by Jamee Larson
Oftentimes a city’s hidden gems are the places where the true heart and soul of a community are found. Many times, that heart and soul is found within the arts. Such is the case with Fargo’s Spirit Room. Located at 111 Broadway, the Spirit Room is unassuming from the outside, inconspicuous among dozens of other signposts. Inside, however, one finds a wide array of artistic endeavors, a collection that truly embodies the creative spirit of the Fargo/Moorhead community. The importance of art in the development of a society has been appreciated for centuries. Upon signing into existence the National Endowment on the Arts President Lyndon Johnson remarked, “Art is a nation’s most precious heritage. For it is in our works of art that we reveal to ourselves and to others the inner vision which guides us as a nation. And where there is no vision, the people perish.”
The Spirit Room began as a grass roots organization in 1997 with gallery exhibits and literary events. In 2000, the organization began developing their current location on Broadway, a space that had been abandoned for over thirty years. Since then, the Spirit Room has become a non-profit 501c3 organization and completed several renovations. In addition to the original art gallery, the organization is now home to the Lotus Studio, the Practice Office for the coordinators of yoga, meditation and healing arts, a conference area, and 24 artist studios. “I think people are surprised by how much space the Spirit Room has for art displays, classes, and studios,” said Jessica Jorgenson, Grant Coordinator for the organization. “When you are on Broadway and you see the sign, you don’t often think of it being as large as it is.” The Sprit Room also has space on the second floor in the Avalon downtown and is in the process of developing an additional gallery to be named the “Galahad Gallery.”
What is the Spirit Room?
Many people might say that the Spirit Room is an art gallery. Others may think of it along literary lines after having attended a Spirit Room sponsored reading. Some have attended concerts at the site and consider it a musical venue. Still others see the space in terms of the healing arts or the contemplative classes the organization offers. So, what is the Spirit Room? An art gallery? A music venue? A location for contemplative practices and spiritual healing? The correct answer is that the Spirit Room is all of these, and more. What makes the organization so unique is the wide variety of offerings located within its walls. It is something different for everyone.
The mission of the Spirit Room is “to enrich people’s lives through the development and practice of creative, contemplative, and healing arts.” In addition to the art galleries and artist studios, the organization offers classes in everything from salsa and belly dancing to yoga and meditation. The galleries double as spaces for literary events, musical performances, and healing arts demonstrations. The Spirit Room also has a full kitchen and can be rented out for special events and dinner parties. There is a great deal going on in this relatively small space.
The Spirit Room is considered a vital part of the Fargo/Moorhead art community. The artist studios participate in the popular Corks and Canvas, the downtown arts walk, and the FM Visual Artists Studio Crawl. It is also home to the Listening Room, a live music program featuring local and national songwriters/storytellers. Past performers include Patchouli, David Stoddard, and Flat Lands. The intimate setting of the Spirit Room’s galleries gives listeners a one-of-a-kind experience. The next Listening Room event features Andra Suchy on Friday, February 14 at 7:30pm.
The Spirit Room is also a partner with the Center for Interfaith Projects, a nonprofit organization that strives to promote mutual respect among members of different faiths. The Center’s vision is “a community in which religious strangers become – through respectful dialogue – religious friends, seek to understand each other’s faith traditions, and, on the basis of shared values, work together on projects beneficial to the whole community.” The Sprit Room has sponsored several retreats, conferences, and lectures aimed at helping the Center fulfill that mission. More information about the Center for Interfaith Projects, including upcoming events, can be found at www.centerforinterfaithprojects.org.
The Great Winter Crow Show:
Each year, the Spirit Room holds one of two major shows: The Great Winter Crow Show on even years and the Sabi Winter Show on odd. The first Sabi Winter Show was held in March of 2013 and featured visual, literary, and performance art based on the Japanese philosophy that beauty lies in what is flawed. The show was a celebration of the beauty of imperfection. The next Sabi Winter Show will be held in March of 2015.
Even years have brought the Great Winter Crow Show to the F/M area for the past ten years. “It is intended to be a mad combining of energies and visual ingredients.” The theme for every show is the crow, the blackbird, and all their marvelous and malevolent associations. This year’s show will run from March 5 to April 11, with an opening reception on March 15 from 6:00 – 9:00pm. According to Jorgenson, Mandan-Hidatsa storyteller and musician Keith Bear is scheduled to highlight this event.
New this year will be a fifty-six page anthology of past crow shows entitled “In the Spirit of the Crow: A Gathering of Art and Poetry from the Great Winter Crow Shows 2004 – 2012.” A fundraising campaign to pay from the book’s publication is currently underway. Those interested in participating can find more information at www.indiegogo.com/projects/in-the-spirit-of-crow-a-gathering-of-art-and-poetry. “We are very excited about this year’s event,” Jorgenson said.
There is no doubt that the Spirit Room is an important part of the Fargo/Moorhead art scene. As such, it needs the support of the community to continue its operations. The arts are always a vital part of any community’s fabric; and although they are appreciated, they are also often underfunded. “One thing I have learned as a grant writer and researcher for an arts organization is that the arts in North Dakota are sadly underfunded,” Jorgenson said. “Fargo has a thriving and vibrant arts community and knowing that many organizations are as underfunded as they are is a travesty and something North Dakota and the communities in North Dakota need to look into.”
Organizations like the Spirit Room exist to enhance and enrich the lives of members of its community, but that relationship needs to be reciprocal. If you are able to support the ongoing mission of the Spirit Room, and organizations like it, please consider a donation. “I know the opportunity exists,” Jorgenson said, “but people need to put that into motion.” More information about the Spirit Room can be obtained at www.spiritroom.net.
