A new, one-of-a-kind street-side arts festival,
centered around the themes of justice, equity and solidarity.
This is an outdoor event - we are asking all to wear their face mask!
October 1 | 5 - 9 PM (Thursday)
October 2 | 5 - 9 PM (Friday)
October 3 | 1 - 10 PM (Saturday)
Payne Avenue | St. Paul, MN
Down from Maryland Avenue to Hopkins Street
Sol•i•dar•ity
"unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group."
The SOLIDARITY STREET GALLERY brings together a diverse group of artists to the East Side of St. Paul to express their feelings on racial justice and equity. In the wake of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis this summer and the global COVID-19 pandemic, the SOLIDARITY STREET GALLERY seeks to build meaningful connections between the community and local artists in a time of social isolation and economic distress, through the unifying force of art. This COVID-conscious, outdoor event allows community members and visitors to socially distance while walking down Payne Ave and engaging in a variety of art exhibitions, educational opportunities, special events, and food offerings.
While some of the sites hosting exhibits are art studio venues and art organizations, most are regular businesses who are making their store-front windows, outside walls and parking lots available for a wide range of colorful art displays.
A few of the sites are curating their own exhibits. Most of the artists showing their work in this event came to us through a public call for art, representing a highly diverse cross-section of our community. Well over half of the artists are BIPOC. A good many of the artists are local, from our East Side neighborhood. The rest come from across the Twin Cities.
We hope you all will enjoy this unique opportunity
to see the colorful and inspiring work of a diverse group of artists
while being out on a fall day, making some new connections, and gaining some fresh perspectives
Sponsors
We are most grateful for the generous financial support from our sponsors. Their confidence in our initiative helps us support select artists with the production / installation of their artwork, and cover select operating expenses associated with the production of this exhibit. The vast majority of labor hours invested into this exhibit are generously donated by volunteers.
Partners
The event was first initiated under the umbrella of the Payne Area ReBOOT, a joint initiative between the Payne Arcade Business Association (PABA) and the East Side Neighborhood Development Company (ESNDC). The event is being developed and organized in partnership with a great number of individuals and organizations in our neighborhood and the City of St. Paul. Most of them are arts and community organizations. They represent the diversity, cultural heritage and interests of the residents who live in our neighborhoods, and of artists who care about the East Side.
