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April 10 – May 8, 2021
MPLSART and Gamut Gallery present the MPLSART Sketchbook Project Exhibition.
FEATURING: AK Garski, allison anne, Annie Hejny, Ben DiNino, Betsy Alwin, Black Daze, Christopher E. Harrison, Christopher Carr, Christopher Aaron Deanes, Colee Recke, Derek Meier, Destiny A. Davison, Hend Al-Mansour, Jamie Owens, Jennifer Davis, Jesse Quam, Jon Reischl, Kar-Keat Chong, Kelsi Sharp, KJ, Krista Anderson-Larson, Kristine Fretheim, Leeya Jackson, Lizardman, Lora Hlavsa, Nicholas Alan Straight, Niky Motekallem, Philipo Dyauli, Reid Olson, Reggie LeFlore, Russ White, Sean Ferris, Stacey Combs, Tony Cheng, Tyler Faketrap
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The 2020 MPLSART Sketchbook Project is a unique survey of the Twin Cities visual arts community during one of the most challenging years. 68 local artists contributed 120 pages of original work to a series of five traveling sketchbooks. The sketchbooks have been compiled into a beautiful 88 page hardcover book available for presale via Kickstarter March 2nd with all net-proceeds split among the featured artist.
When the sketchbooks were near the end of their travels, MPLSART connected with Gamut Gallery to host a pop-up exhibit to showcase the five original sketchbooks. Collaboratively, the concept evolved into a full length exhibition, featuring new works from a wide selection of the artists contributing to the project.
Given the magnitude of artists and limited wallspace, an open call was sent to all 68 artists and the first 35 to respond would have the opportunity to showcase an original work in the exhibition. In less than 24 hours, the roster filled up with established and emerging artists, creating an eclectic exhibition featuring muralists, studio artists, street artists, graphic novelists, collage artists, and more. Gamut attendees may recognize familiar names that have been on exhibit at Gamut in the past, and can look forward to 13 new artists who will be exhibiting their work in the gallery for the first time.
The exhibition has no defined theme, only a set of guidelines – works had to be new originals and available for under $500. Many artists drew inspiration from their sketchbook pages. In addition to featuring 35 original works, the exhibition will also be an opportunity to see the five original sketchbooks first-hand before going to auction at St. Paul basedRevere Auctions.
Members Only & Press Preview Night: Friday, April 9th // 6-9pm A VIP Preview Night for Gamut Gallery Members: become a member today!! – Existing Members RSVP for FREE – 45 minute reserved tour sessions – 10 visitors per tour
– Masks required
– Temperature taken upon entry
– Please stay home if you are feeling unwell
Public Opening Night: Saturday, April 10th // 5-9pm • $7 – 45 minute reserved tour sessions –Pre-sale tickets required – 10 visitors per tour – Masks required
– Temperature taken upon entry
– Please stay home if you are feeling unwell
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ABOUT MPLSART MPLSART is a guiding voice in the Twin Cities visual arts community. Founded in 2005, MPLSART has been covering the best local exhibitions, artists, galleries, and more for over a decade. The Minneapolis and St. Paul arts community has long been hailed as one of the best in the nation and we work tirelessly to showcase the hard work of this amazing community as well as strive to create a more sustainable arts scene for all.
We’re ready for you, new works, new artists, new year.
UPCOMING EXHIBITS in 2021
December, 2nd 2021 – January, 10th 2021 Raging Art On 2021 – Our annual “uncurated” holiday shop in a gallery setting.
Gamut’s 10th annual holiday market Raging Art On (RAO) is back! We’re bursting at the seams with locally sourced art, helping you answer that age old question: what do you get the person that has everything? The gallery is transformed, filled from floor-to-ceiling with paintings, fiberart, prints, jewelry, sculptures, and stocking stuffers to choose from. You’ll never find yourself agonizing over holiday shopping again! Raging Art On provides a unique, consumer-conscious experience that allows any adventurous shopper to find the perfect gift for anyone on their shopping list! With the exception of selecting the participants, Gamut leaves the rest up to the local artists to decide the amount of work they show and where to show it.
