Episode 3: The Hangout Podcast - EJ Rose

EP 3 — EJ ROSE

🎙️ Paint-splattered pants and all — artist EJ Rose came to hang and kept it 💯

Christine & Corey dig into creativity, community, and what it means to make art in downtown Minot. 🎨

Made possible by Main Street America and American Express.

🎧 Listen now — link in bio!
#MagicDistrictPodcast #EJRose #MinotArtist #DowntownMinot #MainStreetUSA #AmericanExpress

https://www.facebook.com/TheMagicDistrict/ 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:21

Okay, guys, welcome back to another episode. This is our official episode three. Yeah, baby. Can't believe it. Anyway, um, this is our second person we're interviewing, and this is the person who created this lovely image here you see behind us. This is our logo. And we are introducing someone who's also who's near and dear to my heart because he's basically helped create the magic in my shop. Um, but anyway, that being said, um, you, this is a new guest for you.

SPEAKER_01 0:51

You know, I I've known EJ just around town a little bit, and I know he's done a lot of art around here, and he's gonna talk about that. Well, he's you know what he's done around here. Yeah. So yeah, yeah, yeah. So EJ, do you want to tell us, you know, maybe basically um, you know, oh first introduce uh his name.

SPEAKER_00 1:05

What what's your full name?

SPEAKER_02 1:06

Yep. So EJ Rose, uh, and um I'm also on Facebook as Ernest the Artist. Ernest the artist, right? Yeah, yep.

SPEAKER_01 1:14

Awesome. Okay, then go ahead. Yeah. Yeah. So you want to tell us, EJ, um, you know, uh, you know, how how did you, you know, I guess where where'd you are you originally from Minot?

SPEAKER_02 1:24

Uh I'm not. Uh I've been in Minot since 1995, uh September of 1995. That's like over 30 years. It is uh if you have the year I graduated. See you I graduated too. Yeah, yeah, I was a couple years before that myself, but um I'm originally from uh up near Albany, New York, uh 30 miles east uh from upstate. Hence the Mets Connecty area. Uh yeah, Choice Connecty Albany. I know that I've been there, he's gorgeous. Um and yes, uh Mets fan because where I grew up, we had a minor league team and uh I stuck with them. I didn't bail. Sure. So um it's it's been brutal for that, but you know, it is what it is. So yeah, um, Pittsfield Mets, way back when. Then they moved to Brooklyn. Um, and you know, but um yeah, so been here when I was in the Air Force.

SPEAKER_00 2:11

Okay, which Air Force, military, shout out to military, all you military guys, we love you all. Yeah, thank you.

SPEAKER_02 2:17

What did you do in the military? Uh interestingly enough, uh I I began. Um, I did a couple years out in the missile field at Delta, uh, was my primary one in the 740s. Uh interestingly enough. So Delta as in Delta uh Delta One, like Delta, yes, yeah, um MAF missile facility.

SPEAKER_01 2:34

Yeah, mouse site. Yep, yep. Yeah, I used uh in construction, I used to actually work on um a couple missile silos.

SPEAKER_02 2:40

Okay, so yeah, yeah, uh you probably you may have been well no, you graduated high school in '95. So uh this would have been about 99. Yeah. Yeah. I I was there when when construction was being taken place way back when, you know, it was being upgraded from uh you know into something more modern. So um, but interestingly enough, the tunnel that goes underground and the the capsule the vault and everything, I actually painted oh really uh the the whole elevator shaft and everything. Really? Yeah, so I actually was painting for the Air Force long before uh I took a brush to Mynot. Um, you know, and and that includes some stuff on the base as well, interestingly enough. And at Charlie, Charlie won, I did some stuff there as well. Um but before you came here to Minaut, did you go to art school or I did, I did. Uh I went to college in Massachusetts. Okay and I was a um a theater. Well, first I was a visual art uh major. Okay. Then I switched to theater art.

SPEAKER_00 3:34

That happens often, so don't feel bad.

SPEAKER_02 3:37

Um so so yeah, uh I did one year uh as a visual art major and then uh I switched to theater art major and then um I didn't feel like uh I was gonna probably do much uh like long term, so that's when I ended up joining the Air Force.

SPEAKER_00 3:51

So okay, so that was your story. I was wondering how you got from art, because I mean art's been in you forever, right?

SPEAKER_02 3:57

Yeah. Okay. Yep, it's been, yeah. Uh so you know, I I I ended up uh I didn't go straight from high school to the Air Force. I I had two years of college first, uh prior to um, you know, and it was interesting because you know, all these years later I ended up doing more with art uh here in Minot than I ever did, you know, sure during during college. Cool.

SPEAKER_00 4:20

So you end up in Minot. So tell us about here. How long were you in Minot? Did you leave and come back?

SPEAKER_02 4:26

What's your story? I did for about four months. Um and during my duration in in the Air Force, uh in 1997, I met who is now my wife, Nikki, um, who's been ridiculously supportive.

