Luciana Bongiovanni

How and why did you become an artist?

I become an artist by doing. When I moved to Minneapolis in 2020 from Buenos Aires, Argentina, I was in a vulnerable moment in my life. I left my home, family and friends to marry someone who turned out not to be a good person; it was in the middle of COVID, and I couldn’t work for the first year because of the immigration process. So, I dove into my creative practice as a refuge and I discovered a way of expressing myself through fiber – a material that has always been part of my life as my family owns a yarn wholesale business and I grew up surrounded by my mom, aunt and grandmother knitting. Wool became home to me. In my abstract work, organic shapes play in dialogue with geometric forms, softness with roughness, raw materials with mass produced ones, and plain textures with dynamic three-dimensions. Multiple techniques to express the crash of cultures connecting my roots to my now, exploring the meaning of home when there is no home and transforming loss, pain and dislocation into a tactile visual expression. 

I love being an artist because it is the way I found to express myself. My fiber art adds a distinct perspective to the community by honoring the timeless and universal act of weaving while also evoking my unique life story as an Argentinian finding her way home 6,000 miles away in Minneapolis. It connects cultural roots and brings warmth and beauty which are usually under-appreciated but essential. 

What medium(s) do you work in?

Fiber arts.

How long have you been working as an artist?

I have been formally working as a fiber artist for four years, but I started weaving around 2017 and have always worked in creative fields. I went to film school and worked in television and video most of my life. That’s why I consider myself a multidisciplinary artist.

What are some of your biggest inspirations as an artist?

I am inspired by my Latin culture and the different types of weavings/weavers from many other cultures. I am inspired by the craft itself, exploring traditional techniques in new ways, and by the materials I work with. On the loom, I work back and forth unconsciously until the vision unfolds and, sometimes in that gesture, unexpected reactions of different yarns change the course of the work. I also get inspiration from shapes and textures of the world. It might be my cinematography education that trained my eye to find connections in forms and colors, extracting them from reality as a part of a frame that later becomes my work. There’s always a theme or concept I want to explore or that inspires me but the result, my art, is mainly abstract. 

What is your connection to Northeast Minneapolis?

Four years ago, I moved to Minneapolis from my hometown of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Northeast Minneapolis is the first place in the world I ever showed my art. In 2021, I went to the neighborhood looking for a studio in Q.arma Building. Even though there wasn’t any space available for me, Jonathan Query – better known as Jono – checked out my work and invited me to be a guest artist at Fall Open Studios. It was only two weeks away and I was not prepared at all, but I went for it and Fall Open Studios 2021 was my first art show. I felt so welcomed and accepted into a community I was not expecting to be part of. Ever since, from Fall Open Studios to Art-A-Whirl, Northeast Minneapolis has been the constant space where I show my work.

How does Art-A-Whirl benefit you as an artist?

Art-A-Whirl is the biggest art event in Minnesota. It benefits me not only for the exposure of my work to thousands of people and the possibilities it opens but also for the connections and interactions with all the people, artists and art enthusiasts and everyone in between.

Any stories or memories of an experience at Art-A-Whirl that stands out?

The amount of people interacting with art obviously stands out. It’s incredible! But for me, sharing moments and connections with other artists is the best part. I feel part of a community and that’s unique. They all help open my mind; I learn a lot and grow in my practice every time. It is also an opportunity to listen to your audience. I remember in my first Art-A-Whirl in 2022 how many people were asking about bigger pieces and that pushed me to explore large formats, which opened the door to many new experiences and opportunities. It made my art practice grow.

What has being a NEMAA member meant to you? What do you value most about membership?

It means being part of a community, and as an immigrant, being part of the community takes on even more layers of meaning and importance. I cherish having a place in that community and the opportunity to be part of Art-A-Whirl and Open Studios. It has given my work tremendous exposure, opened opportunities and helped my art practice flourish and evolve. Also, I appreciate so much all the information NEMAA newsletters share with artists for new opportunities and events. It helps keep track of them all!

What do you wish more people knew about the arts scene in Northeast Minneapolis?

I would love for more people to know about the arts scene in Northeast Minneapolis because it’s a huge & unique community of such talented artists and creatives, who are also so welcoming and generous, no snobbism at all. I think Minneapolis deserves to be known as one of the art centers of the US.

Art-A-Whirl and NEMAA turn 30 years old in 2025. Can you believe it? What changes have you witnessed?

That’s amazing! Congratulations! I noticed the event has become a community celebration, welcoming all kinds of art expressions and local food & drink businesses. The whole neighborhood becomes a set for an experience of the senses.

Why is art important in our community?

Art opens minds – and hearts – generating change, and with change comes growth, so it is fundamental for any community.

Can you imagine a world WITHOUT the arts community in Northeast Minneapolis? How would the community be different?

I don’t want to, really. It would be sad, desolated and lonely, such a profound loss of joy, experiences and talent.

Another thing that makes the art community in Northeast Minneapolis so important is the revitalization of an area of the city that had been abandoned by the economic changes of our times and the arts community, over the past 30 years, has given new life to, turning the neighborhood into a center of creativity. Creation from desolation gives hope.

What are your hopes and dreams for Art-A-Whirl, NEMAA, and/or the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District in the next 30 years?

I hope it continues to grow and provide artists and anyone who appreciates art with a place to connect and interact with each other, a place to grow.

If you could make one change in Northeast Minneapolis, no matter the cost, what would it be?

Can it be two? I would add more murals and sculptures all around, take the art outside the studio. And I would have a permanent open studio as a collaborative space where emerging artists can work together or alone but sharing tools, materials, and experience.