July 2024: Icons of Minnesota
Two years ago, I found out about the ICON Illustration Conference & it blew my mind. A whole conference for illustrators & their craft?! Yes please…I want to go there! Unfortunately my timing was way off & I missed the conference by days so I had to wait two years for the next one to take place. It was definitely worth the wait. This month’s High Five is all about ICON and the fun things that Minnesota (the host state) had to offer.
1) Icons of Minnesota
Any time I head out of town, I do some research on place I’m visiting. Usually I prioritize my research with food & fun paper shops, but my exploration of Minnesota took me down some quirky rabbit holes. What the heck is a Juicy Lucy? Why is First Avenue a big deal? And how many Paul Bunyan statues are there, anyway? All of these questions turned doodles with then became my Icons of Minnesota card. I shared my card with fellow conference attendees so they could also learn about all the fun things the North Star state has to offer!
2) The ICON Illustration Conference
ICON is four days packed with inspiration galore for illustrators. Workshops were available to explore new skills, portfolio reviews provided tips to better connect with art directors & visitors, and then there was all of the amazing storytelling and networking. I left with so much admiration for others I met, but also with a boost of confidence that I had a place in the community.
3) I Like You
While ICON was chockful of great sessions, there was still plenty of time for me to check out Minneapolis as well. In addition to visiting Spoonbridge & Cherry and Minnehaha Falls, I also found some amazing gift shops. I Like You is in northeast Minneapolis & is full of fun jewelry, kitchen goods & cards. They fill the nooks and crannies of this shop so you’ll want to do multiple laps to take in all of the artsy goodness. In addition, the shop hosts events like the Pooch Pop Up with pet portraits & adoptable dogs. Love!
4) Open Book & Minnesota Center for Book Arts
A friend tipped me off to this unassuming space downtown before I went to MN & I’m so glad that I went. This place is a haven for people who love paper goods and book arts. I oohed and aahed over the zines, prints and art supplies at the Shop at MCBA, soaked in the art in the Main Gallery & then hunkered down in the Loft Resource Library. There is even a coffee shop there so you can grab a snack as you lose track of time in this fascinating place.
5) Sebastian Joe’s Pavoratti Ice Cream
The best thing I ate in Minneapolis was Sebastian Joe’s Pavarotti ice cream. (And that’s saying a lot - I had some really good meals!) This banana, caramel & vanilla ice cream with chocolate chips was apparently inspired by the opera singer and like his voice, the flavor is an absolute knockout. If you’re feeling decadent, pair it with Nicollet Avenue Pothole (a caramel, chocolate, heath bar, truffle-y sea salt delight). I promise you will be planning your trip back & saying BRAVO as you devour your last bite.