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We know that all of our fabulous artists and performers have abundant skills and talents that should be shared within our surrounding community. We also realize that, aside from our stage shows, the best way to spread these talents is to bring them to the people we serve here at the Historic Holmes Theatre. Our staff works diligently to find the best one-on-one opportunities to create with our visiting performers on the days they visit Detroit Lakes, so we can make sure that the arts have the widest reach they can in our region.
A multi-day residency with Chicago Tap Theatre, where they taught “Intro to Tap” class to seniors at the Fitness Center and traveled to Mahnomen School District to perform for all 650 of their K-12 students. The students were so excited that they rushed to the stage when the performance was done to take pictures with the dancers.
The US/Brazil based duo B2Wins came and performed their unique works on Violin and Ukulele to Circle of Life Academy on White Earth Reservation, the Boys & Girls Club of Detroit Lakes, and the Memory Care Unit at the Pelican Landing Retirement Home. B2Wins adapted each performance to their audience, and got viewers engaged and excited with their music and their stories.
International music group and America’s Got Talent Finalists Malevo did a Malambo workshop with ELL Spanish speaking students from Pelican Rapids High School during their visit to the Lakes Region. Students (who thought they were there to watch a performance) got up on their feet to learn different dance steps and instruments used by the performers. Though this was a surprise, they all had fun learning something new completely in Spanish!
If you would like to get involved with any future Outreach projects, please contact:
Emma Tomb, Outreach and Special Events Manager, at 218-844-4221 ext. 117
or emma@dlccc.org
In the Fall of 2013, the Historic Holmes Theatre, in co-operation with The Real Estate Company, began collecting pennies from students around the region including Detroit Lakes, Lake Park-Audubon and Frazee. More than 600,000 pennies were collected. Over the next 9 months, with the help of 1000+ volunteers ages 2 – 85, the loose pennies were transformed into a fabulous new, cost effective, creative and resilient penny floor.
How many pennies?
Over 630,000 pennies cover about 2,000 square feet.
How much did it cost?
About $3,000 for flooring supplies. Labor and most pennies were donated. Plus, we received a grant from the Lake Region Arts Council to create the floor.
Where did the pennies come from?
Most of the pennies were donated by individuals who brought in their mason jars or small baggies full of pennies, but we even had pennies mailed to us from around the country. Also, in conjunction with the Real Estate Company, school groups were challenged to bring in pennies and help install pennies into the floor.
Who installed the pennies?
Over 1,000 individuals from students and families, young and old (youngest age 2, oldest 90+), touring artists and local business owners. People from all walks of life literally “gave us their two cents” in time or actual pennies to help create the floor.
Is it legal?
Absolutely! The U.S. Government has decreed that using pennies in this manner is perfectly legal. However, if there is ever a shortage of copper in the United States, the government has the right to dig up the floor for its copper.
We have a sunfish! Yes, it’s true, one of the city’s around 30 sunnies resides here at the Historic Holmes Theatre. Recent updates to the fish have managed to beautifully showcase both the theater’s penny floor theme and the various mosaics within the building. Be sure to “fish” around town for the other four-foot fiberglass sunfish created by our many talented artists for the “Sunny in DL” project. This project originated with a sunfish model built by local sculptor Hans Gilsdorf and then individuals added their whimsical take on life in DL to each of the 35 sunfish.
150 Sails Up in Detroit Lakes celebrated 150 years of Detroit Lakes in 2021. Local sculptor Hans Gilsdorf again used his talents to model 150 sailboat sculptures that over 100 regional artists decorated and placed around the community. The sailboat has become synonymous with Detroit Lakes and our many beautiful lakes in the area. We are lucky to have 4 here at the Holmes Theatre, celebrating the spirit of our town and the creativity of artists in our region.
Thomas Dambo’s Troll Invasion also found its way to the Holmes Theatre, with a very special portal featured somewhere on our building. Project 412 took on the amazing feat of bringing internationally know Danish Artist Thomas Dombo to Detroit Lakes to build 6 Troll Sculptures and 3 portals in various secret locations. We were lucky enough to host Dambo’s artist talk in the Historic Holmes Theatre and watch as this project came to life. Now go have some fun and find some Trolls!
