
Marcus Young
Lead Artist
Marcus Young is a multidisciplinary conceptual and behavioral artist. Recent works include Don’t you feel it too?, an aspiring spiritual technology of dancing one's inner life in public places, and Everyday Poems for City Sidewalk, a process of imprinting poetry integrated into Saint Paul’s Department of Public Works’ standard methods of fixing sidewalks. Young studied music at Carleton College and theater at the University of Minnesota. He founded the behavioral art studio Grace Minnesota in 2009, and since 2006 has worked for Public Art Saint Paul as Saint Paul’s City Artist in Residence.
Kathleen Maloney
Producer
Kathleen Maloney is an arts producer, collaborator, writer and program administrator with deep experience in the Twin Cities’ arts and non-profit community. She started her career as the first manager of Zenon Dance Company and went on to manage Intermedia Arts, Minnesota Alliance for Arts in Education, and the Percent for Art program at the Minnesota State Arts Board, among other organizations. Maloney produces, writes about and embraces art in the public realm that helps to restore civility, peace and a sense of abundance.
Shen Pei
Collaborating Artist
Born in Nanjing, Shen Pei is a dance artist who has received the high honor of National Choreographer of the First Rank (China). In the U.S., Shen is former Artistic Director of CAAM Chinese Dance Theater where she served for 11 years. In 2005, the Children’s Theater Company produced The Monkey King, her adaptation of the Chinese epic classical novel. She has received two McKnight Choreographers Fellowships.
Peter Kramer
Architect
Principal Architect with Roark Kramer Kosowski/DESIGN, Peter Kramer is involved primarily nonprofit and community-based projects including moderate-cost housing, childcare centers and charter schools. He is also artist/author/publisher of several coloring books promoting color therapy and President and designer for OUCH! a folding furniture company.
Cody Anderson
Sound Engineer/Designer
Cody Anderson has worked as a sound engineer, designer, and installer of sound systems for 30 years. In live performance he has worked for Prince and Maxwell, Marc Anderson and Steve Tibbetts, and others. He was the sound engineer for the TimeZones international music festival in Bari, Italy for five seasons, where he worked with world-class musicians including Robert Fripp, David Byrne, and Nusrat Ali Khan.
Marc Anderson
Music and Closing Ceremony
Marc Anderson is a performer, composer, and educator who has recorded and performed internationally with such artists as Don Cherry, Steve Tibbetts, Max Roach, Robert Fripp, Peter Ostroushko, Altan and Taj Mahal. Marc studied drumming in Ghana, China, and Brazil, leads numerous drum ensembles and teaches traditional drumming extensively. He is an Anthropology professor at Hamline University and an ordained Zen priest.
Aki Shibata-Pliner
Collaborating Artist
Aki Shibata is a multimedia artist from Japan. She came to the United States to study art. Her interests include teaching art to youth, making books, investigating sleep, private space and the corporate idea of identity. She has exhibited her works at Disco Girl Gallery (Tokyo), Brandon Museum (Fort Dodge, IA), Soap Factory, IFP Gallery, Northrup King Gallery, College of Visual Arts Gallery, and the office of the Mayor of St. Paul.
Travis Spangler
Collaborating Artist
Travis Spangler is a recent graduate of the College of Visual Arts. He is a photographer, designer, writer, and organizer of this-planet.net. He is also a member of the behavioral art studio Grace Minnesota.
Angie Vo
Designer
Born in Vietnam with deep roots in Minnesota since the age of 3. Angie Vo is a freelance costume designer. She has been designing and creating costumes for modern dance companies in the Twin Cities for over ten years. Her interest in visual art, sculpture, textile and technical construction has led her on many exciting explorations and journeys through structure and form.
Vonda Vaden Bates
Ensemble Facilitator
Vonda Vaden is CEO of 10th Dot, offering a lifetime of learning to organizations and individuals responding to internal and external wake up calls. A twenty-year veteran in audience engagement and achievement advisement, with experience in adult learning, audience response technologies, live event and television production, and transformation facilitation models, she designs and delivers pattern-shifting events, meetings, and products.
Lori Janey
Volunteer Coordinator
A Seagate Design Engineer by trade, Lori helps signing up volunteers to their desired shifts and duties. She enjoys getting involved in the community and is a board member of Minnesota Chinese Dance Theater.
Brad Klages
Kite Service Provider
Brad Klages has been a member of the Minnesota Kite Society since 1994. He has served on its board and volunteered in various capacities. He has helped organize Wishes for the Sky since its inaugural year.