Bird Enterprise Zone

- Title
- Bird Enterprise Zone
- Creator
- Creator: Beatrix*JAR
Biography: The duo Beatrix*JAR, made of Bianca Janine Pettis (Beatrix) and Jacob Aaron Roske (JAR), formed in 2004 focusing on sound art. They also began to make other art and were heavily inspired by exhibitions like the Viva La Revolución at the Museum of Contemporary Art and Art in the Streets at MOCA to start doing street art and bring vibrancy to their art. When they came back to Minneapolis, they felt like the city had so much opportunity for bright murals but were not taking advantage of the locations. They described catching the “mural bug.” Bianca returned to school for a fine arts master with an emphasis on painting and Jacob got a BA in art focusing on printmaking. This didn’t stop them from making music, but they also started to pursue making murals. Murals were a way to create the same energy they made from making music but do it on a widespread public scale. Before making a mural, they like to connect with the space by visiting it and the surrounding area to get a good sense of the vibe. The team then goes through a draft process and typically enjoys bright and vibrant colors. They have also held circuit bending workshops and enjoy creating fabric art. Overall Beatrix*JAR loves to make art and music of all kinds and will continue to do so. - Date
- Created: August 2020
Documented: October 27, 2024 - Description
- Bird Enterprise Zone features two birds prominently displayed against a vibrant, patterned background. Both sides of the mural offer subtle differences in the birds' appearances and the background. The birds, painted in tan, brown, and white, contrast against the colorful backdrop, making them the main focal point. Their slightly varied hairstyles and designs distinguish the birds from one another. They are painted in a cartoon style, and they appear to be dancing or jumping. The background made of straight zigzag lines of varying thickness is visually striking but does not overwhelming the birds. Despite the 2D aesthetic the birds are clearly in the foreground creating depth in the mural.
- Subject
- Bird Enterprise Zone was painted during the summer of 2020. This was a challenging time due to Covid and the murder of George Floyd, especially in Minneapolis. Beatrix*JAR wanted to create a mural that gave off energy and joy to hopefully brighten people’s day. The zig zag pattern in the background represents vibrant sound waves symbolizing energy and creativity. The two birds in the center of self portraits of Beatrix and JAR. This reflects their partnership as artists and as a couple dealing with tough times. The artists chose to name this piece The Bird Enterprise Zone as a play on the name of the neighborhood, the Creative Enterprise Zone. This is a reminder of the resilience and imagination that is present here even through tough times. This is said best by Bianca “Painting it during such a unique historical moment made it feel like our contribution to healing and reconnecting, even in a small way” (B. Pettis, Personal Communication, 11/23/2024). Beatrix*JAR also enjoys making art with birds including creating fabric birds as seen in the images. This piece hopes to cheer up anyone who passes by and takes the time to admire the mural.
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Interview with Bianca Pettis (with Matthew Toivonen, 11/23/2024):Did this piece have a specific inspiration or meaning?
We painted the mural in August 2020. ChromaZone Festival was canceled that year because of the pandemic, and the world was grappling with the aftermath and social upheaval following George Floyd’s murder. It was such a challenging time for everyone, especially here in Minneapolis. Jacob and I wanted to create something that could bring a moment of lightness, joy, and connection to the block. The colorful sound waves in the background symbolize energy and creativity, while the two birds meeting in the center are self-portraits of us. They reflect our collaboration and partnership as artists and a couple navigating that turbulent period.
Naming it The Bird Enterprise Zone felt like a playful nod to the neighborhood’s name, the Creative Enterprise Zone. It was also a reminder of the resilience and imagination that thrives here. Painting it during such a unique historical moment made it feel like our contribution to healing and reconnecting, even in a small way.
Also, I should mention that Jacob and I lived at the Carleton Artist Lofts in 2008, and for some reason, we started creating fabric birds at that apartment. Painting the birds was fun - a nod to our earlier work.
Why did you start painting and making art? This can include music I saw you both enjoy making music as well on your website!
We first formed Beatrix*Jar as a sound art duo in 2004. At first, we blended sound collage and hands-on music-making. Then, we started offering circuit-bending workshops from our living room. We then toured nationally leading workshops paired with performances. We toured art museums and were constantly inspired by other artworks and incredible exhibitions.
One that stood out to us was Viva La Revolución at the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego in 2011, which celebrated the street art movement with artists like Swoon, Invader, Os Gemeos, and many others. The show was a revelation—before Instagram was widespread, this exhibition used a map that guided visitors around the city to discover murals and installations, making it a truly immersive experience. It sparked something in us, a desire to bring that vibrancy and energy back to our creative practice.