FEATURED ARTISTS: Third Daughter Restless Daughter, Astralchemy, Alexis Politz, allison anne, Anton Horishnyk, Amit Michael, Ashley Nichole, Bekah Worley, Benja Wuest, Biafra, Black Daze, Cassie Garner, Carter Casmaer, Destiny Davison, Eli Libson, Emily Forbes, Emily Quandahl, Evan Weselmann, Flahn Manly, Heather Renaux, Jamie Owens, Jenna Richardson, Jordan Wiebe, Jorie Kosel, Juliana Ferguson, Kathryn Flora, Lauren Storm, Linnea Maas, Liza Ferrari, Lora Hlavsa, Lucy Comer, Manthra Studio, Martzia, Marne Skusa, Nichole Showalter, Pompa Goods, Olivia Kor, Phaedra Odelle, Philipo Duyali, Rachel Schroder, Roland & Darwin Patrick, Russ White, Sara Kahn, Scott Seekins, Sherstin Schwartz, stace of spades, Suyao Tian, Tierney Houdek, Tiffany Lange, Tom Jay, Trace, Zach Julen
PAST EXHIBITS in 2021
Cancelled – We regret to inform you, but Future Forms has been cancelled due to logistical complications. Keep following both orgs to see what other exciting events they have planned for the year.
Future Forms – Juxtaposition Arts and Gamut Gallery present Future Forms, a multimedia exhibition featuring artwork from current JXTALabs youth apprentices and recent program alumni. These exhibiting artists affirm that the visionary genius and interdisciplinary approaches of our young people are integral to the growth of the Minneapolis community and beyond.
Featuring: Alex Vaquerano, Avahnii Lewis, Bereket Weddall, Cameron Downey, Elijah Buchanan, Essence Enwere, Ethan Nevelinen, Hans Forsline, Hawwa Youngmark, Isaiah Hunter, Justice Jones, Makeda Parrish, Micah Brekke, Namir Fear
Curated by: Alex Smith, Adrienne Doyle, Greta Kotz
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April 10th, 2021 – May 8th 2021 Minneapolis Sketchbook Project –MPLSART and Gamut Gallery present the MPLSART Sketchbook Project Exhibition, representing 35 new original works from local artists featured in the project. All works will be available for $500 or less!
The 2020 MPLSART Sketchbook Project is a unique survey of the Twin Cities visual arts community during a most challenging year. 68 local artists contributed 120 pages of original work to a series of five traveling sketchbooks. The sketchbooks have been compiled into a beautiful 88 page hardcover book available for presale via Kickstarter March 2nd with all net-proceeds split among the featured artist.
MPLSART is also partnering with St. Paul basedRevere Auctions to auction the original sketchbooks. All net proceeds from the print book and the originals will be distributed among contributing artists! This is MPLSART’s way of helping artists during this difficult year.
Featuring: AK Garski, allison anne, Annie Hejny, Ben DiNino, Betsy Alwin, Black Daze, Christopher E. Harrison, Christopher Carr, Christopher Aaron Deanes, Colee Recke, Derek Meier, Destiny Davison, Hend Al-Mansour, Jamie Owens, Jennifer Davis, Jesse Quam, Jon Reischl, Kar-Keat Chong, Kelsi Sharp, KJ, Krista Anderson-Larson, Kristine Fretheim, Leeya Jackson, Lora Hlavsa, Lizardman, Nicholas Straight, Niky Motekallem, Noval Noir, Philipo Dyauli, Reid Olson, Russ White, Sean Ferris, stace of spades, Tony Cheng, Tyler Faketrap
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May 29th 2021 – June 26th, 2021 Setting the Groundwork– a solo exhibition by Reggie LeFloreexploring his take on the multidimensional elements of creating, storytelling, and relationships with space and time.
Setting the Groundwork is Reggie LeFlore’s visual autobiography. Through the use of six portraits, each representing a different chapter of creativity in his life, viewers will have the opportunity to get a look into his inspirations as a child and to his collaborations across his life, highlighting his connections to community and the environments that surround it. Each foundational portrait represents a piece of LeFlore’s methodology, supported with elements containing his past, future and his current bookmark resounding on identity, afrocentricity and purpose. These experiences and influences create a larger than life, bold, vibrant story; a mural per se of his life, from his roots in Omaha to his life in Minneapolis.
