Heather Friedli is an artist, a snow sculptor, an activist and so much more. I know her from working together on No Kings events. We spoke to her last spring during the St Paul Art Crawl. She does important work; she does beautiful work and is a living example of how and why art matters!
Currently, she is part of a team, making right a terrible arts error in the community by building ICE Out for Good, a sculpture that morphs two sculptures that were censored.
The sculpture is on corner of Franklin and Lake of the Isles Parkway. A ceremony and candlelight vigil for the victims of ICE on Saturday, Feb 7th at 6pm. For folks like me who need GPS, point yourself to St Paul’s Church on Lake of the Isles.
We have chatted with you before about your art gallery, but can you tell us more about your snow sculpture work and your team?
I’m a full-time artist, and in the winter I dedicate that full time to snow sculpting. I’m the captain of my competitive snow sculpting team called “Team Kwe”. Kwe is Anishinaabe for “woman”. We are three indigenous women with Anishinaabe heritage.
Please tell us about the issues with snow sculptures in the World Snow Sculpting Championship and the Minnesota State Snow Sculpting Competition.
I’m working with two snow sculpting teams who had their work destroyed by officials at the World Snow Sculpting Championship and MN State Snow Sculpting Competition to help elevate their voices.
We created a snow sculpture by Lake of the Isles that features elements of the two teams silenced works. Featuring Renee Good wearing a blindfold saying “ICE OUT!”, this work will also have hands reaching out signing in ASL “ICE OUT” on the back. Our project also features a memorial wall, listing the lives lost in ICE detention and the legal observers on our streets.
This project was brought into being by former poet laureate of Minneapolis Heid E. Erdrich, who was moved after the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, and the silencing of these brave artists voices.
How do such decisions to censor impact you as an artist? And as an activist, especially in the current climate?
I’m outraged by the censorship of my fellow artists. Human rights should be a given, not political. I disagree with the blatant destruction of these two works, especially because there was no communication with either of the teams before the destruction of their work. Not only does this silence these artists, but it’s very disrespectful to our community which is in mourning over these deaths, and the fact that the House of Thune piece at World’s was hands using ASL, was a silencing of the entire deaf and hard of hearing community. So as an activist, I had to stand up and use my voice for my fellow artists. So far, the reception to the work at Lake of the Isles has been positive! It makes me want to speak out with my work even more.
What has been your solution? (In other words please tell us about the new sculpture!)
Our solution was to create a new work on private property on a highly visible Blvd that was a combination of the two works with the addition of the memorial block listing many names of those who have been victims of ICE. We also have started a gofundme for the creation of a permanent sculpture much like the one from the World competition.
Please tell us about the ICE Out for Good Vigil and Ceremony on Feb 7?
We are having an “ICE Out for Good” candlelight vigil and ceremony at the snow sculpture this Saturday night, 6pm at Lake of the Isles Pkwy and Franklin Ave. There will be readings by poet Heid Erdrich, a projection of Renee Good’s poetry, group singing and more! Please join us in love and community support!
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