Tag Archive: Bethany Birnie

  1. Raging Art On 2017

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    “art-happening meets holiday-party meets pop-up boutique”

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    FEATURED ARTISTS: Alex Poepping, Alexandra Motz, Aleister White, Angel Hawari, Amy Bloss, Barret Lee, Ben Sagmoe, Benja Wuest, BERGY, Boxy Mouse, Cassie Garner, Chromantica, CL Martin, Cory Favre, Derek Meier, Edie Overturf, Erin Nistler, Genie Castro, Hilary Greenstein, Inna Royzenfeld, I.V. Hills, Jacob Eidem, James Kloiber, Jamie Owens, Jesse Aylsworth, Jesse Golfis, Jodi Bee, Katie Anne, Kyle AND, Lauren Chadare, Lindsey Richardson, Matthew Huck, Miles Taylor, Morgan Pease, Moustache Jim, Natalia Berglund, Nicholas Harper, Paige Guggemos, Phaedra Odelle, Pseudo Manitou, Rachel Andrzejewski, Rachel Schroder, Rachelle Horowitz, Renee Chartier, Rob McBroom, Rob Watt, Russ White, Scott Roper, Miranda Schwartz, Scott Seekins, Shye, Sofia Berglund, stace of spades, Steph Sperlak, Stephanie Claybrook, Tierney Houdek, Van Holmgren.

    A holiday sale in a gallery setting, Gamut Gallery provides a fun-filled, consumer-conscious alternative to chain stores and mass mall shopping with the annual shopping event Raging Art On. Described as an “art-happening meets holiday party meets pop-up boutique,” an “uncurated” art experience awaits the adventurous shopper on the hunt for the perfect gift for the artist, musician, writer or other creative maker on their holiday season shopping list. We’ve hand-selected the 50 local artists involved, but they decide what to show and where to show it. What results is a gallery packed from floor to ceiling with paintings, photos, prints, collectibles, handmade apparel, jewelry, housewares, and more.

    Raging Art On reflects Gamut Gallery’s ethos of community, collaboration, the art of the happening and eco-consciousness. Gifts for sale at this event are handmade locally and are in harmony with the values of those concerned by mainstream holiday effects on our environment and our world — landfills, factory and shipping-caused pollution, issues of outsourcing and fair trade, consumer culture, etc. Raging Art On offers a place to join like-minded people together through art, music, performance and conversation.

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    OPENING NIGHT:
    Thursday December 7th // 7-10pm
    • Featuring  DJ Just Nine of ZULU ZULU
    $10 or FREE w/membership
    Presales available below

     

    FREE OPEN HOURS:
    Friday December 8th // 1-10PM
    • featuring DJ Bleak Roses 6-10pm
    Saturday December 9th // 1-10PM
    • featuring DJ Keith Millions 6-10pm
    Sunday December 10th // 1-5PM


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  2. Valure: (Va’ lure: to value)

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    FEATURED ARTISTS
    Bethany Birnie, Bunny Portia, Caitlin Karolczak, C.L. Martin, Jane Wunrow, and Serah Sauser with a video installation piece from Jade Patrick

    Amidst the upheaval of 2016, one of the many things that remained uncertain as we entered a year with the new President-elect is how women’s rights would be affected. With this in mind, our inaugural show, Valure, highlighted a group talented female artists whose work was a challenging, powerful and visible reminder that women will not be silenced or devalued in the art world and beyond.

    The seven artists set out to deconstruct the confines of the idealized “feminine” and explore what it means to value the self while living within a society which places a taboo on aging and an endless fascination on youth. Influenced by dreams, individual identity and the metamorphosis of the body, this collection of work honored the physical, valuing life outside of the scope of the day-to-day.

    Wunrow’s abstract works created a collage fluidity, jumping between the physical world and the Divine ambiguity. In the same vein, Karolczak’s soft-lensed, anatomical disfigurations acted as the connective tissue between the somatic and the caprice. In both, the ephemeral was present but the outcome of death loomed like an ominous apparition, lightly-hued and visually arresting.

    Highlighting demonstrations of beauty through a voyeuristic gaze, artist Serah Sauser’s photographs invited us into a couture fantasy dipped in aberrancy. While Bethany Birnie’s whimsically macabre taxidermy pieces took callously discarded, ordinary roadkill and – with Frankenstein-esque creativity – reconstructed them into something dreamlike. By honoring the mortal chassis of these displaced animals, she placed worth on their life, both past and in their fantastical metamorphosis.

