Mankato Art Crawl
The Mankato Art Crawl is a vibrant community event celebrating local art. It features local artists showcasing their work in various business and community locations throughout Mankato. The event includes live music, art for sale, and interactive demonstrations, making it a lively experience for art enthusiasts and the general public alike.
As part of the Mankato Art Crawl, Minnesota writer and photographer J. Anderson will share readings from her memoirs at the Carnegie Art Center on Aug. 22 at 11 a.m. and at 1 p.m. She is the recipient of a 2026 Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Individuals grant. All donations collected during the readings will benefit BENCHS.
The memoir, No Bad Days: On Nature, A Dog, and Devotion, began as a blog in 2020 and 2021, Anderson posted stories and photos from walks with Santiago, an adopted mixed-breed dog, in parks and along trails throughout the Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs.
During a time marked by fear brought on by a global pandemic, civil unrest, and a warming climate, Anderson wanted to offer a different perspective on the world and began developing the blog into a manuscript. Their hope is that the words and images convey that life itself, regardless of circumstance, is worthy of deep devotion.
Call for Art:
Community members are invited to share “Images of nature and animals that inspire resilience and joy,” as a part of the Mankato Art Crawl festivities! Bring your photos, paintings, or other artwork depicting nature and/or animals to be displayed in the galleries for a pop-up showcase. Community members may bring up to two pieces for display.