We also saw “Art in the Streets” at MOCA in LA, an incredible and vast exhibition that featured iconic artists like Keith Haring, Banksy, Margaret Kilgallen, and Barry McGee. The show highlighted how street art had evolved into a powerful global movement. Art in California was electrifying! In their scale and impact, seeing murals can feel like towering mountains in the urban landscape. At that moment, we tuned into the frequency of murals, and it felt like a natural progression for us to dive into that world.
When we moved back to Minneapolis, we couch-surfed with family and friends. Long walks in the Twin Cities and seeing the city’s blank walls seemed like a missed opportunity—especially compared to the vibrant mural scenes we had witnessed on the West Coast. That's probably when we caught the “mural bug.”
I returned to school for an MFA in Art with an emphasis on Painting, and Jacob got a BA in Art focusing on Printmaking. With our shared creative explorations, the shift from sound to visual art felt like a natural extension for us. We also kept making music! But murals were exciting and new and felt like an extension of the same interactive energy we brought to music workshops—only as public art—large-scale public imagery.
What is important to you when you make a mural like in the Chroma Zone? Do you typically have a message in mind?
Creating a mural always starts with connecting to the space itself. We like to visit the location first to get a sense of its energy and the surrounding vibe. This helps guide our vision for the mural. From there, we explore different ideas and drafts, experimenting with color, composition, and the overall feel.
We always enjoy playing with color, and we wanted to create something bold and vibrant in this mural. The sawtooth waves are graphic and dynamic, reflecting the energy we wanted to infuse into the space. When I first began painting murals, I imagined it would be like knocking out a rockstar performance. However, the process is more nuanced and requires careful thought and vision. The dedication and creativity of other muralists are something I deeply admire and constantly inspire.
In what way do you differ from other artists and how do you like working as a team?
What sets us apart from other artists is how we've combined our passions and skills since we first met in 2003. We met at a video editing suite at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, where Jacob was studying video and sound art. At the time, I had a BA from Antioch College in Ohio and had returned to school to study Video. Meeting Jacob was like a creative explosion. Our collaboration has spanned many mediums—video, music, performance, circuit bending workshops, visual art, screen printing, DJing, and even creating fabric animals. We've also worked on a music video series, constantly pushing the boundaries of what we can do together.
From the moment we met, we committed to each other to build a creative life together, generating our income through our art. It hasn’t always been easy—life has been both magical and intense. We've faced so many personal challenges, including Jacob’s recent brain surgery for Hydrocephalus in 2023, and I've gone back to grad school for Music. But no matter what we’ve gone through, we always find excitement and inspiration when working side by side. It feels like we’re meant to do this together, and that connection keeps us going, even through tough times.
Working as a team is essential to who we are. Our strengths complement each other, and a deep trust allows us to create in a way that feels both natural and exhilarating. Whether painting a mural or building something from scratch, we always learn from each other and keep pushing ourselves to grow. It's that synergy that sets our work apart.
What is your planning stage for the art piece like?
We work in various mediums, so when creating this mural, we had to pull out our mural folder and revisit all the steps. First, the wall was primed, and then we started painting. Honestly, as mural newbies, the first day was an adventure—Jacob jumped right into the sky jack to tackle the top portion of the mural while I focused on the bottom and tried to climb up. The next day, we looked at each other, laughed, and said, “What have we done?” It was a mix of realization and excitement. We regrouped and made a more solid plan. The excitement and anxiety had been building for weeks, and once we started painting, it felt so amazing. Over time, we’ve learned to slow down and enjoy the process—it’s part of the journey.
What motivated you to work in the Chroma Zone?
In 2008, we lived in the Carleton Artist Lofts. The Creative Enterprise Zone looked very different then! There was less housing and no Lyric Lofts - for example, our backyard was a Party Bus business! When we first heard about Chroma Zone, it felt like the perfect opportunity to apply. We loved our old neighborhood, which had always felt full of creative potential. The idea of contributing to a growing, dynamic arts community was exciting. We’ve always loved being part of innovative movements. Chroma Zone felt like a natural fit—giving us the chance to contribute to something that celebrates the vibrancy of public art and community engagement.
Links
- Rights
- Artist: Beatrix*JAR
Researcher: Matthew Toivonen - Source
- NEMAA. “Beatrix*Jar.” NEMAA, Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association, 2024, https://nemaa.org/artists/beatrixjar/
Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
BeatrixJar. BeatrixJar: Experimental Sound and Art. www.beatrixjar.com. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Chroma Zone Mural & Art Festival. “Beatrix*Jar.” Chroma Zone, Creative Enterprise Zone, 2024, https://www.chromazone.net/beatrix-jar. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024. - Publisher
- Urban Art Mapping