April 10th, 2026
By Bryce Vincent Haugen
Deep in the basement of artist Lana Suomala’s 100-year-old house in downtown Moorhead, there’s a pantry with utility shelves filled with jars. But instead of containing pickles, beets or green beans, these jars contain art — Trump administration figures' faces attached to insect bodies, a message that mixes absurdity and seriousness.
The 42-jar project was launched in January during what Suomala calls “the ICE occupation of Minneapolis and the fear that it…
March 30th, 2026
By Jacinta Tens
I have been a fan of graffiti since I first saw it as a child. As a kid who was always into some sort of creative endeavor, the movement, colors and intricate details of pieces I would see on trains always fascinated me. By my teens, I was mesmerized by graffiti.
I never got into writing graffiti myself for multiple reasons. But I have deep respect for graffiti artists, as their dedication to the art and all that entails is incredibly rare, and mastering the art form is…
March 25th, 2026
By Jacinta Zens
Graffiti is something we all see routinely on trains as they pass through the metro. If you pay attention even a little bit, you will notice that some graffiti pieces on train cars look much better than others in terms of letter structure, composition, color usage and technical execution.
As with any art, the ability to create exquisite, elaborate, multicolored works comes with years of practice and an enormous amount of dedication, time, and patience to hone your…
March 2nd, 2026
Saturday, March 7, 4-8 p.m.
Swing Barrel Brewing, 814 Central Ave., Moorhead
Empty Bowls is a nationwide, grassroots, artist-led movement to support hunger related organizations in their communities. On March 7, prepare to fill your bowl to help fill your neighbor’s. Area artists create soup bowls for the cause. Come enjoy a soup meal with bread and entertainment courtesy of Jonesy and RGB Lighthouse. You keep the bowl. All proceeds benefit the Dorothy Day Food Pantry in Moorhead.…
February 23rd, 2026
By Jacinta Zens
While researching the upcoming exhibition, “Re-Arming Language: Post-Graffiti Artists,” which opens March 5 at the North Dakota Museum of Art (261 Centennial Dr. in Grand Forks), I spoke with graffiti expert and art acquisition consultant Joe Ellis. His unique backstory is so enthralling that I wanted to share our extended conversation with all of you.
HPR: How did you first become interested in graffiti?
Joe Ellis: The first time graffiti registered for me was along…
February 23rd, 2026
March 6, 4-8 p.m.
March 7, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
West Acres Mall, 3902 13th Ave. S, Fargo
A favorite since 2011, Unglued Craft Fest 2026 features over 70 indie crafters from throughout the region, with booths chock full of handmade goodies and a whole lotta Midwest love. In addition to goodies for purchase, keep your eyes peeled for interactive workshops, photo opportunities, great company and multiple sources of inspiration. ungluedmarket.com
February 16th, 2026
By Jacinta Zens
It may sound cliché, but the 90s in Minneapolis were pretty magical. Underground punk and hip-hop shows occurred weekly, zines were all the rage, colorful, exquisitely executed graffiti started popping up everywhere and you could see people perform remarkably cool skateboarding tricks at the old Federal Building in downtown Minneapolis every night. It was in this creative mix that the zine, Life Sucks Die, was born.
Life Sucks Die contained a mix of graffiti photos,…
January 12th, 2026
By Jacinta Zens
The Guerrilla Girls, an internationally renowned anonymous feminist art collective, have been bringing attention to the gender and racial imbalances in contemporary art institutions for the last 40 years. They have worked with the most prestigious museums throughout the world, including the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam; the Museum of Military History in Dresden, Germany; the Minneapolis Institute of Art; The Centre Pompidou in Paris; Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki in…
January 12th, 2026
By Jacinta Zens
Being a full-time professional artist is an incredibly challenging career choice. For example, according to the Strategic National Arts Alumni Program, roughly 10% of art graduates earn their primary income as artists. As an artist and arts administrator myself, that statistic is a grim reminder of how optimistic artists are in art school, and how, after graduation, that optimism confronts the reality of limited opportunities in the arts and the unbelievably competitive…
December 18th, 2025
The holidays are fast approaching. If you’re on the lookout for finding your loved ones something truly special and unique, we sought out some of the area’s independent and creative hotspots.
VINTAGE AND ANTIQUES
Moorhead Antique Mall
2811 Main Ave S.E., Moorhead
This emporium measures 11,000 square feet and holds over 80 vendors. There’s bound to be something for everyone on your Christmas list here! moorheadantiquemall.com/
Reed and Taylor Antiques
806 Main Ave., Fargo
This downtown…
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By Bryce Vincent HaugenOn Palm Sunday two thousand years ago, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding a donkey to directly take on the authoritarian Roman rulers of the region, according to Christian scripture. It was an overtly political…
By Michael M. Miller Rev. Salomon Joachim, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Beulah, North Dakota., delivered an address to the Western Conference of the Dakota District of the American Lutheran Church in 1939. His presentation was…
Thursday, April 16, 6:30-8:30pmFargo Air Museum, 19th Ave. N., FargoNancy Earhart Burt of Hastings, Minn. will be presenting a special multimedia program on the life of Amelia Earhart. Burt also happens to be the famous aviator’s…
By John StrandDisclaimer: This editorial is the work of someone who’s spent most of his adult life working in the media — most of those years co-owning this very entity, the High Plains Reader, since 1996. The notion that folks…
By Ed RaymondDo Christians represent diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) people?Perhaps the “rapture” is on its way. A critic of Project 2025 which Donald Trump “knew nothing about” prior to the 2024 election is moving…
By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…
By Sabrina Hornung There’s a Bosnian saying that states simply, “It’s a sin to throw away bread,” which really resonates with me — especially growing up with grandparents who lived through the Second World War and the Great…
The Slow Death at The AquariumSaturday, March 21, doors at 7:30 p.m. The Aquarium above Dempsey’s, 226 N. Broadway, FargoThe Slow Death is a punk supergroup led by Jesse Thorson, with members and collaborators that include…
By Alicia Underlee Nelson Prairie Public and Indie Lens Pop-Up will host free screenings of “The Librarians” — a documentary from Oscar-nominated Director and Producer Kim A. Snyder and Executive Producer Sarah Jessica Parker —…
By Bryce Vincent Haugen Deep in the basement of artist Lana Suomala’s 100-year-old house in downtown Moorhead, there’s a pantry with utility shelves filled with jars. But instead of containing pickles, beets or green beans,…
Saturday, January 31, 6:30-9 p.m.Transfiguration Fitness, 764 34th St. N., Unit P, FargoAn enchanting evening celebrating movement and creativity in a staff-student showcase. This is a family-friendly event showcasing pole, aerial…
By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…
By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…
By Ellie Liverani In November 2025, the FDA initiated the removal of the “black box” warning from Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). The “black box” warning is a FAD safety warning for healthcare providers and patients…
January 31, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.Viking Ship Park, 202 1st Ave. N., Moorhead2026 marks 10 years of frosty fun! Enjoy sauna sessions with Log the Sauna, try Snowga (yoga in the snow), take a guided snowshoe nature hike, listen to live…
By HPR StaffI'm a Gen Xer who landed in Fargo in the late '90s, a small town kid who didn't know a soul. By sheer dumb luck I ended up at Ralph's, and that place gave me my people. Lifelong friends, the kind you don't find twice.…