SPEAKER_00 4:40

She's amazing. She's she's uh Nikki, shout out to you. You are an amazing wife, not only to him, but you know, a mother to his sons, but she's always with you. I mean, anytime you need to do something, and you have crazy hours now. But I just want to throw that in there.

SPEAKER_02 4:55

It's absolutely true. Yeah, it without her support, um, you know, it I wouldn't have been able to do as much as I have. So um, but yeah, and then we actually went to um our our plan was I was gonna go to um school in Florida was where I was hoping for. Um uh close by Orlando was the was the plan. Um, but things just kind of went a little bit sideways. We we we were in Massachusetts for about four months, um and we were gonna save up, so uh and was is what we were gonna do. And um we went to Montreal, Canada with some friends one time, and Nikki lost her um license uh in in Canada, you know, and this was prior to 9-11, so luckily, you know. Yeah, but but even then, um, you know, she couldn't it was tough for her. Right. So she ran, you know, so she ended up coming back here. Um, and then uh about a month later I ended up following suit. And we ended up having our daughter in in two in May of 2000. Matter of fact, she just turned uh 26. Matter of fact, um, and things were moving along, and at the time, uh, you know, my not the magic city uh was was was working for us right now. Um and we decided to to stay. Um, and then of course we had two more, we had two boys since that time as well. So, you know, it's it's been expanding quite a bit. So yeah, there's been a lot.

SPEAKER_00 6:24

There's been a lot that's and you've never wanted to leave ever since then. You feel like this has been home now?

SPEAKER_02 6:28

Yeah, and yeah. I mean, um it's you know, we we we've settled, we've settled good, and you know, I've created uh interestingly enough, I've created so many uh working relationships uh over these years. Um, and uh so much of it has been tied to uh the art community. Yeah, right, you know, so yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:46

Yeah. And would you say that you feel like now that you're here and you clearly are you know established, you feel like you need to go to another city now? You want to you have desire.

SPEAKER_02 6:56

You know, it I I don't know. If things ever turn out that way, I mean, you know, we absolutely love Tennessee, actually.

SPEAKER_00 7:03

Oh Tennessee. Interesting. Uh you know, different landscape totally.

SPEAKER_02 7:07

Yeah, yeah, yeah. We're we're we're in love with Tennessee so much. Um, you know, I mean, we'll we'll we're open to you know, I uh things if they end up uh materializing, but we're not pursuing if that's sure. Sure. I mean, I there was a time like around COVID when things were getting crazy um and people had to start making decisions. You know, I did actually notice there was a theater in um uh eastern Tennessee that um was hiring for a charge artist, you know, so senior cardist. But uh as I researched um the theater, it looked good, but I also researched like the town that it was in, sure. Things like that. And uh honestly, uh I the Magic City, yeah compared to what I was you know seeing there.

SPEAKER_01 7:56

So what are the things that you find more fair favorable about like the Magic City, aka minot? You know, what do you what do you what I guess what what kind of outweighs?

SPEAKER_02 8:06

Um well it for uh on an artistic standpoint, uh believe it or not, even for a small town, this town has a rich artistic uh environment and community, you know. Yeah, yeah. Um my son, uh Jameis, he's also a very, very good artist. Um, and he actually got a scholarship just for his artwork uh down in eastern Tennessee, by the way. Right? It's crazy coincidence. Yeah. Uh but interestingly enough, he was even saying, um, you know, telling me that uh, you know, down there, um, he was saying, like, wow, you know, it's it's interesting that the community and the connections in Mina were so much stronger. He can see the difference in the younger generation. I can feel it, yeah. You know, um, so you know, he would and this is coming from him, you know, and he can he can recognize those things very, very well. Yeah, yeah. Um, you know, so um, you know, uh not just local businesses and people in the engagements, um, but also, you know, we have MACA, my not area console of the arts. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:07

I mean, there's it's it's the Toby Museum is a very well-receiving organization to artists, young artists, new artists, emerging artists. Right. They have gallery openings. Yep, yes, and it's insane. Like, I it's cool, is it's just it's within four blocks. Yeah, right here.

SPEAKER_02 9:22

Right here on Main Street, yes, right at the other end. I mean, downtown Minot is really pretty much the heart. And and give a shout out to Minot State as well. Absolutely. They have a huge art community downtown. Um, you know, but yeah, I mean, to to your point, Christine, uh, it's Hobby Museum, I absolutely love them. Um, I've been able to engage uh with them and create a really, really good relationship with them. So Rachel and Wendy absolutely love them. Um and I continue to do a lot of things that are connected with them in in many different ways as well.

SPEAKER_00 9:50

Um talking about that actually, let's let I know EJ a little bit more. Let me talk, let me talk a little bit more about now. Now that you're established, you're in my not. So you've been doing a lot of art for a lot of different organizations and a lot of roundtime. Can you give us like a little bit of a laundry list of what you've done? Not just like working here with me, but like I'm talking about the organizations and what you've been asked to do and commissions and all those different things.

