incorporate the structure and architecture of the building itself. This is the finale event for the Wakpa Triennial.

How to Navigate the Wakpa Triennial

The Triennial provides a summer full of art activities to participate in as you traverse our cities from one art site to another or take in live programs throughout the run of the 84 days. There is much to see, do, experience, and return to, from our Opening Day Ceremony on Raspberry Island to our closing finale in Rice Park with Constellation: Video Storytelling. Spend a day in downtown Saint Paul, finding the art projects there and nearby on the River. Spend another day exploring the Longfellow neighborhood along Lake Street and visit Moon Place Books, local coffee shops, and restaurants. And then move on to other places and catch events all summer long. You create your own path.

Check out the Wakpa Triennial website for live program information and for the most up-to-date information on artists, projects, and events. Some events require registration, and you’ll access that via the website link.