ANNOUNCING OUR 2027 ARTISTS + PERFORMERS
A dark dance scene from MEDUSA (Club Med) at Art Shanty Projects 2026. Photo: Drew Arrieta
Dear Creative Adventurers,
Art Shanty Projects is returning to the frozen water of Bdé Umáŋ / Lake Harriet in South Minneapolis January 16 – February 7, 2027. Save the dates!
We’re thrilled to announce the artists & performers listed below!
This month-long program – a spectacle like no other – brings people together to embrace the challenges and opportunities of winter (and of our world) through immersive, radical, participatory art. We intentionally create a space for creative exchange between artists, friends and strangers, which is really good practice for participation in greater society. That can include grappling with difficult topics, and also promoting collective joy. After last year’s program, which happened concurrently with the federal ICE occupation, artists are leaning more and more into the shanty village as a place to envision the kind of world we want to live in. This year that includes playful projects on beaver futurism, spellcasting, gender euphoria, and how to be better humans.
We can’t wait to spend shanty season with you!
Erin Lavelle
she/her/hers
Artistic Director
2027 SHANTIES
Promo images for Mussel Beach and Halloween Blizzard of ’91, courtesy the artists
Beav the Future Shanty
Jen Bays, Alyssa Connaughton, Emily Fairfax, Keitreice Kirksey, Caitlin McWilliams, Joe Miller, Jessie Moravek, Luke Neibauer, Michelle Weber (UMN Beaver Research Lab and UMN Design Students)
Cat World 3.0
Eva Adderley, Ray Booth, Waverly Booth, Dan DeMarco
Critter Convo: A MN Talk Show
Lisa Colburn, Walker Friend, Britt Johnson, Gail Kowsky
Free Store Shanty
Trevor Zapiecki
Gender Euphoria Bathroom
Court Nulicek with the Gentlethems and Sturdy Femmes
The Globe
Nick Chatfield-Taylor
Halloween Blizzard of ’91
Halloween Blizzard of ’91 Team
Le Cinema Shanty
Jacque Clark, Dimitria Klein, Sadie Paulin, Jake Ryan
Mussel Beach
Jacob Carrigan, Kelsy O’Morrow, Nate Ramos
Opticon 2
Team Opticon 2
The Orrery
Robin Garwood, Jesse Mortenson, Samantha Price
Performance Stage
Designed by Richard Parnell with build support from Anthony Chapin and Louis Kaufman. Featuring a rotating list of performers!
Shanty Organty
Keys 4/4 Kids Art Team!
Snowed-Inn
Ben Anderson, Shia Bintliff, Beau Gaulin, Nick Holzer, Eliot Michaels
The Storytelling Shanty
Story Arts of Minnesota, Black Storytellers Alliance, The Story Table Foundation
Sub Bdé Umáŋ
Riley Bruce, Rick Clay, Ky Sarge Kay, Aesch Lengstorf, Ryan O’Horo
Vibrance Research Station
Sherry Johnson, Gwen Law, Martin Law, Olivia Mackall, Cali Mastny, Caly McMorrow, Shannon Negaard-Paper, Heather Nova, Aaron Prust, Scott Raleigh, Cole Sarar
WEATHER or not: STATION
onionn, snem DeSellier
Welcome Shanty
Designed and constructed by students at the University of Minnesota School of Architecture. Remodeled and staffed by the board members of Art Shanty Projects.
Promo images from Snowed-Inn and Opticon 2 courtesy the artists.
2027 PERFORMANCES & ART ACTIONS
Friends from the Sync Hole return with a new air guitar competition, Ice Cold Hot Licks. Expect antics from the return of PENGUINS! Photos: Drew Arrieta, Erin Lavelle
AEROBICOURAGE
Allie Hankins and Jeffrey Wells
B-Icicle Races
Cassandra Monson, David Pitman, Mitch Redepenning, Jan Elftmann, Greg Leierwood, Erik Nelson
The Clown Sled
Cahoot Physical Theatre
Collective Joy Square Dance!
Ann Carter Calling & Friends
Folktales around the Fire
Bjorn Long and Lis Sundberg
Fro-gahhh: Yoga for the Planet and the People
James Orione
Hobby Horsing On Ice
P.R.A.N.C.E. Hobbyhorsing Club
Ice Cold Hot Licks
Beth Derenne, Theresa Madaus, Sparkle Madaus Derenne
Klezmer on Ice
Klezmer on Ice Kapelye
Ladies of the Lost Continent
Monica Rojas
PENGUINS!
Octoberdandy Productions
Pollinator Frenzy
Terry McDaniel and the Minnesota Pollinators: Judy Atrubi, Jan Elftmann, Carrie Finnigan, Janet Groenert, Mary Sue Hannen, Mina Leierwood, Teri Joyce, Kate Fuller, Louise McDonald, Catherine McKee, Mary Ann Meyer, Richard Parnell, Barb Rielly, Pat Ryan, Shanan Tolzin
Prairie Fire Choir
Prairie Fire Choir
Science Sunday
Twin Cities Lake Scientists
The Shanty Shufflers
Joni Griffith, Trevor Zapiecki
Taiko on Ice
TaikoArts Midwest’s Enso Daiko
Thakápsičapi
Twin Cities Native Lacrosse
Winter Plein Air Painters
Outdoor Painters of Minnesota (OPM) + Twin Cities Urban Sketchers
Winter Witches
Clara Schiller and Angela North
And a few more coming soon…
Collective Joy Square Dance and Klezmer on Ice both return with live music and dancing! Photos by Erin Lavelle and courtesy the artists.
The Art Shanty Projects On-Ice program will take place on Bdé Umáŋ / Lake Harriet from January 16 through February 7, 2027. Public hours are 10am – 4pm every Saturday and Sunday. Kicksleds are available as mobility aids during all program hours. An Audio Describer will be on site Sundays from 10am – 1pm, and an ASL interpreter will be available Sundays from 12 – 3pm, both for walk-up services. See our access page for more detailed information on services, and stay tuned for more details on amenities, performance schedule, parking info and more!
There is a suggested donation of $10-20 per person at the gate. Contributions from individuals are key to the organization’s financial sustainability, accounting for over half of the organization’s income. Visitors and supporters can also give ahead online.
Major support for Art Shanty Projects is provided by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. This event is supported by the Meet Minneapolis Community Events Assistance Program. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.