"Mino-Bimaadiziwin: The Good Life"
Art Walk
Take a walk through the woods—and experience "The Good Life"
Overview of the Exhibit
A summer celebration of land, legacy, and living well, experience Kent Estey’s vibrant visions of “Mino-Bimaadiziwin: The Good Life” throughout Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.
Estey’s “The Good Life” is part of a community-wide exhibition in Detroit Lakes called “Experience The Good Life” created in collaboration with Project 412.
You can see the full collection in three locations through Labor Day weekend:
- Becker County Museum – 714 Summit Ave, Detroit Lakes – Originals and prints of acrylic, oil, and ink paintings
- Ortenstone Gardens & Sculpture Park – 28499 Randolph Rd, Detroit Lakes – Large-scale print reproductions along the Aspen Overlook Trail
- Washington Square Mall – 808 Washington Ave, Detroit Lakes – Even more large-scale print reproductions
Free & Open to the Public
The exhibits will remain open during each venue’s operating hours through Labor Day Weekend 2026.
This exhibition is free and open to the public – thanks to Project 412 Wave Maker supporters.
Artist Style & Presentation
- Kent Estey’s vibrant acrylic, oil, and ink paintings translate the landscapes he knows best into expressive works that capture the colors, emotions, and beauty of the land and sky in our region.
- Estey’s newly published children’s picture book, Picking Sweetgrass, is Native-written and illustrated. In it, he lovingly recalls his cherished childhood memories of gathering sweet grass with his grandmother.
Connection to the Park & Community
- “Mino-Bimaadiziwin: The Good Life” is part of a dynamic, multi-artist experience—Ortenstone Gardens also features sculptures like Thomas Dambo’s Trolls in DL and Olga Ziemska’s “Of the Earth” exhibition, all weaving art with natural landscapes.
- The Little Green Merch Stand (a merchandise stand) near the park entrance offers souvenirs featuring artwork of the current exhibitions, along with refreshments and functional repurposed goods, contributing to both visitor experience and sustainability efforts.
Why It's Worth a Visit
- Extraordinary & Meaningful: This exhibit showcases our natural landscape with such vibrant color and meaning.
- Celebrates This Region: The paintings express the deeper connection we share with the land, the water, and one another.
- Invitation to Pause: This exhibit invites us to slow down, reflect, and truly appreciate the richness of “the good life” all around us.
About the Artist
Kent Estey
Kent Estey is an Anishinaabe artist, author, and speaker from the White Earth Nation of Ojibwe in Minnesota.
His vibrant acrylic, oil, and ink paintings translate the landscapes he knows best into expressive works that capture the colors, emotions, and beauty of the land and sky in our region.
Kent is a member of the White Earth Nation of Ojibwe in northwestern Minnesota. He and his wife, Becky, own an art studio in Naytahwaush on the White Earth Reservation. Inspired by the forests and lakes surrounding their home, Estey paints expressive skies and landscapes in a contemporary, often abstract style. Working in acrylic, oil, and ink, he uses bold color and texture to translate nature adn emotion onto canvas and paper — honoring both the land and his Ojibwe heritage.
