Arts Across the Prairie: Placemaking in Rural North Dakota

06/10/2026

Region 6 Update!

Our Region 6 site, west of Gackle, is getting a MAJOR glow up!

The North Dakota National Guard, through their "Innovative Readiness Training Program", is completing the parking lot and access road for the Region 6 site.

We will be finishing site work over the course of this summer, with artwork to follow next year!

Pictured below is the Region 6 site in the midst of being renovated.

05/18/2026

Springboard for the Arts is now accepting applications for it's Rural Regenerator Fellowship.

This opportunity is an 18-month fellowship that brings together rural artists, creatives, and culture bearers to deepen their relationships, grow their work, and support rural exchange and solidarity across the Upper Midwest.

The application deadline for this opportunity is June 18, so there is still time to apply!

For more information about the fellowship and how to apply visit

About the Rural Regenerator Fellowship Artists, culture bearers, and makers are essential to the future of rural places—and to the ways those places help our society develop and build new systems or policies that are human-centered, equitable, and resilient. Since 2021, Springboard for the Arts’...

05/12/2026

🎇 Calling outdoor artists! Wayne State College is seeking submissions for its Outdoor Sculpture Competition. Selected pieces will receive a $1500 honorarium and be displayed on campus for 12 months. Submit up to 12 images, plus a short resume, bio, and image list to [email protected] by June 1, 2026. No application fee. Artists will be notified before June 10, with installation mid‑June to mid‑August.

“Tunka Oyate” – The Rocks

Nestled between Conn Library, the Studio Arts Building, and Connell Hall is a walkway lined with tall granite boulders giving way to flatter rocks, trees, and grass. Twenty years ago tomorrow, on Oct. 8, 2002, this area was dedicated, a project that was part of the “1 percent for art” state mandate.*

“Tunka Oyate,” the original name for the Rocks, is a Lakota phrase meaning “pathway or connection to earth and man’s beginnings.” The artist, Zoran Mojsilov, was born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and moved to Minneapolis in 1986.

A June 2002 Wayne Herald article described the symbolism of the Rocks project: “Large boulders from quarries in Minnesota were transported to campus and arranged on either side of the walkway. Landscaping on the north slope of the boulders, symbolizing northeast Nebraska’s terrain, will feature hills and valleys. The south slope will represent the prairie, with buffalo grass and other native plantings included. Several flat boulders have been located near the walkway for gathering spots for small groups or classes.”

Other Wayne State personnel also offered their thoughts on the project and its upcoming dedication that year:

“We believe that ‘the Rocks’ will be attractive, interesting, and functional … It will evolve into a gathering place for students and classes – almost a classroom in and of itself.” – Sheila Stearns, President of Wayne State College in 2002

“Zoran Mojsilov created a lasting work of art for Wayne State College that reflects nature and man’s relationship with it.” – Dr. Pearl Hansen, chair of the art department in 2002

WSC students: Take a picture of yourself in the Rocks! The first THREE students to post your photos in the comments below get a free WSC t-shirt!

*The “1 percent for art” law requires 1 percent of all construction and major renovation projects of state buildings go toward art. The funding for the Rocks came from renovations of Terrace, Studio Arts, Connell, and Ramsey Theatre.

05/11/2026

We want to see the tiles you created at our tile workshops a few weeks ago. Whether you attended the NDSU, DSU, Morton Mandan Public Library, or D&N Cinematics workshops, show off the tiles you created in the comments!

We will start with some of the tiles we took pictures of at the workshop.

If you missed out on the fun, don't worry! There will be another opportunity to create tiles with Ryah Christensen later this summer. Details to come.

05/08/2026

Did you say you wanted to see picture of the tile workshops held last week?

Well here are just a few of them.

If you see yourself or a friend in them tag them in the comments below!

We had such an amazing time working with our community to bring these tile workshops together. Thank you to NDSU, DSU, Morton Mandan Public Library, and D&N Cinematics for hosting these tile workshops.

We have more pictures to come soon, and some announcements as well so make sure to keep your eye on social media pages!

05/06/2026

Thank you to all who attended our tile workshops last week! They were such a great success. Here's a little behind the scenes on the preparation that went into getting the tiles ready for you to make art with.

A special thank you to our artist, Ryah for leading these workshops. We so appreciate your hard work, and excitement to work with the community and people of North Dakota to create these tiles for the Region 8 sculpture.

Keep an eye out for more pictures of the tiles created at the workshops coming later this week!

05/04/2026

Check out our region 2 artists! So excited to have their work in North Dakota soon! Thank you for being a part of Arts Across the Prairie!

We recently received notice that The Milligan Studio ...our own Alan Milligan representing...was recently named a participant in Johnny Depp’s "People’s Artist" contest. The grand prize includes a feature in Artforum Magazine, $25,000, and an exhibition at The Art of Elysium Salon in Los Angeles.

Here's the link:

https://peoplesartist.org/2026/alan-scott-milligan

The voting begins on May 4..you can cast one free vote every day....so if you have a mind to vote...or to pass it along to others who might vote...we'd be grateful. We need a new studio. 60ft of sculpture does not fit in the yard. :) Nor did the Weight of Water.

Thank you for your support and partnership. It does inspire us.

With Fond Regards,

Nicole (& Alan)

04/30/2026

Today is the day! Come join us at the Morton Mandan Public Library and or D&C Cinematics to make clay tiles with Region 8 artist Ryah Christensen. We look forward to seeing you there!

Morton Mandan Public Library 4 pm to 5:30 pm

D&C Cinematics 7 pm to 830 pm

Pictured below is a sample of the clay titles that will be made at the workshop, as well as the model of the completed artwork. We look forward to seeing you there!

04/29/2026

Today is the day! Come make sgraffito tiles with us at Dickinson State University. Our Region 8 artist, Ryah Christensen will be leading this workshop and has been working hard to prepare for it.

We can't wait to see all the tiles that celebrate the amazing state of North Dakota!

Tiles made at this workshop will come together to create our Region 8 sculpture.

This is such a great opportunity to learn from a practicing artist. This workshop is open to all ages so even kids can get in on the fun of creating. See you there!

Pictured below is a sample of the tiles we will be creating as well as a model of the sculpture that will be located 10 miles west of Medora.