SPEAKER_02 10:14

So, yeah, um, as far as you know, organizations and tie-ins and things like that, um, uh, without you know, having my, I guess, prepared notes with me so much, but off the top of my head, in no particular order, um, you know, definitely some nonprofits that um I've been able to engage with um and continue to. So uh for sure, probably museum. A lot of um, you know, and then also um where this all really began for me, believe it or not, was with um what's now called Full Steam Ahead, but but way back when Yes, Allison, yes, Allison Alk and Lindsay and them, they um they uh was where a lot of this began for me, believe it or not. And uh as a nonprofit, um M-A-S-K mask, uh big A scene kids theater. So it really began with that, and and and that's where it spread. It was crazy how it how it really began. Um, also uh Source Valley um uh animal shelter, uh SBAS. Uh I got connected with them um and um I do a lot of work with them. We just had a gala that I did a big backdrop for them, uh actually last year, but we had the second gala just recently, a couple months ago. Um, also Independence Inc. uh for the disabled. Umprofit.

SPEAKER_00 11:30

They have the Chili Cook Off every year. I've been on that. Yep, yep.

SPEAKER_02 11:33

Yeah, I I was I did stuff, um, you know, and then you know, just um I not so much nonprofits, but of course, you know, here at Magic City Hobies and Suites um have an incredible connection.

SPEAKER_00 11:43

Uh and then I know you did one that I'm gonna say that he got a part of that visit my not was a part of that tell people about that was fantastic for the community and for downtown, Corey.

SPEAKER_02 11:54

Yeah, yeah. The the mural on the back uh of this building and was was was from from a grant that they had and they did an open call.

SPEAKER_00 12:01

There was like five different artists, right? For that grant.

SPEAKER_02 12:03

There were five of them. Um so let me give a little shout out here off the top of my head. And so four four more in addition to myself. So we have Mac Max, excuse me, Max Panzer. I hope I said his last name. Art by Max. Art by Max.

SPEAKER_00 12:16

That he's known as like your Ernesty Artist. He's like Art by Max.

SPEAKER_02 12:19

Okay, Art by Max, yes. Uh he's got his uh mural just down, just down the same same alley. Um, and then also Rachel Lafaro from the Toby Museum. Uh, she did a fun little like almost like a it's kind of like a almost like a Where's Waldo, but it was slightly different than that. So she has some things hidden. Um, and then also uh Mackenzie Plouf did some sculptures. And then also uh Jasmine Schultz.

SPEAKER_00 12:49

Oh, she came up again too, second time. Yeah, yeah. That's what she showed up. Dakota was talking about how she was a musician. Now she's doing creative art too. Yep. So that's fantastic.

SPEAKER_02 12:57

Yeah, she did um like these, they were like these kind of like I'm gonna say sculptures, but they were very uh they're like uh yarn work type sculptures.

SPEAKER_00 13:06

Oh, I saw those. Are those the woven ones? Yeah, okay, yes, yes.

SPEAKER_02 13:09

Yep. So she and they were they were hung uh uh just down the street here. Um, you know, off the main street? Yeah. Okay. In front of the drop zone.

SPEAKER_00 13:17

Okay, okay.

SPEAKER_02 13:18

You know, they're I don't think they're there anymore, um, because you know the weather would like it's tall, but but they were there for a while. So, you know, uh, but yeah, we did the Magic City mural, uh, you know, which I I really enjoyed. Um, so you know, uh, and we'll see, you know, where things go.

SPEAKER_01 13:34

Person could take a walk after, you know, yeah, or whatever, and just actually go down the alleys and see all these murals.

SPEAKER_00 13:40

Actually, and visit my not, who uh sponsored the well, they didn't sponsor the grant, but they're the ones who applied for the grant, right? Correct. So that's how you got asked for it. Um, I know they do like a map, so you could probably get a map from them if you want like a walking tour map, because I know that's one of the biggest things they like to push on people's cool thing to do. Yeah, with your kids. Yes, yeah, yes. Or your family or outer towners. Yeah, totally. Because some people don't realize that art's always being updated too, and there's new art always being like there's one that was just put up over there, too, off of what what is that street right there? Central. No, the next one over. Is that is that first? First street. Right there. So there was new art there. So things are being added all the time. Yeah. So it's an updated list. Sure. That's uh Melinda's platelet.

SPEAKER_01 14:21

Yes, yes. We had sushi the other day. Yes, correct.

SPEAKER_02 14:24

Yeah, yeah. Downtown is a fantastic spot, you know, uh for these things. And you know, I'm fortunate enough to have an art studio here in the heart of downtown, um, which makes life easier. I do uh do a lot of work at um um we're closed, guys.

SPEAKER_01 14:41

Yep. Sorry, this is live, by the way. So this is all good. It's all good.

SPEAKER_02 14:44

This is um but I I I I've done a lot of work at the uh Mouse River Theater as well. I've done a lot of theater work uh here. Matter of fact, tomorrow morning I will be uh doing some things that are related to a theater production coming up here soon, too.

