Creating Art Her Own Way

BY KELSEY BIGBEE

Each decade of life is riddled with its triumphs and challenges to overcome. As a child, you are forming your identity and personality; as a teen, you try to assert your independence. When you reach your 20s, you are navigating the challenges of becoming an adult. You are trying to prove yourself—your purpose, skills, and offerings to the world. This is no different for artists who are trying to establish themselves in the art world and trying to garner. This is how Dana Sikkila Murphy described her work in her 20s: big work, big installations. It was art for other people, art that drove the ego, and it was exhausting work. Now in her late 30s, she is settling into making art for herself.

Sikkila, a native of Litchfield, MN, moved to Mankato in 2004 to study at Minnesota State University, Mankato (MNSU). In Mankato, she was able to engage in the arts and be around creative mentors. “It totally changed my whole perspective on life. My perspective on art and education and [its] value [in life].” Sikkila received a Bachelor of Fine Arts and later a Master of Fine Arts and a Non-Profit Leadership Certificate at MNSU. While completing her Master’s, she started running the 410 Project, a community art space in downtown Mankato. “I didn’t know how to run the space or do programming, but I knew it was important to me and really important to my peers and the artists around me to show their work and just have access to being downtown and in a safe space.”

As a young artist and female running the 410 Project, she felt she needed to prove herself. And prove herself, she did. Today, she continues to run the 410 Project space for all artists and creatives across the spectrum (i.e., photographers, printmakers, singers, writers, etc.) to achieve their goals. Much of her work is as a community connector. In addition to running the space, Sikkila puts on programming and works as a consultant to help other artists set goals, write grants, or put on shows. When consulting with other artists, she encourages them to figure out who their peers are, not just with artists but with community, “that’s going to make you stronger, and we can foster that on all levels…that’s only going to make us all happier and healthier. If we can just figure out big and small ways [to connect], that’s the goal.”

As an artist in graduate school, she felt she needed to make artwork with big political statements but found that they didn’t resonate with her. A mentor told her to create artwork about things she likes. So, she started painting her dog, Murphy, a Boston Terrier, and it took off. Her drawings of Murphy became so popular she incorporated it into her name (Dana Sikkila Murphy) across social media and her marketing materials. Outside of her drawings of Murphy, she was trying to figure out her place in the art world. “I always felt like I was making work for other people, and making it work, that was the biggest thing… and I got very exhausted from doing that.”

Now in her late 30s, she makes work for herself, returning to her mentor’s advice and finding inspiration all around her. Sikkila combines printmaking and painting in her current work and describes it as an opportunity for selfreflection to work through themes like anxiety, imposter syndrome, and rejection. “Now I’m making work about my mental health or how I feel about being a woman in her late 30s living the lifestyle that I live and feeling comfortable enough to make paintings about it and put it on the internet or public spaces and talk about it.” Her exploration through these themes allows the viewer to go on a journey with her to explore these complex topics and have conversations about them.

Much of Sikkila’s work is building community and connections, whether through her art, running the 410 Project, or consulting with other artists. When asked about what the future holds for her art, Dana plans to continue connecting and collaborating with others. “I want to keep growing and experimenting and hoping to take my work a little bit further.” Also, she plans to do documentary work, such as artist spotlight videos with her creative partner, Mai Tran. “I want to make bigger documentaries and use that to connect with other artists.”

When someone steps into their truth and vulnerability and offers their gifts to the world, it gives us all permission to do the same. Sikkila’s work as an artist and community connector does just that. It gives us the push of courage we need to overcome the fear of being judged and be vulnerable enough to share our creations. Take it from the artist herself: “Put your artwork out into the world and let yourself be vulnerable…once you do it, you’re going to love it.”