Oskar Ly and ArtCrop: Sustenance for body and soul

"Artists and farmers share more similarities than one would think," says artist Oskar Ly, a longtime CEZ resident and founder of ArtCrop. It's a CSA— but with a twist on the community-supported agriculture model. The A stands for art as well as agriculture: they're complimentary offerings. The idea's the same: subscribers prepay for "shares," then enjoy the creative harvest. Just as the Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA) farm in Hastings offers shares of seasonal vegetables, ArtCrop's Artshares feature uniquely designed art pieces by Hmong artists. This fall, ArtCrop and HAFA will partner to provide a special art and food holiday share.

n both livelihoods, Oskar says, "we often devote our entire lives to deepen our practice and very much care about the impact we make, whether that is on a physical place or society. Although there is no Hmong word for art, our culture has been documented through artisan-made crafts and farming; we creatively make a life based on where we live." She points out, too, that both artists and farmers are commonly undervalued, but both find inherent rewards in their work.

Last year Oskar won an Early Career Project Grant from Forecast Public Art, where she recently led a session exploring how culture is both claimed and reimagined across generations.

To support ArtCrop:

• Subscribe now to HAFA's 2019 farm-produce CSA: choose from several options

• Plan to subscribe to the ArtShare CSA: Info soon on that same page

• Stay connected to ArtCrop: join the contact list and follow on social

"While farming provides sustenance for our bellies and art inspires our minds, they both feed our souls and spirits," says Oskar. "They're not exclusive to one or the other."