November Artist Spotlight: Arts Integrator Emmett Ramstad

Hey Emmett, thank you so much for taking the time to tell us more about yourself. Let’s get started, can you tell us a little about what your background and what your art forms are?

I grew up in Minneapolis with an artist mother. I have always believed that arts are a part of life, not something that is separate. I created my own major “The Integration of Arts in Education" so that I could create lessons for elementary school educators to integrate art into their everyday curriculum. I then went on to do all sorts of art teaching before pursuing my masters in fine arts. Now I make sculpture, books, prints- I love exploring new media to get an idea across. I have made costumes and sets for dance and done performance. Now I have even started dabbling with poetry and animation!

Do You Have A Tissue? by Emmett Ramstad

When did you first become interested in sculpture and visual arts? How did it happen? Who were some of your influences?

Domestic Partnership by Emmett Ramstad.

My sculpture really came out of printmaking and paper making. I was making homemade flax paper and sewing it into hanging three-dimensional forms- it really helped me to start thinking sculpturally. When I started volunteering in archives I became interested in making sculpture from everyday objects like toothbrushes, t-shirts and soap because I wanted to think through how we remember people. Is it possible that someone’s old t-shirt tells as much about them as their archived calendar does? It felt more relevant to use an actual object than to simply depict one on paper. And now the sculptures act as a location for a lot more engagement and participation because they are more installation based.

Your work frequently uses ordinary objects to offer up a new or different perspective, what do you hope the viewer gains or sees in your work?

I hope the viewer can relate to the objects I use in my artwork because they are familiar. Like, “oh soap, neat” or “my toothbrush looks like that” and then add their own story to what the work means to them. Like “what does it mean that the artist is making a 30 foot long toothbrush holder, mine doesn’t look like that at home” and then we can have a conversation.

What do you get out of teaching versus creating your own work? What do you enjoy the most about teaching?

I love teaching because I learn so much about humanity and connection by being a teacher. And ultimately my work is about being a person with a body in relation to others, so it really ties into my own visual art practice too. And, gosh, in teaching I get to chat with people, which I love. I get to share how to make something and see where the students take it. Teaching and art are both real passions of mine and I feel grateful that they compliment each other.

In this time of virtual programming how are you adjusting? What do you find challenging? Any unexpected benefits?

I miss being in the room with students, but I am so surprised to find that I get the same rush of excitement and enthusiasm for seeing a bunch of student’s faces in a virtual classroom. I didn’t think that would happen. Or that I would feel as much group connection as I do. It is harder to get folks to talk, but gosh, what an interesting place the chat bar is! I think a benefit going forward is having so many more tools in my tool box for meeting the needs of different learners- I think there will be a lot more hybridized learning going forward with or without the pandemic.

Have you been working on any new projects lately?

Yes! I have been learning how to do animation on my phone and writing poetry. Yet to be determined what outcome or final product these will have, but they both seem very related to the amount of time I have in my home right now and a real desire for telling stories and connecting through moving images and words.

During this time of great change in Minnesota and around the world, how do you see the arts as fitting into that story?

I think artists and creative people are crucial to imagining the world in new ways! And this is what we need to do right now- imagine new futures and then come up with action plans to accomplish major changes.

You’ve been on the COMPAS roster for three months! What’s it like for you to be a part of COMPAS so far? What are you looking forward to or hoping to experience?

So far it has felt tremendous to be learning alongside such inspiring artists and makers. I feel a huge amount of solidarity and respect being on this team and it makes me feel just how vital and important arts learning and education is for us all!

How do you practice creativity in your everyday life?

I have been having a lot of short dance parties lately- I wake up and play a song, move my body. It brings me joy and helps me realize that moments of silliness and fluidity really act like oil on rusty joints. Another thing I have been doing is taking advantage of all the online classes that are available, I mentioned my animation class and my poetry class, but also connecting to artists talks all over the country and even internationally has really broadened my perspectives and boosted my creativity in new ways.