SPEAKER_00 14:58

That's right. You do a lot of theater backdrops. People do if you've seen this theater at Mineot State, all the way up until like Mouse River players, Samass Theater, like there's different things he's done throughout the years. I mean, some of them are fantastical. Yeah, I mean, just amazing.

SPEAKER_02 15:12

Yeah, it's been it's been interesting, you know. Um, so uh, and I know that I'll be doing some more uh with Mouse River Theater uh coming up sometime too. Uh we've already had some some chats about that. So it's been an interesting journey, you know, and and going back to like when we talked about mask theater, um, you know, everything I like to say it's been a tree, like like and and things have rooted, and then the tree branches have kind of nice.

SPEAKER_00 15:36

I love that analogy.

SPEAKER_02 15:37

Yeah, you know, and and and the weird thing is is it all started by uh I'm gonna say a kind of a chance encounter with uh my son Eli is where Dan. Um so years ago when he was in second grade, um I'll try to kind of shorten some of the story up, but the short story is that he uh he ended up um uh I I know someone who was uh a costume designer at um uh My Not State at the time. Her name is Connie and um Connie Gills Gilsleth. And uh so she had asked me if uh my son, who was in Cub Scouts at the time, was selling um wreaths and popcorn because she wanted to buy some. And she was a theater instructor for kids. Uh matter of fact, they were actually at that time they were located right across the street here in that building.

SPEAKER_00 16:25

Oh, really?

SPEAKER_02 16:25

And then the new city's hall. Yeah, which is now the city hall, the new city hall, which used to be the old Lowe's Fargo. Yeah. So way back when they they were housed there, and so I brought my son Eli to, you know, and and she was having a class with some kids for theater, and he was getting a kick out of what they were doing. Oh and so what happened is and so she let him join in for like the last like 10 10 minutes or so, you know, and this was for mask, mask fear for the kids. Well, he really got a kick out of it, so he wanted to sign up for theater class. Oh, he got he got the theater bug then. Yep. So he did. So we we enrolled him, and uh, you know, and that's how I got uh into meeting, you know. Uh and what happened is um he decided he was going to audition for an upcoming play that they had called Busy Town. Um, this would have been like I think 2017. So um what happened is he got apart, and one day I picked him up from rehearsal, and at that time they moved to across the street from uh Mouse River Theater, so um, which is used to be like the old Chicago cluster. Sure. Yes, yes. He moved there. Yep.

SPEAKER_00 17:28

Oh, they even did the Pangea house there. So I think you're right in the downtown in the base. That's where I went to that one that they had here downstairs. Yep, way back on.

SPEAKER_02 17:36

Yeah, it was really interesting. So uh I picked them up one day from uh rehearsals and uh I noticed that they were painting some flats for the set coming up, you know. And I just happened to make a comment and just said, Hey, um, if you guys happen to need help painting, you know, I could totally help you out, which is FYI, you know, just like no, just do it out there. Look for you. A couple days later, I get a phone call, uh, you know, a text message, you know, hey, do you think you can help us with some painting? We, you know, we're we're kind of stuck on this thing, you know. So I go in there and they're like, Well, yeah, we're trying to get this, but we can't, you know. Oh, yeah, I got it. Totally got it, you know. Um, and then I think my you know, I even had my friend, uh my son Jameis uh come in and help me for a second. Like, yeah, we're just gonna well the next thing I know, like a couple days later I get keys to the theater. Um, and then I ended up creating this huge um, like uh I'll call it like the centerpiece uh uh for for the play. It was the the the play was based off of a book, a children's book. So we they wanted we had to figure out, you know, okay, well, the set was is good and everything, but you know, we need something for the roof of the library. So I created this huge book with the logo coming out and everything. I was like, you know, that was like the centerpiece of the whole set. So then like after that was done, you know, um uh Lindsay and um Allison said, you know, hey, um uh do you think uh you know we we have um uh Alison Wonderland coming up. Oh, so we just refer to theaters. And they go, you you know, you think you you can you can paint for us for that set, you know. And I said, Well, if you get me in early enough, I we can do this. Well, interesting enough, tree branch, right? So what happened is um uh they ended up connecting me with a director um named uh Kennet Davidson.

SPEAKER_03 19:19

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_00 19:20

Give me a so give me a I know I know I know I know. So um I'm I'm I'm very aware of Kenneth Davidson. I worked with Kenna too.

SPEAKER_02 19:28

Uh so it was, you know, her and I left uh because you know she didn't know me and she's very meticulous and she's you know she's really into theater.

SPEAKER_00 19:35

She was she's a triple threat theater. Yeah, she is just amazing. And and just for everyone knowing, um and my heart's going out to the family right now, and I understand where E.J.'s coming from. She's a friend of mine too. And uh she's she's not with us any longer, but she was an amazing talent. Very, very that's actually how I met EJ. Yep. And so that's why this is a very this is a very important thing.

