Names: Erica Hoaglund + Maxwell Hoaglund
Biome: Cloud Forest
Q: What artistic mediums do you practice?
Erica: Generally only photography, however I also paint. I am a wildlife biologist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Max: I’m an interactive artist and sculptor. I work with wood, steel, electronics, and software.
Q: What’s one unique thing about you?
Erica: I work with wild snakes on a daily basis at my “day job”. Snakes are one of my favorite animals, and I really enjoy introducing people to them.
Max: I am a full-time freelance art realisateur and arts engineer. I earn all of my income by helping other artists apply technology to their projects.
Q: What is your first memory of a plant?
Erica: Gardening with my mother and learning about the relationship between Irises and Iris grubs
Max: In my early life, I lived in an apartment for a while. Outside of the apartment there was some kind bush that was initially larger than me, and later smaller. I remember it had stiff branches and waxy leaves.
Q: What was your favorite plant growing up?
Erica: Probably the maple tree.
Max: I was a big fan of Irises. They’re just so elaborate.
Q: What interests you about the plants you selected for Northern Spark?
Erica: How relatively simply they can introduce people to the concept of non-point source extinction mechanisms.
Max: This was a good chance to work with an extinct plant, and that was an important detail for me. The others are interesting because of their similar adaptations and similar pollinators.
Q: What is the #1 piece of advice you would give to aspiring artists?
Max: Supplement your interdisciplinary practice by committing to a certain craft and specializing in it. That way, you have a safe spot you can fall back to and you can communicate with more easily with other specialists.
Q: What is your favorite Northern Spark memory?
Erica: Working with my brother.
Max: During Northern Spark 2016 I was part of a project called CENSUS, and it was really special. It was a night-long modular performance with more than 60 performers.
Q: When was the last night you stayed up until 5:26 a.m.?
Erica: Last night.
Max: Northern Spark 2016!
To learn more about the Ecological Futures installation at TPT, visit tpt.org/events!
#ecofutures #savethebiomes #northernspark
Ecological Futures: Speculative Biomes of the Past, Present and Future is presented MN Original and TPT as part of Northern Spark 2017, produced by Northern Lights.mn.
© Twin Cities Public Television - 2017. All rights reserved.
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