Reggie Leflore is visual artist who creates to praise individual and collective stories through human portraiture. His inspirations are drawn from the concepts and philosophies of Street Art culture and Illustration – using aerosol, acrylic paint and various graphic design techniques to construct pieces in varying styles, scales and surfaces. Reggie uses visual arts to amplify both his surrounding environments and the narratives contained within them.
Curated by Cassie Garner
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July 15th, 2021 – August 21st, 2021 Singula – An international group exhibition honoring rare elements that shape our identity
Singula (adj.) derives from the Latin word, singulus, meaning single or separate; each one being individually unique and particular, possessing its own essence. As individuals experiencing and interpreting distinct realities– from our physical surroundings to our imaginations deep within the subconscious realm; Singula honors the distinguishable and rare elements that continuously shape our identity and understanding of the world.
Singula is curated by Rodrigo Oñate and features muralists he has invited from Mexico, Chicago and Minneapolis, all whom incorporate whimsical characters and dream-like imagery to explore their cultural origins and storytelling practices that embolden critical connections across identities. Through a combination of colors, textures and intricate shapes and figures, this collection of muralists reveres the accessibility of public spaces to create vibrant and eclectic works that connect directly with the community. By highlighting everyday human experiences and marginalized narratives, this exhibition affirms street art is a powerful form of expression and solidarity among communities, stimulating the imagination and activism necessary for transformative change.
We hope this work engages the viewer to reflect upon their own innermost identities and the dreams that we carry with us throughout our lifetime. This Summer, we invite you to enter the gallery filled with environments most commonly found in our flights of fantasy.
Curated by Rodrigo Oñate
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September 10th , 2021 – October 9th, 2021 C4W:2021 –Gamut Gallery’s annual Call-4-Work exhibition.
The beauty of C4W is that there’s no predetermined theme and it is not a show that influences what art should be. Instead, Candida Gonzalez, this year’s guest curator, brings their unique perspective and interpretation of the submitted works ranging the full “Gamut” of visual media.
Through our guest curators lens & perspective they have curated the theme Elemental for this C4W. This exhibit will feature artworks that Cándida has chosen to represent one of the building blocks of life, from the four elements and human connections to life and death. For Cándida, these selected works represent some form of elemental energy that invites us to drop down from the chaos into the essential foundation of existence as life twists & changes around us.
C4W:2021 Features: Aidan Dillon, Alexandra Beaumont, Alondra M. Garza, Atzín Rayas, Ayana Figueroa, Ben DiNino, Ben Hering, Benjamin Wuest, Bo Young An, Buddah Jankey, Caryn Ann Bendrick, Christopher Harrison, Christopher Palbicki, CL Martin, Corinne Teed, Daniel Allyn Lee, Derek Meier, Emily Forbes, Helene Woods, Human Shaped Animal, Ilya Natarius, Ivonne Yáñez, Jacob Docksey, Jessica Kitzman, Jes Lee, Jordan Wiebe, Jorie Kosel, Kat Moon, Katie Robinson, Kristine Fretheim, Laurie Borggreve, Liza Ferrari, Lucy Comer, Lynda Mullan, Madison Rubenstein, Maria Quinn, Margaret Vergara, Nate Woodard, Sarah M. Sosa, Tchana Pierre, & Tiffany Lange
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October 22nd, 2021 – November 20th, 2021 Balancing Act – A solo exhibition by Barret Lee.
Balancing Act showcases an unreleased body of work from Minneapolis painter, Barret Lee, encompassing the characters he has been illustrating since childhood and subject matters he has expanded upon since graduating from MCAD in 2016. Drawing from his biggest inspirations: surrealism, graffiti and cartoons, Lee utilizes a combination of acrylics, spray paint and occasional collage, expressing a whimsical theme throughout his work, personifying fantastical worlds that encourage the viewer to escape from the chaos of reality.
Barret sees painting as a form of communicating unrestrained thoughts and softening the discord of everyday experience. His unique approach to surrealism stimulates the audience’s imagination and emotions. Naturally, this exhibition reveals that when we maximize our creative capacity, chaos and balance do not merely coexist but can actually live in harmony with one another.