SPEAKER_02 19:57

Yeah, and um, you know, we got to I got to meet her um and we did uh we did Alice in Wonderland, um, and it was a collaboration with Mask Theater along with um my not state summer theater is a collaboration. Um and from meeting Kenna, I that branched into so many other things as well, including here, as Christine said, um all this artwork here uh came essentially from a text message from Kenna way back when yes, because I asked her and I said, Hey, I'm looking to make this place magical.

SPEAKER_00 20:33

I need an artist. I don't know anybody, you're more connected than I am. Again, I'm I'm not from here, so I only know so many people from whichever way I know. Right. And the next thing I know, um, she's like, I know that just the person. I said, Okay, go ahead. You know, you have to be kind of like being, you have your vision, and then he has artists have their vision. You just hope that you gel. Right. And EJ is probably one of the easiest people I've worked with when it comes to artists, and I've worked with a couple different artists in different respects, even from my past life. What I used to do before I moved to Minot. And I will tell you, he is very easygoing, he understands the vision, and he's meticulous. Like, I mean, look at the art that he did here. Right. I said, could you do this? And you did this like literally within the week. Literally within the week. He did this.

SPEAKER_02 21:13

How many hours would you say that took DJ? Uh a lot. Yeah, I did. You know, the first time.

SPEAKER_00 21:17

And it's it doesn't look that it doesn't look that drastic, but when you get close to it and you see it, we're gonna talk about that.

SPEAKER_03 21:22

Yep.

SPEAKER_00 21:23

I'm telling you, he did a fantastic job.

SPEAKER_03 21:25

Yep.

SPEAKER_00 21:26

The dedication, the eye. As a matter of fact, um, talking about something else I thought was really interesting, segueing art, which I I don't want to cut this off from Kenna, but yeah, the art behind EJ, we, you know, we've touched on in our first episode. Right. And next thing I know, I don't think he realized, but we incorporated some of EJ's modern art with the older art that used to be here. And this building used to actually be another business where that's where that art came from. So he cleaned it up a little bit with some of the glue that was on it from the slat wall, but he made it look magical again and he created it. So we still have art from someone else from a previous business we incorporate it into our business and it's still here and we're able to still celebrate that. Right. Which that's what's cool about him is that he'll be able to take something and say, oh, I could see it this way, that way, that way. And it'll take some of our information. It'll take his vision and that's why you get so many commissions outside of here. Not just, not just associations. He's working like like a dog.

SPEAKER_02 22:19

Yeah, it's funny. I really like this too because what I really like about this year uh is that I like to say that this entire wall here, I say it's it's half restoration. Sure. And half, you know we imagined all rest like we this right here, this whole this is this was a re a restoration job. Yeah. It was from from there on was the new stuff. The new stuff. You know what I mean? Okay.

SPEAKER_00 22:44

But we I had to restore you know um the original stuff so and then you when you add it onto the stage Christine you made sure not to cover up one no no no there's there's there's no yeah there's no art below this it's all like the reddish yeah but this no I actually made sure I had to have it and actually the person who painted the original art his his tag is right there. Which I wanted to get out is make sure the table Yeah yeah yeah but I don't even know the guy so if anyone knows who that guy is tell him to call us up we'd love to have him on here and tell us about story about this. Because this used to be the uh international United Pantry yes and that's what this says is United. We took off the pantry part which is not there anymore but then United is here so we love that part. I think that's a really good focus because I think my not in downtown has become united a lot more. Especially with like the resurgence of like the you know the facade program that's helping the fronts the beautification with the downtown you know the new citizens alley that that that and everything and all the new businesses opening and the art that's flourishing. Right. You know so I think all of that is why I love that word. It really does bring a lot of joy to this area.

SPEAKER_02 23:50

It was really fun to do too because like as you can well you could kind of tell but maybe not I don't know but like this was originally done with spray paint. You know this is a blue um yeah graffiti artist. Yeah you know and of course but we can't spray paint in here so when I had to like restore so to speak like this part of it um it was I had to I it was our brushwork. Right.

SPEAKER_01 24:15

Yeah you know and I like to give it to the brushwork that you gave is the the dripping down.

