The Creative Voice
An ongoing journal celebrating the makers, visionaries, and storytellers of Dakota County.
Every artist here has a story worth telling.
Every piece of art carries a story—of the hands that shaped it, the place that inspired it, and the life that runs through it. The Creative Voice is where those stories live.
This is our ongoing journal and editorial home for the artists of Dakota County. Here, you'll meet the people behind the work: painters and potters, weavers and woodworkers, printmakers and sculptors. Read what moves them, see their process up close, and connect directly with the makers whose work speaks to you.
More than a gallery of names
Meet the maker behind the work
Each artist featured in The Creative Voice gets a rich, personal profile—photographs of their work and their studio, quotes in their own words, and the story of what inspires them. You'll learn what first drew them to their craft and what keeping a creative practice in Dakota County means to them.
Stories worth slowing down for
This isn't a directory of transactions. It's a place to linger. Every profile shares the inspiration behind a specific piece and the deeper connection an artist feels to their materials, their process, and their community. Good work takes time, and these stories honor that.
Scan, discover, connect
See a piece that stops you in your tracks at an event like Starry Night? Scan the QR code beside it. You'll be taken straight to that artist's feature here in The Creative Voice—where the story continues long after you've walked away.
Support the artist directly
Every profile includes direct links to follow, connect with, or buy from the artist—their website, shop, social media, or email. When you love someone's work, we make it simple to support it, with the maker receiving the recognition and the sale.
The Creative Voice is a celebration of the people who fill our region with creativity.
Come meet them.
Stay Tuned…
Stories Coming Soon!
Share a Story With Us
Who we're hoping to hear about
A thriving creative community is a diverse one, full of different voices, materials, and ways of working.
We'd love to learn about:
Emerging artists just finding their voice
Longtime makers who've spent decades perfecting a craft
Teaching artists passing their knowledge to the next generation
Process stories — the materials, methods, and small rituals behind the work
Artists rooted in place whose work reflects Dakota County's character
Quiet contributors shaping local culture in ways most people never see
Returning artists picking the work back up after time away
If someone comes to mind who doesn't fit neatly into any of these, share them anyway. The stories that surprise us are often the ones worth telling most.