    A series of reflective, autobiographical paintings inspired by her summer job as a Playboy Bunny in the 70’s, Bunny Portia’s works were of the genre “Memento Mori,” which loosely translates into “remember that you will die.” Through photos of the “ideal figure” overlapping medical x-ray imagery, her paintings were intended as a symbolic reminder of the impermanence of beauty, including the arc of aging and mortality.

    Though each artist’s unique experience was apparent, their visual connection was a transcendent journey into the various ways society, culture and our own bias shape and often distort identity.

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    OPENING RECEPTION
    Friday, January 27th 2017
    With live experimental dub music by local female electronic music producer Aimerie

    CLOSING RECEPTION
    Friday, February 17th  2017 – $10
    Featured “Mannequin’s Daughter,” an original dance performance piece from Ghostbridge Theatre

     

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  3. Raging Art On : 2016

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    Join us the 2nd weekend of December for Gamut Gallery’s annual holiday shopping event! #RagingArtOn is five days of floor-to-ceiling “uncurated” artwork and handcrafted merchandise from more than 50 local artists. Come for the art; stay for the party – every night features local DJ’s spreading the good holiday party vibes.

    FEATURED ARTISTS: Amanda Weber, Ana Taylor, Andrew D. Wiechman, Angel Hawari, Barret Lee, Benjamin Wuest, Ben Sagmoe, Bethany Birnie, Biafra Inc., Boxy Mouse, Brant Kingman, Brookita Corazón, Cassie Garner, Chromanttica, CL Martin, Don White, Erin Sayer, Fabrik Marge, Inna Royzenfeld, Jacob Eidem, James Kloiber, Jennifer Hunt, Jesse Golfis, Jesse Quam, Jodi Bee, June Moon, Kate Renee, Katie Anne, GOAT, Cheeky Hendricks, Lauren Ries, Lindsey Rivera, Linnea Doyle, Lizardman, Mari Navarro, Matthew Huck, Matt Massive, Miles Taylor, Morgan Pease, Moustache Jim, Neal Breton, Phaedra Odelle, Pseudo Manitou, Rachel Andrzejewski, Rachel Schroeder, Renee Chartier, REPO, Rodrigo Oñate, Russ White, Shanna Allyn, Scott Seekins, Tierney Houdek, Tony “Etones” Larson, Wundr, Yuya Negishi

    DATES & HOURS: Wed – Sat, Dec 7th-10th, 1-10pm  & Sun, Dec 11th, 1-5pm

    A holiday sale in a gallery setting, Gamut Gallery provides a fun-filled, consumer conscious alternative to chain stores and mass mall shopping with the 6th annual shopping event, Raging Art On. Described as an “art-happening meets holiday party meets pop-up boutique,” an “uncurated” art experience awaits the adventurous shopper on the hunt for the perfect gift for the artist, musician, writer or other creative maker on their holiday season shopping list. This year, Gamut has extended the annual sale to include an additional day, which means five days, extra hours of epic rummaging and, of course, more time to enjoy the party. We’ve hand-selected the 50+ local artists involved, but they decide what to show and where to show it. What results is a gallery packed from floor to ceiling with paintings, photography, prints, collectibles, handmade apparel, jewelry, housewares, and more.

    The five-day-long event will see performances from DJs James Patrick, Modwell, Danny Sigelman, Juleana Enright, Bobby Kahn, Tony “Etones” Larson, Jesse Lingenfelter, and The Headspace Collective. Come for the art; stay for the party.

    Raging Art On reflects Gamut Gallery’s ethos of community, collaboration, the art of the happening and eco-consciousness. Gifts for sale at this event are handmade locally and are in harmony with the values of those concerned by mainstream holiday effects on our environment and our world — landfills, factory and shipping-caused pollution, issues of outsourcing and fair trade, consumer culture, etc. Raging Art On offers a place to join like-minded people together through art, music, performance and conversation.

    Sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon

  4. Raging Art On

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    A holiday sale in a gallery setting, Gamut Gallery provides a fun-filled, consumer conscious alternative to chain stores and mass mall shopping with the 5th annual shopping event, Raging Art On. Described as an “art-happening meets holiday-party meets pop-up boutique,” an “uncurated” art experience awaits the adventurous shopper on the hunt for the perfect gift for the artist, musician, writer or other creative maker on their holiday season shopping list. This year, Gamut has extended the annual sale to include an additional two days, which means extra hours of epic rummaging and, of course, more time to enjoy the party. We’ve hand-selected the 30+ local artists involved, but they decide what to show and where to show it. What results is a gallery packed from floor to ceiling with paintings, photography, prints, collectibles, handmade apparel, jewelry, housewares, and more.

    Sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon and hosted at our new location in Elliot Park, the four-day-long event will see performances from DJs Just Nine, James Patrick, Aaron Brooks, Ken Hannigan and Juleana Enright, plus fire spinning in our courtyard by Lotus Fire (weather permitting), refreshments, and additional pop-up surprises. Come for the art; stay for the party.

    Raging Art On reflects Gamut Gallery’s ethos of community, collaboration, the art of the happening and eco-consciousness. Gifts for sale at this event are handmade locally and are in harmony with the values of those concerned by mainstream holiday effects on our environment and our world — landfills, factory and shipping-caused pollution, issues of outsourcing and fair trade, consumer culture, etc. Raging Art On offers a place to join like-minded people together through art, music, performance and conversation.

    Featured Artists: Amanda Weber, Benjamin Wuest, Bethany Birnie, Biafra Inc., Boxy Mouse, Brookita Corazón, Cassie Garner, Chromanttica, Fabrik Marge, Inna Royzenfeld, Jacob Eidem, James Kloiber, Jennifer Hunt, Jesse Golfis, Jodi Bee, Josh Mckeown, Kate Renee, Ryan Popihn, Lizardman, Lucas Gluesenkamp, Matthew Huck, Micah S. Ailie, Morgan Pease, Moustache Jim, Pseudo Manitou, Rachel Andrzejewski, Rodrigo Oñate, Russ White, Samuel Robertson, Scott Seekins, Tierney Houdek, Tony “Etones” Larson, Wundr and Yuya Negishi.

    Hours: 1-9pm // Thurs, Decemeber 10th
    1-10pm // Fri & Sat, December 11th – 12th
    1-5pm // Sunday, Dec 13th

  5. Make. Believe.

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    MINNEAPOLIS–January 26 through March 9, 2013, Gamut Gallery will show photography, sculpture, taxidermy, painting, digital arts and costumery by Bethany Birnie.  This prolific collection spans her personal post-Iraq experience, in vignettes of reveries made real. Birnie creates daydreams from the blueprints of her imagination, in her upcoming exhibit: Make.Believe. Opening Night commences Saturday, January 26, at 7:00 p.m. with special live-modeling of Birnie’s sculptural costumes, each a blend of the demure and outrageous.  The continuing exhibit will be crowned by a unicorn skull of bone and mixed materials, installed along side projected therianthropic portraiture.  Another installation piece features lovingly memorialized animals that Birnie taxidermizes by hand.  The diverse collection also includes smaller prints for the beginning art collector.

    Make.Believe. depicts intense longings of a soldier, facing extreme conditions in Iraq.  Birnie’s aquatic series was forged in a sweltering humvee in Iraq; beneath full-body armor, she dreamt endlessly of swimming freely in water.  Her harsh eighteen-month deployment spent as a combat machine gunner, was the catalyst to her whimsical dreamscapes. Her experience as a soldier revealed how precious lives can be marginalized as expendable.  These deep realizations found redress in procuring animal roadway victims and conducting the intimate, autopsy-like taxidermic procedure.  The magic Birnie deals in gained a life of its own as she began to find tiny bullets in one squirrel and then another.  The bullet installation weaves reality and mystery together so effectively that the intention extends even beyond the artist’s reach.

    “The notion that I have the power to change the world around me, into whatever I wish, is my main inspiration. I’m driven by the fantastical moments, when my daydream has been seamlessly recreated and lives before me…  While on convoys to Baghdad, the utopia I would drift to was so vibrant and beautiful that when I returned home I began a mission to recreate it. Filled with friendly animals, brilliant colors and peaceful women, my daydreams embody the things I lacked in life, specifically on my journey as a female soldier.”

    Bethany Birnie joined the Army National Guard in 2002. As she began her Fine Arts major at the University of Minnesota, she was deployed to Iraq.  Upon returning, Birnie sought out a more structured degree.  She graduated in 2009 from the University of Minnesota, with a double major in Fine Arts and Strategic Communication.  She went on to complete a portfolio program at Miami Ad School in 2010. Later that year she was granted an Art Director internship in Amsterdam at the firm: One Big Agency. Since then she has worked freelance and as a full-time Art Director at two advertising agencies.  She is working currently as an Art Director at Space 150.  The Make.Believe. exhibit will be the debut of her personal works in a gallery setting.