SPEAKER_02 24:19

Well and and even here okay yeah yeah he went in he had to retouch some of the glue okay some of the glue took off the paint and he had to retouch he has he had a match the color yeah so yeah matching yeah he's he's a true artist guys yeah yeah he's legit um but I yeah even that like you know like like canvas paintings that I've done um has even come from uh the theater stuff because what had happened is after we did um Alice in Wonderland uh which was a huge hit and it worked out really really well um but the next one after that um kind of did um we did um the jungle book and we did the out of time oh man um I forget the name of the place now oh we it's called we we uh I can't remember I'm gonna say it wrong if I if I mess it up but uh it was a it was an awesome little venue um was it in my not or outside of mine just outside of mine they they used to have um little music festivals out there oh gosh it's right on the tip of my panel no no no no no oh we fest somebody's gonna somebody's gonna mention it okay if you guys are watching this let us know put in the comments when we have this and let us know up north by bot know no it wasn't too far from here what he's referring to if you went to this we we we fest we fest I said we fest but I don't know if that's over in Minnesota yeah and I don't know what I'm talking about don't listen to me yeah I forget okay I forget I forget yeah but um but it was a cool venue it was an outside thing and it was really you know so what had happened though is we did a little like I I said okay so I did five different canvas paintings of like of of uh concept art for a backdrop and kind of just choose chose which one was going to become the backdrop you know so what had happened and then what we did is we we auctioned off those those canvas paintings for fundraising that's fantastic see that's a great idea you know um and so she picked the one that we did and you know they got it they made a print a big a huge print you know and and that became the backdrop and everything but what had happened is from those canvas paintings um that started springing additional canvas paintings like you know so I did an you know someone reached out hey can you and then like a friend of mine uh reached out and said hey do you know how to paint dogs and I'm like I could try you know I never painted a dog before uh and I've probably done like a hundred cents over the years you know like dogs have become like yeah like you know um so a lot of pets and things but yeah it just it really it but again that tree right and it just branches out so much um same thing with you know Tobby Museum um you know had I had had these things not happened uh you know I wouldn't have ended up getting my studio because I got really busy at home and I I ran out of room you can't sweep all that around I mean he's got he's got like scaffolding this guy yeah this guy's got stuff still up here for my stuff so when I tell you he's yeah you you you can't do that you can't travel everywhere and and bring everything you need a studio which would be cool didn't you guys have an open door once with your studio yeah yeah and it once again big props to Nikki uh my wife uh what had happened yeah we we it was a fundraiser actually a few years back a couple years back for the Tobby Museum they did a tour around the holidays and and you and it was different things that were um uh like holiday themed decorations you know and then uh so a couple studios uh became part of that you know so we also reached out and below me at the time uh uh someone else Wendy Wendy Kimball yeah she's very big in this community yeah yes we gotta have Wendy on soon about what she does too outside of her art she's got other stuff that's cool guys we'll talk about that later good one yeah yeah that's a good call too so Wendy had a studio at the time below um below mine um because it's three fours you know and so she was doing the holiday thing too so um you know I was like yeah we we can do that well it ended up being where my other son and I uh ended up traveling back to New York to see some uh some family at the same time that this was taking place and I had already had everything ready to go um so uh my youngest son Eli and my wife Nikki um went to the studio and you know did the took care of everything that's fantastic so they open the doors deal so I want to pivot on something really cool that EJ just because EJ is an artist he does have a regular job he does work but he also still like gets involved in things there's something that he's probably gonna have to be announcing later at some point that he's working on that's kind of a big deal but he can't talk about it.

SPEAKER_00 28:53

Would you be okay? I'm not gonna say anything else but but when you find out when you can announce it will you allow us to if we don't see you or could you want to just bring you back on and talk about it.

SPEAKER_02 29:02

Yeah I mean yeah I mean when that happens it's gonna be uh a little bit more than or less than a month a little bit less than a month from now is when you'll be finished working on everything and you get the announcement that you'll be able to Yeah I think that's when they're gonna um like uh present it I believe is mid mid-June um you know so and of course by the time this gets you know I'd be you know um but yeah uh I'm looking forward to that um you know um that's something that uh you know uh Christine and I have actually already talked about it was actually funny because she had brought it to my attention first and then um it became more of a public thing um as far as the work around project what's yeah um so once that happened I got so many messages from other people saying hey EJ you should you should check into we don't want to give it away yet though but I have a question for you though um what are you working on next after this?

SPEAKER_00 29:55

Because let me let me let me the reason I'm asking is because I don't know what this year has to do with anything else for you. Like if are you going to be having like are you going to be performing I know it sounds weird like performing but are you being somewhere what are you doing?

