Sep 29
Take a journey through the history, mission, vision, and values of SWMHP — the culminating work of Jonny Stax’s yearlong artist in residency funded by ArtPlace America and supported by SWMHP’s Partnership Art.
This 6-film series by emerged from nearly 30 hours of story circles focused on departmental history and current make-up plus cross-departmental story circles on racial equity. They are shaped around the newly strategic direction of this rural housing agency in SW Minnesota. Many thanks for the funder, ArtPlace America, the staff and board who dedicated time and attention, our J.E.D.I. (justice, equity, diversity, intersectionality) story mapping team, and our creative team (Dr. Margaret Spearmong, Alex Carney, and Jenni Kotting). Special and enduring thanks to the residents for whom this organization exists and who gave us special access to the homes and stories.
- April Myers opens and closes the series talking about vision and continuum of services with Chad Adams and Joel Hollerich as her special guests in two episodes of her hit talk show April Showers. “You’re welcome, May flowers.” Filmed live on location at Solace Arts.
- The Stories of Solace and SWMHP are told through animation, photography of properties and people, and an original score and narrated by Jenn Lamb and Kristie Blankenship, respectively,
- Ahmed shares his story of moving from renter to interpreter in one of our properties, and
- The Art of Partnership is spoken through the words of SWMHP staff and board underscored by original composition and visual art.
Be sure to follow along the entire series by playing the playlist, which will take you through each film in sequence. This will only take you 20 minutes total, or just watch below:
Produced by Jonny Stax