“Those three worlds I look to mold into one of modern escapism. I create fantastical characters and floating landscapes in search of a utopian outlook on life”, says Barret. Like many of his previous bodies of work, Balancing Act features constructs of paradisal wonderlands, however this solo exhibition focuses on satirizing the state of the world and how it affects our mental wellbeing and existence. His use of poppy, saturated colors will draw viewers in as they are given an opportunity to explore the macro- and microcosms that Lee has unleashed from his mind.
This year has truly taught us what the word resilient stands for. We navigated social isolation, the loss of loved ones, social injustices, and major financial challenges for most. We have been bent, stretched, and compressed over & over again. With that, we became pliable & flexible, creating growth with determination and creativity to handle the unprecedented adversities that came our way. Within our community at large we prevailed, revealing to us that we could not be broken and instead, we became stronger to withstand the next blow the world had to offer.
After cancelling multiple events & exhibits in 2020, we shifted with the times, operating out of dining rooms, garages and front porches, personally delivering artworks, creating a virtual gallery space for attendees to visit us safely from their homes, provided multiple opening nights to reach as many patrons as we could safely, collaborated with local organizations in fundraisers and finally, were left still standing to close 2020 with the event that spurred our very beginning in 2011.
Our most recent show, Raging Art On, offered a sensation we hadn’t felt in the gallery for nearly 9 months while we have been operating in many new capacities. The presence of you all, the presence of community and the power of gathering together…again had filled with room with ooos, awes, giggles, excitement and, most importantly, the community that we have missed dearly. I am so very thankful to the 50 local artists that gave bits & pieces of themselves to create the joy that has filled our space. This year’s Raging Art On single handedly brought back all the feelings that are Gamut. We are not just a room with four walls, but we are an inclusive and safe space for individuals to gather and feel like they belong. Whether it be in-person or virtually, we remain glad to be here as a space for art and creativity to thrive.
Entering the New Year, I am filled with hope. We know that the distance we have experienced in 2020 will only continue to bring us closer together, emerging stronger than ever as we move through 2021. We will be taking all of January off as we navigate what this year of Gamut’s programming will look like. However, similar to previous years, we look forward to presenting a diversity of exhibitions reflecting the full “Gamut.” It can’t be said enough, without you we would not still be here; your support and energy keeps my heart meter filled!
Wishing you health, happiness and moments of joy – Cassie Garner Gallery Director
Visit our Online Gallery & Shop!
As our shop and gallery is currently closed for in-person shopping you may continue to support vibrant community of local artists and makers through our online shop. We will continue local deliveries & U.S. shipping while we are on break. Shop through our many collections featuring paintings, prints, sculptures, apparel, jewelry & more from local & national artists.
Our collections have a wide range of accessible pieces for every collector!
This is not your typical artist talk. This talk will be a Q&A Chain — a method where the curator begins by selecting a piece that intrigues them and asks the artist a couple questions. From there, each chosen artist picks the next one, opening up the dialogue and inviting the artists to respond to each other. There will be ten artists, each having the opportunity to speak about their piece for approximately 5 minutes, and will conclude with closing remarks from the curator, Katie Garrett and Gamut’s director, Cassie Garner.
Katie Garrett has kicked on the chain by asking Kelsi Sharp & Kelsi has chosen Lora Hlavsa, Lora has chosen Philipo Dyauli, Philipo has chosen Ried Olson, Reid has chosen Alejandro Zhang, Alejandro has chosen Merick Reed, Merick has chosen Catrin Magnusson, Catrin has chosen Russ White, Russ has chosen Nicole Thomas and Nicole has chosen Jessica Kitzman. [/bscolumns]
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ARTIST TALK – Q & A Chain Wednesday the Nov 11th, 2020 7-8pm Moderated by Katie Garrett Hosted on Mplsart.com
Gamut Gallery’s annual Call-4-Work exhibition is not a show that influences what art should be. Instead, the chosen guest curator brings their unique perspective and interpretation of the submitted works ranging the full “Gamut” of visual media.
A theme emerged around ideas of projection, optimism, truth, and action – creating a wild, saturated world that breathes life into us from every angle. Revealed in a body of work by 42 artists, these elements convey a hopeful and restorative life ahead. Biological elements invite inspiration of growth through texture, material, pattern, and figure. This rich, fertile ground features jewel tones pulling everything together, welcoming wet, magnetic pieces to pull at the imagination and occupy your whole mind.