SPEAKER_02 30:08

So I know you worked last year with the Toros, the Minotauros the Minot Minotaur's hockey team guys yeah lots last year you did something special then but like are you doing anything like that this year any exhibits or yeah uh yeah good question so um uh for the remainder of this year I guess that's as far as the current to-do list or well the summer I guess at this point too um so right now so tomorrow morning um matter of fact uh I'll be heading over to my not state uh to do some uh work for theater production for Chatty and Angela Schneibley um that I'm gonna be helping them out it's not they're a huge part in a theater community yes yeah yes yep very much um so I mean it's not like a uh you know it's a smaller flat uh we call it in theater flat so it's a four by eight um so I'm gonna help them out for something um after that um I have I I I could probably say this much I mean it's not you know uh but uh Maverick law firm over by the hospital interesting enough um uh I'm gonna be doing a uh mural on their in their conference room that's next like yeah that that's a commission your big one yeah that's gonna be you know um are you doing anything downtown uh well so we actually on June uh on June 11th for uh the Levit in the Citizens LA area the same thing Dakota's opening up the week before the week before yeah and so for him so he's the week before um but I'm the featured visual artist not musical artist visual artist so I will be there uh you know for that um also too uh you know uh hopefully the weather's on our side I'll say uh but you know right behind me uh outside I should say but there's that right by chaos games here um there's uh there's that that wall that um is gonna end up having a a little a little file put put up there um we have a fun little design um so it's already been primed uh I'm gonna probably throw another primer coat on it um fantastic but um you know so we'll be doing that um then of course there's a thing in in June that um yeah we'll be talking a lot more about I do know that I've committed to some things for theater uh you know uh in the thought in the fall um you know uh at Mouse River uh Mouse River here so we're gonna be doing some work with that um but yeah it's just kind of an ongoing thing I have already committed uh someone who I I I've connected through with through the Tobby um I do some work for her which is interesting um she has me I I do paintings for her and she turns she takes those paintings and turns them into like for instance Christmas cards birthday invitations Easter cards so I'm gonna be doing her Christmas it's like curated art for a for a for a person and it's interesting too because you know you said how you know like diversity and it things where she's got a very particular look and style that she goes for sure you know um so uh you know and and a lot of that too and and Christine can say firsthand too because like for me I don't just you know like get in there and like okay just throw something on there randomly sure you get to know the actual person that's you're getting the commission from and then just kind of go from there and see what the vision and talk and communicate. Yeah yeah yeah there's I I would say I mean before before before I even get a brush going yeah at all it's it's an agreed upon design. Yeah you know and that's how like even with Christine it was you know here like all this stuff like we it's like okay this is what we're looking you know so we come up with the design that we want that we we we agree with you know that she like like she would agree with and she wants and everything and I'll kind of send like a like a mock design yes he's often like that let me tell you he's an easy person to work with he'll give you an idea a couple different things he's done stuff for the library that way it's a really easy way to work with EJ he's he's just phenomenal that way it's cool.

SPEAKER_00 33:43

So I have a question for you though if somebody wants to get a commission from you in the future are there any ways to get in touch with you what would you say?

SPEAKER_02 33:50

Uh yeah the good question um you know the main the main thing I would probably say is feel free to reach out to me uh like on um on Facebook um at Ernest the artist you know I'll study artist guys can't forget that there have been people interesting enough to they like it I like it yeah yeah I you know I mean that's that's the funny thing is uh see you remember it is I I have not up until I came to my not uh I I was never ej until I came to my not actually really interesting enough yeah like my whole uh my whole childhood at whatever like back east we'll say um you know uh because I'm named after my grandfather sure okay which by the way is why when you if if you ever that's the one thing I kind of I don't want to say like it's the one thing that I I I feel strongly about is uh on any painting I do with the exception of two but um I in my the bottom right hand corner I always sign it you know but if you ever see my signature it's it's my last name it's Rose it looks like it looks a little weird but it's it's Rose with the Roman numeral too. Sure. I love my Roman numeral too.

SPEAKER_00 34:55

The only two I was wondering about that because when I see your signatures on some of the artwork I've seen I'm like what?

SPEAKER_02 35:00

Yeah like what is that like is this like yeah it's if you look enough interesting enough one of the two that I didn't sign on the bottom right well happens to be this so I didn't sign this one on the bottom right just to keep it you know kind of but sign back though but uh if you look at it you'll see the R, the O, the S, and the E. Okay. You know, and then of course my Roman numeral too. Um but um uh I don't even know where I was going with the story other than the fact that yeah I was I was my you weren't you weren't being called EJ. Yeah yeah so it was you know I'm I'm my my name is Ernest Joseph Rose the second after my grandfather and uh so growing up you know Ernest is Ernie. So I was only I was always a Sesame Street character. Oh my goodness I never he never touched yeah so it was always Ernie Ernie Ernie which you know of course when you're you know I mean I came here when I was 21 right so my first 21 years uh you know I mean Ernie is just not really a like even even at 52 years old now sure yeah I still kind of feel okay maybe Ernie might fit now you know yeah but so I came in I was at the Air Force base and I kind of thought to myself I'm like you know I don't know this town I don't know these people I don't know like you you guys didn't grow up with me they're not my family you can be who you want to be now so so but I also felt really weird like I mean being called Rose was normal because I was in sports too yeah but um as far as first names go like I in a weird way I had this stupid little attitude way back when like I'm like yeah I'm not gonna have people call like these people don't know me they can't call me they were they weren't allowed to call me Ernie right so uh EJ is what it was from that point followed you know my wife and I even joke about it because one time she called me Ernie when when we were before we started dating like you know and um I kind of gave her a little bit of now I don't care what people I I really don't care it doesn't matter. I kind of I laugh at it now as you know but yeah EJ, you know um and and you know it's it's funny to hear anything other than EJ at this point, you know, but yeah I'm gonna embrace my my actual name and Ernest the artist just seemed to fit you. Yeah I like it.

