MINNEAPOLIS -- A vibrant queue formed in the hallway outside Art Price's collaborative screen-printing and painting studio, located in a historic Grain Belt Beer building.
Participants arrived with plain t-shirts, sweatshirts, and other clothing items, eager to decorate them with powerful anti-ICE messages and artwork. Among the designs was the Minnesota state bird, the loon, affectionately dubbed a "rebel loon" in reference to Star Wars, alongside the rallying cry that has echoed throughout the city: "ICE Out of Minnesota."
Operating from St. Paul and with a studio in northeast Minneapolis, 38-year-old Price, along with numerous volunteers, has been creating these impactful designs at no cost since January 8, following a tragic incident involving ICE agents. They have made available 12 unique designs, including six by Price himself and one by Marlena Myles (Spirit Lake Dakota). On Sunday, February 1, as the line extended out the door, the team managed to print over 7,000 orders by the following day.
"I felt an intense anger on the morning of January 8 and asked myself, 'What resources do I have?'" Price shared, dressed in a black muscle tank top adorned with flowers braided into his hair. "I have presses and ink, but I don't have shirts. Bring me your shirts, free of charge."
Price is among a multitude of artists in the Twin Cities channeling their creativity to oppose ICE's extensive Operation Metro Surge. Through screen-printed posters, clothing, and even artistic expressions, the message is unmistakable: Artists are determined to see ICE removed from Minnesota.
The most recognizable protest poster features the "I.C.E. Out" design, showcasing a red-and-white graphic of a snowplow truck clearing away weapons, handcuffs, and gas masks. This design was crafted by Wes Winship, co-owner of Burlesque of North America, who drew inspiration from Minneapolis's "snow emergency route" signage.
After brainstorming since November, when ICE activities surged in the Twin Cities, they launched the poster campaign on January 7, distributing over 12,000 posters to the community.
At Art Shanty Projects, a beloved annual event where artists create temporary installations on the frozen Bd'é Umáh (Lake Harriet), the gingerbread house-themed Wicked Winter Shanty has been hosting an "ICE crushing" ritual every weekend from January 17 through February 8. Artist Angela Maki North described this cathartic event as an opportunity for participants to physically smash "fragile, transparent, tiny ice men" while chanting and supporting one another.
Other creators are developing tools aimed at enhancing safety during protests. Artist Maggie Thompson (Ojibwe) initiated the Umbrella Project after witnessing the use of umbrellas for protection during protests against police violence. She designed umbrella covers that are resistant to tearing and puncturing, offering a layer of safety for demonstrators.
During Minnesota's general strike on January 23, Thompson and fellow artists displayed a glowing sign she designed on a bridge over a Minneapolis highway, proclaiming, "No One is Illegal on Stolen Lands... ICE OUT OF OUR HOMELANDS."
In the wake of a tragic event on January 24, artist Mary LeGarde (Fort Williams First Nation, Grand Portage Band of Chippewa) decided to create "ICE OUT" bead earrings using patterns by Tayla Fairbanks (White Earth Band of Ojibwe), drawing from Indigenous beadwork traditions.
Jane Shannon, co-owner of Bench Pressed, closed her shop slightly early upon hearing the news of the recent tragedy. She and her husband, Andy, have been producing "ICE Out of Mpls" signs since November, with proceeds from poster sales supporting local mutual aid initiatives.