News Release
Voyageur Concervancy
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Contact: Tawnya Schoewe, 218 283 6670
Voyageurs National Park Along with Voyageurs Conservancy Host Community Artist and Educator - Sam Zimmerman
INTERNATIONAL FALLS, MN: This summer, Voyageurs National Park will receive a vibrant community mural celebrating the park’s waters and skies. With support from Voyageurs Conservancy, Sam Zimmerman will serve as a Community Artist and Educator in residence in the park from June 26 - July 1, 2022.
Sam Zimmerman - a Grand Portage direct descendant - is a painter, author, and educator based in Duluth, Minnesota. Zimmerman draws on his Ojibwe heritage to create vibrant images filled with symbolism. He passionately believes in artistic expression as a gateway for education and cultural understanding. His work continues the Anishinaabe tradition of storytelling, with themes of environmental stewardship and conservation. His work has been showcased in gallery and public installations throughout the nation and abroad.
During his residency, Sam Zimmerman will create a community mural on the shorelines of Voyageurs National Park. This mural will depict the unique landscape of the park, share Ojibwe teachings, and offer a space for dialogue. The public is encouraged to view Sam’s work in action at rotating ‘Mural Pop-ups’ located at the park’s visitor centers. At these pop-ups, you’ll meet Sam, observe his artistic process and learn how Ojibwe storytelling influences his paintings. A special event unveiling the new Voyageurs Community Mural will be hosted at the Ash River Visitor Center on Friday, July 1st from 1:00 - 2:00 pm. Join the National Park Service, Voyageurs Conservancy, and Sam Zimmerman to celebrate art and stewardship in our parks!
Schedule of Events:
Sunday, June 26
1:00 - 4:00 pm Voyageurs Community Mural Pop-up
Ash River Visitor Center
Tuesday, June 28
1:00 - 4:00 pm Voyageurs Community Mural Pop-up
Rainy Lake Visitor Center
5:30 - 6:30 pm Following My Spirit Home; book talk and signing with Sam Zimmerman
International Falls Public Library
10 – 11 pm Voyageurs Dark Sky Program with guest Sam Zimmerman
Rainy Lake Visitor Center
Wednesday, June 29
9:00 as – 12 pm Voyageurs Community Mural Pop-up
Ash River Visitor Center
Thursday, June 30
9:00 am – 12 pm Voyageurs Community Mural Pop-up
Ash River Visitor Center
10 – 11 pm Voyageurs Dark Sky Program with special guest Sam Zimmerman Voyageurs Forest Overlook (near the Ash River Visitor Center)
Friday, July 1
1 – 2 pm Community Mural Unveiling and Celebration
Ash River Visitor Center
About Sam Zimmerman
Sam Zimmerman, a Grand Portage direct descendant, is a painter, author, and educator based in Duluth, Minnesota. Zimmerman draws on his Ojibwe heritage to create vibrant images filled with symbolism. This led Zimmerman to return home to Minnesota to a life of painting, educating, and storytelling on the shores of Lake Superior. He passionately believes in artistic expression as a gateway for education and cultural understanding. His work continues the Anishinaabe tradition of storytelling, with themes of environmental stewardship and conservation through his public art commissions. He has illustrated a series of bilingual children's books for the Red Cliff Band of Ojibwe schools. Sam has been a recipient of Minnesota State Arts Board, Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, and Duluth Superior Community Foundation awards. His first book, Following My Spirit Home, a collection of paintings and stories celebrating the beauty of the North Shore of Lake Superior was published this past April. His work is currently in private collections both in the United States and abroad. View more of his work at @cranesuperior on Facebook and Instagram.
About Voyageurs Conservancy Voyageurs Conservancy is the official charitable partner of Voyageurs National Park. Established in 1965, the Conservancy was the driving force to permanently protect the Rainy, Kabetogama, Namakan, and Sand Point region of northern Minnesota. Today, the Voyageurs Conservancy is a community of people dedicated to preserving, protecting, and sharing the unique experience of Minnesota’s national park. The organization is a 501c3 nonprofit that works directly with the National Park Service to support conservation and recreation projects, advance education and outreach, and protect the wild nature of the park. It continues to connect people to the outdoors where they can learn, volunteer, and recreate, while preserving the park for future generations
Last updated: June 22, 2022