Wone Vang and Youa Vang, Third Daughter Restless Daughter

How and why did you become artists?

Youa:

Our mother taught us both how to cross stitch as young kids who learned from her mother, a traditional paj ntaub artist. Paj ntaub has embroidery and cross stitch elements in its pieces. Our grandmother was very prolific in her work, and made all of our clothing for Hmong New Year. Although she has passed, we still have all of her pieces she has made for us and store them for future generations, sometimes pulling them out when we attend the Hmong New Year celebration in St. Paul.

In 2013, I found an online cross stitch community when I was looking for cheap Christmas gifts to make for friends. Using the muscle memory that was passed on through generations, I found this skill never really left me. I needed a way to make money, as my day job was not paying a living wage, so I posted the pieces I made on social media to share this awakened craft. 

It became so lucrative that I asked Wone to help me fulfill orders. We looked into craft events, and we worked our butts off to make 30 pieces for our first show at Bauhaus Brew Labs where we sold out. We were rolling in dough as we split the profits down the middle! Over the years, we became better business women as we invest back into the business before we split the profits.

While we do have our standard pieces we know will always sell, our work has evolved, and

we treat our work as art rather than a consumer product. We are constantly pushing our limits to see what we can turn into new pieces of art.

My bread and butter is being able to pixelate anything and turn it into a cross stitch, while Wone loves to cross stitch onto mesh and chicken wire. We are currently working on two new large installations.

What medium(s) do you work in?

Fiber art with a focus on needlepoint, however mixed media for installations.

How long have you been working as artists?

We began Third Daughter, Restless Daughter in 2014.

What are some of your biggest inspirations as artists?

Youa: We find beauty in everyday things and pop culture and draw inspiration from anything that makes us laugh or we find clever. We are constantly consuming media. I once compared our art to chips and dip, in that the chip is the vehicle to the main draw: the dip. When I create, I get to watch television and movies or listen to audio books or podcasts all day. The art (the chip) is the vehicle for the media (the dip). The goal is to put out as much art as we consume.

What is your connection to Northeast Minneapolis?

Wone: Before starting our business, I lived in the neighborhood and was fascinated with the arts (visual and performing) within this community. Years later, when we were asked to create an installation for a restaurant being built in the neighborhood, we didn’t hesitate. It brings us joy every time we stop in to grab food and see our work hanging on the wall. For Art-A-Whirl, we are a guest artist at Solar Arts.

How does Art-A-Whirl benefit you as artists?

Youa: Anyone can be an artist, and anything can be considered art. Art-A-Whirl gives a platform to any and all artists, be they budding or established. We were given a platform to share our work with the public that was low stakes, but it shaped our future when we saw immediate reaction to our art with the built-in audience with Art-A-Whirl.

Intention ranks high on our list when we consider what events we do. With Art-A-Whirl, people attend with the intention of supporting artists. They know they will find a new artist when they show up, but they also come with the intention of purchasing art. That purchase means a lot, and it represents being able to afford groceries, rent, buying a special dinner for hard work, or eventually quitting a day job to become a full time artist.

Any good stories or memories of an experience at Art-A-Whirl that you can share? What stands out?

Wone: Rain brings people together. When we started fresh-eyed and ready to face the world many years ago, the only place where we could find a spot was outside the 331 Club on 13th and University. We experienced heavy downpours that pounded on the roofs of our tents as we peeked around the corners to see if any bands would perform in the rain. Huddled in our tent with cold, wet socks, we grew closer to our neighboring artists, and friendships formed. Years later, we still reminisce about those outdoor events and are glad that we’re now indoors.

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

Wone: Being a member of NEMAA makes us feel part of a larger movement—a collective of artists with diverse experiences and a shared passion for creating. We began exploring our art around 10 years ago, and without NEMAA, we don’t believe we would have continued our work. The access to resources and firsthand information about the arts community has helped us establish a strong foundation for our creative small business.

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

Wone: The arts scene in NE is extensive and spans across the streets of the community. Art is not limited to galleries, it’s present everywhere you look on bridges, the sides of buildings, and in every nook and cranny of the neighborhoods. All you need to do is take a moment to explore, and you’re sure to find something that can be a conversation starter.

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

Wone and Youa: Change is always good, and the improvements made to Art-A-Whirl each year have enhanced the event. The focus on inclusivity and fostering a sense of belonging for all artists has contributed to the community’s growth, extending beyond those who live or have studios in the neighborhood. We have seen many more spaces open up to be able to host more artists. More spaces means inclusivity for more artists, and as Martha Stewart says, “That’s a good thing.” 

Why is art important in our community?

Wone: Art creates a sense of belonging and connection within the community. Artists who engage with their community understand what it needs to thrive, and they take pride in the outcomes of their creations.

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

Wone: A world without the arts community in NE Minneapolis would feel empty. If that happened it reminds me of that scene from Vanilla Sky when Tom Cruise runs through an empty Times Square, evoking a sense of uncertainty and void. I would run down Broadway screaming “Where is the Art!!!”

If it weren’t for the arts community, many artists might never connect or venture outside their workspaces. Many of us are introverts, or we can become so absorbed in our craft that we rarely leave our studios. Without the opportunity to inspire each other, our inspiration might become dull, one-dimensional, or lacking in vibrancy. Thankfully, there is a strong community, and it’s best not to dwell on the “what ifs.”

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

Youa: I want this space to grow as much as it can but still remember what makes it special: the artists. Within the art is where people can live and thrive. It’s so important for artists to create in their studios/spaces, but bringing it out into the world and have a platform is where it can inform and help it evolve. 

In 30 years, I want Art-A-Whirl, NEMAA, and the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District to still be alive and continuing to host artists and musicians but also ushering in the next generation of artists.

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

Maybe turn it into two weekends where artists could also have time to see other artists they are missing because they are also displaying work. 

Tell us again why you love being an artist and what your work brings to the community.

Art-A-Whirl is not just a place to display our work and find new audiences, but we look forward to seeing artists and the community of people we have met and with whom we have become friends over the last decade. Each person is greeted warmly, and by the end of the weekend, we have bonded and become closer through solidarity for long days. It feels like home.

What do you want to share that we haven’t covered?

We just thank all of the organizers of Art-A-Whirl, NEMAA, and the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District for all of the hard work they put into this weekend. It benefits us all: the artist and the patrons.