Xiong grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin, and moved to the Twin Cities three years ago, after finishing graduate school at New Mexico State University. “While I was in school, I saw a lot of great artworks and heard a lot of conversations within the Hmong arts community about the Twin Cities,” he says. “That was one of the major reasons why I decided to move back to the Midwest, specifically the Twin Cities. There is a really strong arts community here, and you can find that almost everywhere you go, whether it’s the street art, public sculptures, murals, or craft-based work within various communities. I think the most challenging thing here is that, although there are a lot of grants and support for the arts, the process of applying for them is labor intensive, yet you may or may not get the support.”

Overall, Xiong finds the local craft community to be energized and energizing. “I really love the changes in the various art scenes from BIPOC artists within the craft field,” he says. “I’ve seen more workshops, especially within the Hmong community, that teach craft-based processes that many young generations may not know of. These community-based events have really helped bridge together the generations.”

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ARTISTS XIONG ADMIRES:
Interdisciplinary artist and cultural producer Ka Oskar Ly; interdisciplinary artist Tshab Her, who emphasizes textiles and embroidery; jewelry artist, metalsmith, and teaching artist Amy Wilderson; sculptor and beadwork artist Erin Peña; and jewelry artist and metalsmith Jason Thomson.