Artists on a tight string find space at Midtown Global Market

In the bustling Midtown Global Market on a weekday afternoon, while people browsed craft shops, sat at tables devouring lunch and got their hair done, artist-in-residence Ron Brown stood in the middle of his makeshift studio/gallery, admiring his array of paintings on wooden boards.

He’s the second of two artists-in-residence this year. The market will announce the third one this month.

Home to more than 45 businesses representing more than 20 cultures worldwide, the market hosts an extremely flexible artist-in-residency program. With it, the market hopes to add even more diversity and community engagement.

Brown started his residency in August. It was supposed to wrap up on Aug. 31, but has been extended through the end of this month.

The spontaneity and flexibility of the market’s residency have worked for Brown’s style.

“Everything I do is a one-off,” he said. “I just have a vision in my head and I try to hurry up and get it out as fast as I can before I move onto the next.

“I think I’m artistic schizophrenic.”

He recently created an ARTBOX project with the city of Bloomington, transforming a previously dull utility box into a bright red cube covered with a crowd of faces, outlined in black with white eyes.

Initially Brown wanted to turn the makeshift studio/gallery at the market into a larger installation, “kind of like more of a living area,” he said.

But instead the space fluidly transformed with Brown’s residency. He live paints a couple of Saturdays, and comes into work when he can, usually at least for 45 minutes.

“I have a continuous line style, like an interwoven face,” he said, gazing at the paintings on the walls.

The works in his studio, mostly on wood, represent many things. One of them has many male figures, which he calls kings or a sort of renaissance for men. His works at this residency are mostly about fathers, which he calls the “Superman” of children’s lives.

“I think that as men, and especially Black men in America, we kind of have that stereotype that we’re not great fathers,” he said. “And that’s completely the opposite.”

Brown of south Minneapolis likes using recovered wood in his work, including pieces of wood he found during the uprising following the killing of George Floyd in 2020.

“I wish I could be here more,” he said. “But as an artist I try not to be starving.”

Friends of Global Market’s executive director Matt Tell said that the market works with artists’ schedules.

“We have to look at what’s reasonable for them, and what we can do, and what works for the market,” he said.

When Tell noticed a vendor moving out, he approached management about the empty space.

The project started with an opportunity to showcase student artwork, and grew from there.

Artists-in-residence get a small stipend to help offset costs, and must host a workshop. The rest is up to the artist.

Mostafa Khchich sells handcrafted goods from Morocco and his shop is across from the artist-in-residence space.

“It’s all about art,” Khchich said. “Everyone is interested to know more and learn more about art.”