Remembering Intermedia Arts: Changemakers Catalyst Series

Recently the hard drive archive of Intermedia Arts photos was opened up with a viewing at Pillsbury House. I couldn't make it but remember fondly Intermedia Arts and how important it was for so many artists in the Twin Cities. Since it closed nothing has quite managed to fill its place and some of us who remember what a dynamic space it was have said to each other in quiet whispers "these young kids don't know what they're missing." Many thanks to Mankwe Ndosi, Sha Cage, and others for supporting my early efforts as an emerging artist and curator. Intermedia Arts held the space for the annual Dimensions of Indigenous intertribal exhibition series for over 10 years supporting important and challenging conversations in a third space on identity, immigration, politics, and interconnectedness. Amid recent events in the Twin Cities, these parading shifting conversations feel more important than ever. Intermedia excelled at pulling people interested in working together on systemic issues and continues to reveal a systemic issue. Without spaces like Intermedia the trend is creative support for the few and the emerging, a glass ceiling that some artists may never break out of. Too many women artists of color aren't recognized until after their deaths. The list is long and an arts historian would be able to tell you better than I. If they're lucky a retrospective to participate in before they fly on. I'm thinking for example of New York based Faith Ringgold who was celebrated in her own community in 2022 (https://admin.newmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Ringgold_PR_Sep2021-1.pdf) just 2 years before her death and now being celebrated with the public respect she was always due (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/arts/design/faith-ringgold-jack-shainman.html). Intermedia supported hard conversations, interesting multi and transdisciplinary work, civic design, and welcomed people from all walks of life, each creative in their own ways. After Intermedia Arts closed I realized just how important it was to me personally. I set out to create my own space as many women artists of color have done before. A social practice before it was known as such in order to build the doorway to be able to open the door to our own work. A 2015 Knight Arts Challenge supported creating Electric Machete Studios on Saint Paul's West Side to beloved community success until burnout, another systemic issue for small artist run spaces. Year after year I ask without answer, where are all the arts administrators for the women who work twice as hard for half as much pay, pave the way for others and only get their work recognized after death?
​RIP Intermedia Arts.