Lineas de Sangre artist talk with Melodee Strong

“Lineas de Sangre” (Bloodlines) an exhibition of work by Melodee Strong will run through  Saturday, Oct. 15 at NE Sculpture|Gallery Factory, in back of the Casket Arts complex, 1720 Madison St. NE in the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District. There will be an artist talk on Friday, Oct. 7, 7 pm and the closing reception Oct. 15, 4-6 pm.

Lineas de Sangre is a culmination of works examining and reflecting on the artist’s experiences growing up as a “mixed” girl in Minnesota. Through her writings, recordings, research, and sketches Strong has realized that creating work to represent her race was not enough; this is a personal story.

“To get the full picture of my complex story, I have to include a time when my parents experienced significant trauma in their lives that eventually affected my life. And, it’s an examination into the traditions and beliefs that collided together from two completely different cultures to shape who I am,” said Melodee Strong.

Strong has degrees in fine arts and arts education and recently earned the Minneapolis Educator Leadership Award from the Graves Foundation in 2020 and 2022. Her portfolio includes book illustration and murals giving attention to diverse cultures, feminism and social justice; over 60 mural and large scale projects in the Twin Cities and Jamaica. She is teaching visual art at Franklin Middle School and is an adjunct professor at several higher education institutions.