February 13, 2025

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The Evolution of Art Shanty Projects

The Evolution of Art Shanty Projects

What happens when you combine Minnesota’s vibrant art landscape with its winter recreation culture? The result is Art Shanty Projects, a whimsical symbiosis of art structures and ice fishing villages. “Two artists had been observing ice fishing culture on Medicine Lake, and they learned that there are no building codes on a frozen lake,” explains Erin Lavelle, artistic director of Art Shanty Projects. “You can make whatever you want.”

Photo by Max Haynes

Thus, in 2004, the project was born—they set up one shanty that served as an interactive art studio, sharing space with the surrounding fishing village. In the two decades since, the project has moved to Lake Harriet and grown into a beloved tradition that attracts visitors by the tens of thousands annually.

For four weekends in January and February, the frozen lake is transformed into a unique walk-through exhibition—past projects have featured night club-inspired shanties, artmaking experiences, and even a functional post office. “Winter can be very isolating for people if you don’t ice skate, play hockey, ski, or do any of the sports,” says Lavelle. “I think we’re offering a really fun, community-centered opportunity to get outside in an unintimidating way.”

Close Knit Pavilion

Photo by Ryan Stopera

But, things have changed since 2004—the resilience of the project and its participants has been tested over the past several years, and learning to adapt has been the only way forward. After the onset of the pandemic, public programming was cancelled entirely in 2021. “Everybody unanimously agreed they did not want people inside shanties anymore,” says Lavelle. “So, we turned everything inside out.” The 2022 program featured new restrictions on sharing air space with visitors, a creative challenge that led to a mix of transparent exteriors with aquarium-style viewing and completely open-air shanties.

While enclosed structures were reintroduced in 2024, Lavelle explains, around half of the participants continue to push the boundaries of what a shanty can be. “Some of the artists are really eager to get back inside, and others are like, ‘This is creatively really interesting to not be a box that people come inside of,’” she says. “Visually, things have opened up and changed for artists.”

The Evolution of Art Shanty Projects
Poem for Entangled Living

Photo by Ryan Stopera

Just when it felt like normalcy had returned, last year’s mild, snowless season reared its ugly head—and while enjoyable for some of us, the warmest winter on record isn’t quite ideal for on-ice programming. “We had open water all through December, and I think on Jan. 1, there was a thin layer of ice,” says Lavelle. After a few days of sub-zero temperatures, they were able to install the shanties for just one weekend—but slushy conditions had returned by the following Tuesday, and organizers called off the rest of the event. “We were very mindful about when we decided, ‘We’re done,’” says Lavelle, noting the team monitors the ice three times daily.

According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, 2024 is likely to be recorded as one of the warmest years on the global record, potentially surpassing the previously unparalleled temperatures in 2023. And this pattern could continue through at least 2027, as predicted by the World Meteorological Association.

So, how do you prepare for the future of a winter event in the face of a changing climate? While things are looking good for this year’s event (the ice is thick and artists have already installed their shanties on the lake) there is a backup plan in place—it’s “Plan Beach,” where shanties are installed in Lake Harriet Bandshell Park—but wet grass and mud made this impossible to execute last year. “We have identified other potential locations within the park system for a ‘Plan C’ that has more hardscape,” says Lavelle.

Additionally, the team has brought on a new board member who works in analyzing climate change data. “He’s really working with us to look at bigger trends, then local impacts in Minneapolis,” says Lavelle. “Hopefully, it will allow us to predict things a little further in advance than, say, the week of.”

No matter how the project continues to evolve, Lavelle’s biggest hope is to preserve the original spirit of the shanty village. “It’s meant to be this immersive experience connecting people to each other and to the outdoor environment in the winter,” she says, “and I hope we maintain that.”

Art Shanty Projects 2025 will take place on weekends between Jan. 18 and Feb. 9 at Lake Harriet. Find more information at artshantyprojects.org.


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