Once Upon a Shore Weekend at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum
Friday, Sept 19, and Saturday, Sept 20
Minnesota Art Museum
800 Riverview Drive
Winona, Minnesota 55987
The Minnesota Marine Art Museum (MMAM) will host a two-day event around the exhibition Once Upon a Shore, celebrating the artists, authors, and illustrators of the exhibition.
On view now through January 4, 2026, Once Upon a Shore is curated by Heid E. Erdrich, and includes the work of Cole Redhorse Taylor, Tashia Hart, Jonathan Thunder, Courtney M. Leonard, and Minnesota’s Poet Laureate, Gwen Nell Westerman. The multidisciplinary artists of this exhibition are all members of Native Nations and who have strong relationships to bodies of water. Once Upon a Shore creates a meeting place where authors, illustrators, and artists gather to tell stories.
The weekend of programming begins on Friday evening with Shorelines and Storylines: An Artist Gathering from 6 to 9 p.m., presented in partnership with the Minnesota Humanities Center and the Friends of the Winona Public Library. Guests will enjoy a panel conversation moderated by exhibition curator Heid E. Erdrich, featuring artists Tashia Hart, Cole Redhorse Taylor, and Gwen Nell Westerman. The evening will also include book signings, passed appetizers featuring recipes from Tashia Hart’s The Good Berry Cookbook, beverages available for purchase, and outdoor fireside connections. General admission tickets are $20, the MMAM member rate is $15, and there is also a “pay what you can” option.
On Saturday morning, visitors are invited to participate in the Once Upon a Shore: Gallery Walk and Talk from 10 to 11 a.m., where artists including Heid E. Erdrich, Cole Redhorse Taylor, Gwen Nell Westerman, and Jonathan Thunder will share insights about their work in an intimate guided conversation. Advance tickets are recommended, with tickets set at $12, or $10 for MMAM members. At 11 a.m., visitors will have the opportunity to purchase the books from Once Upon a Shore at a 10% discount, and have their books signed in the museum atrium.
The afternoon will also feature two additional programs. At 1 p.m. in the Oberton Education Room, curator and poet Heid E. Erdrich and artist Jonathan Thunder will present The Poem Films of Heid E. Erdrich and Jonathan Thunder, a series of collaborative poetry and animation projects created between 2011 and 2015. Admission to this program is included with regular gallery admissions, and no pre-registration is required. Also at 1 p.m., in the Once Upon a Shore gallery, Mdewakanton Dakota artist Cole Redhorse Taylor will host a Circle Chat, a casual and informal gathering to explore the visual language of ledger art and its ongoing role in contemporary Indigenous expression. Seated together in a circle, participants will hear directly from the artist about his creative process, his storytelling through image, and the evolution of his multimedia practice, including illustration. This program is also included with gallery admission and open to all.
“We are excited to welcome visitors for this immersive weekend that highlights the intersection of visual art, literature, and storytelling,” said Heather Casper, Curator of Engagement, Learning and Impact at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. “The Once Upon a Shore Weekend offers a unique opportunity to connect with artists and authors in meaningful ways, from f ireside discussions to film screenings and gallery talks.”
The Once Upon a Shore exhibition project is presented by the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. MMAM gratefully acknowledges support from our members, Friends of MMAM, our docents and volunteers, and sponsorship support from Wisconsin Public Radio.
About MMAM: The Minnesota Marine Art Museum is a nonprofit art museum that creates meaningful art experiences that explore our relationship with water. Located in Winona, Minnesota at 800 Riverview Drive, the purpose-built museum is located on the banks of the Mississippi River and boasts six galleries, an educational and events space, and a destination retail shop on its seven-acre riverside campus. It is through this surprising diversity that MMAM is not only describing what marine art is, but pushing the boundaries of what marine art can be. MMAM’s literary arts exhibition program features some of today’s most inspiring and thought-provoking book projects, authors and illustrators that intersect with water and waterways.
