On Saturday night, the Canopy by Hilton in Minneapolis played host to the second iteration of Sonder, an event created to celebrate aspiring artists in the Twin Cities community. The brainchild of local entrepreneur and influencer Sarah Edwards, the event debuted last February at the Chambers Hotel in Minneapolis. After a whirlwind year that included a newfound partnership with leading ad agency Media Bridge and the founding of creative branding agency Haus of Sonder, Edwards brought the event back on an even larger scale, featuring the work of over 40 local artists. The term sonder was pulled from Minnesota-based author John Koenig’s “Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows,” a book which supplies made-up terms to define common human emotions. Koenig coined sonder as “the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.” It is an effective way to put into words the unique experience of the event, at which every step revealed a new artistic performance, expression, or confession. From fortune tellers to classical musicians to live painters, each diverse creative featured at Sonder brought Koenig’s definition to life, employing art as an expression of the vivid and complex stories we each live out behind the scenes. Below, glimpse just a few highlights from this immersive celebration of art, creativity, and humanity.
Enticing Entertainment
Photo by Brianna Collier
With a diverse collection of enchantments competing for guests’ attention, it was difficult to know where to look first upon stepping into Sonder. But naturally, it would seem most attendees’ eyes turned towards the silver-clad live statue, who was perched boldly atop a water fountain in the center of the hotel’s lobby. The live model stood stone still, rendered in metallic silver paint and completed with angel wings, silver gladiator sandals, and an ornate masquerade mask. The compelling activation was the work of Enticing Entertainment, a local company that specializes in impactful event experiences. Among other interactive displays from the entertainment company were live body painting and tarot card readings, which kept guests immersed in awe-inspiring theatrics all night long.
Hush Collaborative
Photo by Brianna Collier
Amid the lively performances, activations, and theatrics, Hush Collaborative offered guests a quiet moment for honesty and reflection. The female-founded creative strategy and consulting company created an exhibit called “Honest for Good,” which asked guests to share personal truths by providing them with open-ended prompts to answer anonymously across a blank display, creating a “little corner of truth” to help community members feel seen and understood. Lauren Buckley, the Strategy Principal of Hush Collaborative, offered a favorite moment from the night— “a little girl, with her mother watching, walked up to one of the canvases and wrote ‘I CAN DO IT’ in big block letters…Right after that, an older woman came by and added a heart to that sentiment. Seeing two people from such different walks of life share the same truth was amazing.”
Maribeth Romslo
Through the doors of an intimate meeting space, guests had the chance to lose themselves in the mesmerizing story of “Kitchen Dance,” a short film by Maribeth Romslo. An award-winning filmmaker, Romslo has had her work featured in film festivals across the world, has worked with clients from Reese Witherspoon to the Smithsonian Institution, and is the recipient of the 2019 Artist Initiative Grant by the Minnesota State Arts Board. “Kitchen Dance” features a slow burn of contemporary choreography, performed by various women as they cook against the backdrop of a tidy blue kitchen. The women’s movements, while at first subdued and methodical, become bold and impassioned through the course of the seven-minute film. Romslo’s creation intends to portray the multifaceted lives of modern women, and the push and pull they struggle with between domestic duties and creative ambition.
Orinlaen
Photo by Brianna Collier
At the center of the Emersen Ballroom, an interactive exhibit by clothing designer Alaena Klages invited guests to contribute their own artistic touches to her upcycled masterpiece. Klages founded her label, Orinlaen in 2021, with a focus on creating durable, long-lasting garments through the use of recycled and preexisting materials. Orinlaen’s display featured a mannequin outfitted in an upcycled denim gown, with a halter top constructed of thick rolls of denim and a lovely train that cascaded down to the floor. In its hand, the mannequin balanced a tray which held a multi-color collection of Sharpie markers. Guests were invited to create their own art across the train of the gown, scribbling, doodling, and encouraging with uplifting messages and imagery. The finished product was an amalgamation of the diverse creative minds present at the event. “Witnessing people put time and thought into what they contributed to the exhibit meant a lot to me,” Klages shared. “I wanted guests to see the hand they have in making shows like this happen. Our art doesn’t mean as much if we can’t share it.”
Sip N’ Bloom
Photo by Brianna Collier
Sip N’ Bloom, a DIY flower arranging workshop owned by David Kisan, constructed a stunning floral creation around the structure of a wooden horse statue. Acting as the mane and the tail of the horse, Kisan’s arrangements featured vibrant shades of orange and yellow, with clementines and craspedia scattered throughout. The horse shape was a noteworthy symbol, inspired by the ongoing work of the nonprofit, This Old Horse, which rescues retired racehorses and aims to give them a second chance at life in their Hastings animal salutary. After attending the organization’s annual Polo Classic last year, Kisan has been determined to bring more awareness to the impactful work of the local nonprofit.
The Honeybear Collection
Photo by Brianna Collier
On the lower level of the hotel, guests gravitated towards an alluring display by The Honeybear Collection, a fashion, portrait, and event photography service by Sheldon J. Powell. The project, titled “Rags to Riches: A Visual Symphony of Self Discovery” featured a collection of high fashion editorial portraits by Powell, each framed and positioned within a constructed set meant to resemble his grandmother’s bedroom. This intimate setting evokes the project’s exploration of memory and familial ties, and the power of art to bridge these connections. It was a night to remember for Powell, who shared, “this was my first time showcasing work in front of people truly knowing I’m a photographer, leading a team that organically formed, and completing something from a vision that I’m happy I got to share with my family and friends.”
