2022 February Press Releases

Plains Art Museum to Open La Línea: 22 Years of Grupo Soap del Corazón

Press Release
For Immediate Release (February 2022)

Fargo, N.D. –  Plains Art Museum announces its next exhibition, La Línea: 22 Years of Grupo Soap del Corazón, running from Monday, February 28 through Saturday, August 13, 2022, in the Museum’s William and Anna Schlossman Gallery.

The exhibition commemorates the diversity of expression and longevity of a group that has already brought forth exhibitions such as El Otro Americano, Frontera Lake Street, El Milagro, Gráfica Politica, Ni Una Mas (spotlight on the 370 plus disappeared and murdered women of Juarez, Mexico), and Espiritus. Exhibited works in the La Línea (The Line) includes new work by Camilo Eduardo Aguirre, Ricardo Bennett-Guzmán, Jim Denomie, Luis Fitch, Eric Garcia, Ruthann Godollei, Martin Esteban Gonzalez, Gustavo Lira, Bobby Marines, Lela Pierce, Dougie Padilla, Marcela Rodriguez Aguilar (“Amaru”), Susana Andrea Villalobos Sakr, María Cristina Tavera, and Xavier Tavera. Plains Art Museum in Fargo, North Dakota is the first event scheduled for La Línea: 22 Years of Grupo Soap del Corazón, followed by exhibitions at the MMAA in St. Paul, MN, and the Anderson Center for the Arts in Red Wing, MN.

With a roster of over 95 established visual artists, poets, writers, musicians, activists, and visionaries, Grupo Soap del Corazón, led by Dougie Padilla and Xavier Tavera, is one of the longest-running Latinx artist groups in the country. As a dynamic collaboration, they have infused culture, passion, and spirit into the northern plains and the USA’s art scene for more than 20 years. With work that sometimes confronts sociopolitical issues, or celebrates the joy of Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), or provides much-needed human connection, Grupo Soap del Corazόn has generated both publicity and critical acclaim by electrifying the Latinx artistic voice. In 2009, the group created spectacle, wonder, and celebration through the creation of steamroller prints at Plains Art Museum – an event that resulted in works in the Museum’s permanent collection.

On Thursday, March 10, the public is invited to attend a panel talk discussing issues of representation and creative placemaking with Grupo Soap Del Corazón from 6 – 7 pm and join Museum staff and exhibiting artists afterward for the Winter Party until 9 pm. Admission to the Winter Party is $10 or $5 for students and free for members. Tickets are available at https://one.bidpal.net/winterparty22/welcome.

Plains Art Museum is the largest art museum in the Dakotas and Western Minnesota. It is general admission free and educationally-focused thanks to strong and growing support from over 800 households and businesses. The Museum manages a permanent collection of over 4,000 objects, organizes and presents dozens of annual exhibitions, facilitates public art projects, and leads over 200 educational programs and experiences for all ages each year. The Museum, and its Katherine Kilbourne Burgum Center for Creativity, are located at 704 First Avenue North in downtown Fargo. For more information about visiting or supporting your art museum, visit plainsart.org.

5 Plain Questions Podcast begins its 3rd Season

Press Release
For Immediate Release (February 2022) 

Fargo, ND – It’s back! 5 Plain Questions podcast has returned for a third season this February with Director of both Community Engagement and Native American Programs at Plains Art Museum, Joe Williams, hosting conversations with leading Indigenous artists and creators.  

The format remains the same, but the guests are all new. 5 Plain Questions poses 5 general questions to Indigenous artists, creators, musicians, writers, movers and shakers, and culture bearers. Featured guests this season include: Joy Harjo, Vincent Schilling, Linda Whitney, and comedian and actor Dallas Goldtooth. Finally, October features the return of fan favorite 5 Scary Questions where former guests share their strange and unexplainable experiences with Williams.

“We’re proud of how 5 Plains Questions started out this season. As the podcast nears 10,000 downloads, I look forward to sharing my guests’ experiences and stories with our broadest audience yet!” said Williams.

Episodes are available on all Podcast platforms.

5 Plain Questions is produced by Plains Art Museum and edited by Eleven Warrior Arts LLC.

Plains Art Museum is your nonprofit art museum and education center, supported by over 800 individuals and organizations. The Museum and its Katherine Kilbourne Burgum Center for Creativity are located at 704 First Avenue North in downtown Fargo. For more information about visiting or supporting your art museum, visit plainsart.org.