ART IS HEALING: ‘As long as you’re creating you’re not destroying’

“Reading and Open Studio with Marcie Rendon.” Participants can hear about Rendon’s novels, “Cash Blackbear” and “Sinister Graves,” and then spend some time creating artwork while having a conversation with Rendon about her work.

On June 1, the WBCA will host “Crime and Corrections: Arts as Healing.” Rendon will talk about her own relationship with crime fiction, her work with people in correctional facilities, and the intersection between corrections, trauma, art and healing. She will also share poetry inspired by these topics.

On May 19 Rendon will visit the Lino Lakes Correctional Facility for a reading during the day and then a poetry workshop in the evening. The WBCA provided approximately 25 inmates with a copy of Rendon’s novel

If You Go

What: Reading and Open Studio with Marcie Rendon

When: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 17

Where: White Bear Center for the Arts, 4971 Long Ave., White Bear Lake

Details: At this immersive and interactive evening, participants are invited to hear Marcie Rendon read from her new “Cash Blackbear” novel, “Sinister Graves.” She will then spend the remainder of the session in an open studio environment, creating artwork will discussing her work.

What: Crime and Corrections: Art As Healing

When: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 1

Where: White Bear Center for the Arts, 4971 Long Ave., White Bear Lake

Details: Marcie Rendon will talk about her own relationship with crime fiction, her work with people in correctional facilities, and the intersection between corrections, trauma, art and healing. She will also share poetry inspired by these topics.

Weekly Wag

Charley is a handsome, 1-yearold basset hound/ Labrador retriever mix. He weighs about 30 pounds, and he is a little social butterfly. Charley is a friendly boy who loves everyone he meets and likes to play with other dogs. In addition to his social schedule, Charley likes baths, swimming, car rides and downtime with his people. He is affectionate and always enjoys a good belly rub.

“Sinister Graves.” The hope is to also have the inmates join in the June 1 event remotely.

Randall Bergman, education director at the Lino Lakes Correctional Facility, explained that many of the inmates were interested in a visit from a local author, as many of them desire to become authors themselves.

“We are excited to have a local author come. It is a bonus that she is Native American and going to talk about a crime novel with our population,” Bergman said. “We have read the novel and are excited to talk to her and have her share her gifts … It’s a real blessing for us.”

Rendon said she is excited to get back into the prison, as her work was halted amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I just think that there is so much important work to be done within the correctional field and facilities because incarceration is supposed to be about rehabilitation, and so if we can give people a creative opportunity, I think that it is useful,” Rendon said. “Art is healing. As long as you are creating you are not destroying.”

Managing Editor Shannon Granholm can be reached at 651-4071227 or quadnews@presspubs.com.

Charley is still working on his obedience training and house training, but he is a quick learner and with consistent, patient guidance, he will be a complete success. Charley arrived at Ruff Start Rescue as a transfer from Texas. He is a loving, goofy, playful dog who will be a wonderful addition to an active, welcoming family. Charley has a happy-go-lucky personality that will instantly melt your heart.

If you are interested in learning more about Charley or adopting him, please fill out an application at www.ruffstartrescue.org. Once your application is received, Ruff Start Rescue will contact you as soon as possible.

Community Brief

Advocacy and leadership training for Minnesotans with disabilities

Partners in Policymaking is taking applications from Minnesotans with disabilities and parents of young children with developmental disabilities. Participants become effective advocates for themselves, their children and others with disabilities.

The monthly two-day sessions are held on Fridays and Saturdays, from September to May (with no session in December). Sessions are held at the Crowne Plaza Aire, at 3 Appletree Square in Bloomington, near Mall of America and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Limited to 35 Minnesotans, participants are selected by a panel of Partners graduates and representatives of the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities.

Applications can be found at bit.ly/partnersapplication and are due by July 14. For more information, contact Brenton Rice at brenton@togevents. com or 651-242-6589.