Tracker Pixel for Entry

​Nicki Marie, ‘Northern Stardust,’ and reasons to keep looking up

Arts | June 19th, 2019

Art by Nicki Marie

You may have seen Nicki Marie slingin’ her elaborately folded paper star creations at various craft and cultural festivals around the region. She was also a recipient of a folk art and traditional apprenticeship grant made possible for the North Dakota Council on the Arts and learned scherenschnitte and wycinanki through Tower City based folk artist Meridee Erickson Stowman in 2016. This Thursday, Nicki Marie’s first gallery exhibition titled, “Northern Stardust” will be opening at the Spirit Room in downtown Fargo. A total of 36 of her intricately woven pieces will be on view through August 17.

High Plains Reader: What initially attracted you to the paper arts?

Nicki Marie: You know, I think it started in school as a child--remember paper cooties or fortune tellers? I used to fold pieces of paper in half repeatedly until there was a grid of creases and then fold those creases in different directions to create imaginary rooms/dioramas. I would do this over and over again 'til the paper fell apart. I must have enjoyed the precision of it and creating something three dimensional out of a simple piece of paper.

HPR: Your birds and stars are beautifully folded and woven--which is no easy task. Can you tell us a bit about this process?

Nicki Marie: Lots and lots of paper strips! Each star has four strips of paper, folded in half... working with eight ends and each step repeated eight times - folding and weaving ends back in on themselves. Both stars and birds start with a simple basket weave (over-under-over-under). Traditionally, they were done with strips of birch bark or preserving paper stars by dipping them in wax and sprinkling glitter on while wax is still warm.

HPR: Were these stars and birds rooted in family tradition?

Nicki Marie: No, not mine, but I do remember making paper chains with my mother during the holidays and I must cling to that feeling of creating something festive to decorate and brighten a space.

HPR: You’ve been a part of German Kulturfest and various other cultural festivals in the area. How long have you been participating in these festivals and what drew you to them?

Nicki Marie: I’ve been doing them since 2015, wanting to learn more about my own heritage, searching for a sense of belonging and wanting to connect with others in the community.

HPR: How long did it take for you to prepare for your “Northern Stardust” exhibition?

Nicki Marie: I started in May. Since it's my very first gallery exhibit, I wanted to recreate a few favourites from the past years along with creating new pieces specifically for this show that reflected more of where we are seasonally and where I am as an artist. It's a small sampling of paper star variations that hopefully honours and helps keep this traditional art form alive.

HPR: What draws you to the bird and star imagery?

Nicki Marie: They are both very good reasons to keep looking up!

HPR: Tell us a bit about your apprenticeship with Meridee Erickson Stowman, how did you hear about the traditional art and folk art apprenticeship program?

Nicki Marie: I was selling star decorations at the German Folk Festival over at Rheault Farm in Fargo in 2015 when Troyd Geist (ND Folklorist) saw my booth and approached me about my experience with paper cutting and recommended I apply for an Apprenticeship.

HPR: Prior to your apprenticeship did you do too much with 2D paper work or were you primarily working on three dimensional work?

Nicki Marie: I used to do a lot of collage back in high school and mail art in my swapping days previous to my star slingin'.

HPR: What's the most difficult part of your process?

Nicki Marie: I suppose finding unique paper that is weavable--strong enough to handle pulling, but won't crack or break when folded. Hunting for paper is also one of the fun parts.

YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Northern Stardust: Paper Folk Art Opening Reception

Thursday, June 20, 4-6 p.m.

Spirit Room, 111 N Broadway, Fargo

Recently in:

By Alicia Underlee NelsonMore than 1,000 pro-worker events are planned for Thursday, May 1 across the country, including rallies in Fargo-Moorhead, Grand Forks, Minot and Jamestown. East Grand Forks and Bismarck will host protests…

By Prairie Rose Seminolems.prairierose@gmail.com I was a child who walked behind my parents into classrooms and kitchens, spaces of song and prayer, where teachings lived in the air and settled on my shoulders. I didn’t yet have…

Saturday, May 3, 7 p.m.-MidnightPlains Art Museum, 704 1st Ave. N., FargoDon’t miss the art party of the year! What goes on at the gala? There’s a silent art auction with music by Low Standards and DJ Star IV, hors d’oeuvres…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comIt’s no secret that there are folks among us who make our communities a more vibrant place through both their actions and means of creative expression. Heck, you could be one of them yourself.…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comWhat age has been determined to be the worst in world history?Historians have estimated about one third of the population of Europe died of the bubonic plague, also known as the black plague, from…

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 Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com After a very inspiring conversation with Kayla Houchin of Sonder Bakehouse a few weeks ago, I decided that it’s an appropriate time to write a column about some of the sweet people who are involved…

Mooncats and Pert Near Sandstone play Empire TheatreBy Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comThe MoonCats describe themselves as “Americonscious Campfire Folk.” They have a clear acoustic folk sound with a sense of whimsy — think…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.com Anchored by the dependable Florence Pugh, “Thunderbolts*” easily tops “Captain America: Brave New World” to make it the most satisfying MCU movie of 2025 — so far. The asterisk alludes…

By Raul Gomez Modern Man was a gentle soul. If you were down or just wanted a friend, he’d be there for you. I remember the first day I met Modern Man. It was Jeremiah Fuglseth and me. He wanted to write about this legendary…

By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.comHigh Plains Reader had the opportunity to interview two mysterious new game show hosts named Milt and Bradley Barker about an upcoming event they will be putting on at Brewhalla. What…

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 Liveranieli.liverani.ra@gmail.com I remember when I was young, probably 11 years ago. One morning I was not feeling well because of my period. After I got ready to go to school, I went back to bed and it was hard to get up…

By Alicia Underlee NelsonProtests against President Trump’s policies and the cuts made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are planned across North Dakota and western Minnesota Friday, April 4 and…

By Vern Thompsonvern.thompson.nd7@gmail.com Our trucking business has me driving almost daily from gas plants in western North Dakota's oil patch to Canada. I haul natural gas liquids (NGLs) products we used to see flared off at…