SPEAKER_00 37:00

I I like it yeah yeah so awesome guys I mean I think I don't know all I know is that this guy has been a really you know instrumental force behind a lot of the art and you know connections and that's what it's about like I met you through other people I met you through someone else and that's the thing about my not guys like if you are never been here if you do need to get to know people start talking to people and then someone can connect you because whatever you're like is whatever you yeah yeah whatever you're into yeah like like I I asked uh in our interview with Dakota um you know how did you have your final sense of community you know he got here when he was two but then he found his group and it seemed to navigate I mean you clearly found your group I just like you know I was doing theater actually first before I really did food and then I did food and then I just found everybody. So get involved with something that you dropped out. Yeah and find something that you're passionate about because then the other person's gonna you guys are gonna gravitate towards each other. I think that's what I do really like about my not is that there's people I still haven't met yet and I'm like it's not a huge town but it feels larger than it is. Right. But it's all connected and we try to help each other no matter what I I think that's the best part about all of this. Right.

SPEAKER_02 38:10

You know and I also say Christine you know thank you all as well for you know being as supportive uh of the and I'm not I'm not even talking just individually uh myself but just you know um in in the art community um even besides just myself you know like Dakota would be a good example as well um and I know other things that you have going on that's definitely going to be supportive of community that you know when that time comes thank you I appreciate that um I I I appreciate that I just I sometimes I see things that are just you know very important for the community that maybe people don't identify and if I'm able to isolate it and just kind of bring it as an idea for forward because I see it like ahead I'm like how could that affect something in the future you know could it's not trending it's not like cool and hip or fad it's more like I see that there's a need and how do we get that need so we can get those people to gravitate towards that.

SPEAKER_00 38:59

Because I I think some of the things what you're thinking about, I know what it is that's coming up next. It's a busy summer for me, I'll tell you that. And I know for you Mr. Citizen of the Yeah that's right. And congratulations neighbor neighbor of the year yeah you're like the neighbor citizen you're like the man of the year here in in my opinion because really I mean he he does so much behind the scenes that we can't celebrate right now. But you know we've talked about it when we first did our opening episode which you know this is where people are going to get to know everybody. So you know we're all busy but we still we still help each other and thank you guys too for helping me because this wouldn't happen because literally like I'm just texting and calling hey guys we got to get together and do this. Are you okay with that? The timeline it's not my deadline and you know so I appreciate everyone EJ you did a phenomenal job yes this very cool art lives in this town.

SPEAKER_02 39:47

Yeah you know and it's yeah and and I think it's cool that this town lives within the art as well you know and and and and see see the the shows the performances the the theater shows the concerts uh we have sports we have yeah go to the the exhibits yeah you know there's there's there's a lot of the culture here uh you know um and again it goes beyond well beyond just me as an individual but you know yeah go do the alley uh walks street walk thing you know and there's there's gonna be more to come there might's really got a I mean during the winter you've got hockey you know you've you've got you know got baseball coming up you know the you know ice skating downtown ice skating downtown I mean and it's Silta Mesa yeah yeah there's just so much to do yeah there's there's also the symphony I mean we have so much yes yeah oh and summer theater don't even talk about summer theater that's a m that's a majestical like place to go to see theater but it just isn't mine it I mean it's also you know Grandville Velvet yeah and all the starring towns I mean up to the Canadian border and that's that's 20 mile swath around mine it there's something to do.

SPEAKER_00 40:48

And that's where what I would love to find out where we can start bringing those ideas here so people can say okay if you want to take a day trip there. Right. Because that's really easy. I mean since we've lived here I mean I know I go to Bismarck for a day and I'm like oh that's easy now. I didn't understand it when I first moved here. But it's kind of like you don't get that until you live here. So Granville's not far you know everything. Even Burlington it's like next door. Yeah if you go to the Pioneer Village now because they relocated it out that way that's a nice day trip just for the whole day. It's not even far when I say day trip I'm not talking about sitting in the car. No I'm talking about staying there for like the day and enjoying all the old time pioneer village.

SPEAKER_02 41:23

And you know um uh I remember you know I I made a comment one time because someone was saying you know well there's is if anyone says there's nothing to do in my not I'll say it that way you know if someone says there's nothing to do in Minot, it's because they're doing nothing in Minot.

SPEAKER_00 41:38

I agree. There you go. We're gonna finish on that note guys. So listen to EJ, okay? So listen, it was a pleasure having you on. I'm so happy that you are able to tell some of your story some stuff I learned. I mean it's just thank you EJ Yeah and you're such a a treasure to have in this community and just keep keep up the good art and keep up the good work and sharing and yeah and that's it. Anything else you want to talk about on this episode?

SPEAKER_01 42:00

Yeah episode number three.

SPEAKER_00 42:02

Yeah yes well thank you so much yeah well guys we'll put his stuff on the bottom of this post and then please feel free to share and like and subscribe of whatever we have going on here. And if there's any things you people you want us to talk to things you want to see please feel free to reach out and uh yeah we look forward to talking more guys and chatting and chilling and hanging out.

SPEAKER_04 42:23

Chatting chilling thank you Corey Christine thank you for having me you're welcome thank you have a good one guys no way that's what you dream is the way that you make those things reality you see that's the magic of me