For the Native youth of Phillips “there are a lot of possibilities out there…to be a part of”¦”

I See Generations

Photo by Jaime Martinez

BY COCO VILLALUZ with LINDSEY FENNER

The eastern wall of the Minneapolis American Indian Center (MAIC) at 1530 E. Franklin Avenue has been turned into a 3,306 square foot canvas. Guided by Native youth, mural artists Gregg Deal and Votan have created a stunning new mural alongside George Morrison”'s wood collage on the MAIC that showcases the wealth of Native public art in the Phillips Community. This new mural acts as an entrance to the American Indian cultural corridor along Franklin Avenue.

The MAIC mural was a collaboration between ClearWay Minnesota, a non-profit working to reduce commercial tobacco usage; the Native Youth Alliance of Minnesota; and community organizer Charlie Thayer. The project was further supported by Mary LaGarde, Executive Director of MAIC, and Frank Downwind and Ozzie Snowdon from Little Earth of United Tribes.