Minneapolis is home to a diverse and innovative art scene — and two local artists seek to incorporate social justice work into their art forms, hoping to share their messages with their community to inspire action.
By Amanda Christensen, John Kueppers and Pasia Vang
Rajine Williams, a.k.a “Rajine the Queen”
Rajine Williams, or “Rajine the Queen,” is a visual multimedia artist, art teacher and filmmaker based in the Twin Cities. Rajine said she’s always had an inclination toward how things look — and her creativity and love for drawing have been constants throughout her life.
Her inclination toward art and visuals eventually led her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in art at the University of Minnesota. She graduated in May of 2020
Listen to how Rajine describes her work:
Similar to her schooling growing up, Rajine found herself in mostly white-dominant classes taught by mostly white professors in college.
Rajine also mentioned that it wasn’t until after college that she began to find an art community. One way she has built community through her art is by teaching youth art classes.
Listen to her talk on the importance of representation and her experiences teaching with kids:
Rajine will continue to be a bridge for youth (specifically BIPOC youth) to explore the possibilities of creativity, all while remaining inclusive and accessible. She will be teaching an art class in August at the White Bear Center for the Arts called “Something You Can Feel.”
Photos by Rajine Williams
For more information about her work or classes, go to Rajine’s Instagram @whataweirdkidcreates.
Cydi Yang, a.k.a. “Cydi Like the City”
Cydi Yang, also known as “Cydi Like the City,” is a Hmong American spoken word artist and rapper located in Minneapolis.
Photo by Amanda Christensen.
In this interview, Cydi discusses the beginning of their spoken word endeavors and how it led them to music. Cydi also delves into their identity as a queer, Hmong American woman and how the many facets of who they are and their community shapes their art.
“Whatever way works for you in learning about yourself and healing and moving forward in life, find that — because I feel like our society does not really encourage us to stand in our power or to know our worth and our value.”
Cydi Yang
For more information, you can find Cydi’s YouTube here, or their Instagram @cydilikethecity.