Meet the Artists:
Jessica Kitzman is an interdisciplinary artist exploring identity tensions and personal/cultural history as a queer single mother. Her bright and playful textile compositions often represent the land between mother and child: a messy and playful overlap of past, present, and future, full of impossible contradictions. “Outside Myself” is a reflection on letting go as a child grows. It’s about the physical and emotional labor of growing someone in your body, and the extreme feelings of watching them walk out into this world.
Lora Hlavsa is an artist, illustrator, and designer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her artwork is inspired largely by femininity, intersectionality, and multiculturalism. Born to an American father and a Filipino mother, Lora’s work is also an exploration of her own cultural heritage and the constant tension that arises from belonging to two worlds. Lora uses color and pattern to create detail-rich compositions that feel cluttered yet intriguing and suggest a world larger than the frame that the work is contained in.
Merick Reed is a modern minimalist sculptor, photographer and designer living and working in Saint Paul, Minnesota. His work expresses simple, graphic geometry balancing spare aesthetics with playful assertion. Influenced by graphic and architectural design, his sculptural wall paintings are gestural arrangements; an interplay of dimensional facets and saturated monochromatic panels.
Alejandro Junyao Zhang is a Chinese interdisciplinary artist who builds relations between performance, 3D animation, video, electronic music, experimental images, and installation, currently based in Minneapolis, MN. His art practice focuses on the visibility of the Chinese queer identity and the composition of the physical or virtual identity habitats by utilizing the space, architectural props, and virtual reality through post-club aesthetics.
Philipo Dyauliis a painter, illustrator and draftsman from Tanzania and currently resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He works from the Northrup King Building as a part of the Studio 400 program. His work is inspired by pop art, film, illustration and graphic design creating a body of work that reflects his life between his two homes in the United States and East Africa. Often Philipo’s work ivolves depictions of his favorite family traditions, friends and personal heroes.
Catrin Magnusonis a multidisciplinary artist currently working with sculptural forms in clay and industrial felt. Using the iconography of geology as a starting place, she utilizes a muted color palette that suggests earth, metal, charcoal. Catrin is drawn to the quiet remnants of violent movement, connecting deep time and macro processes to a personal timeline. She holds a MFA from Minneapolis College of Art and Design, a BFA from CU Boulder and filmmaking/screenwriting degrees from MCTC.
Russ Whiteis an artist and writer living in Minneapolis and working out of his studio in the Casket Arts Building. Focusing mainly on figurative colored pencil drawings and mixed media collages, White uses a brightly colored, almost cartoonish realism to address complicated personal and political themes. He also works as a writer and editor for MPLSART.COM.
Reid Olson is a painter currently living in Minneapolis. His work spans a wide range of media including painting, drawing, collage, printmaking, photo transfer and fashion in a distinctive style that is all his own. What began as a passion project for Reid has now become a self-sustaining enterprise focused on portrayal of the mystery of the human condition.
Nicole Thomasis a second generation Vietnamese American practicing interdisciplinary arts, curation, and writing in Minneapolis. Her visual arts practice centers the Southeast Asian diaspora experience in the United States and mental health effects of generational trauma. In response to unresolved, dysfunctional behavioral habits, Nicole creates in series and collections to describe patterns and a continuation of unhealed wounds. The dynamics between loss/longing and memory/resilience are common themes throughout her studio practice.
Kelsi Sharp aka Kelsi Sharp is an African American artist and sign maker. Growing up in the American Southwest, Kelsi is strongly influenced by the signage, gas stations, and other relics found on the historic Route 66 highway. After studying construction methods, earning certifications in fabrication technologies, and apprenticing in an iconic Santa Fe sign shop, Kelsi started Sharp Design Co., a signage and environmental design company based in the Midwest.
FEATURED ARTISTS:Aaron Kibben, Aaron Schmitz, Allison Baker, Anna Brauch, Ashley Nichole, Barret Lee, Benja Wuest, Black Daze, Canaan Mattson, Cassie Garner, C.E. Hickman, Dawn Yang, Darwin Patrick, Eli Libson, Emily Forbes, Emily Quandahl, Evan Weselmann, Heather Renaux, Jacob Eidem, James Kloiber, Jamie Owens, Jenna Richardson, Juliana Fergusson, Justice Jones, Kellan David, Lalunette Jewelry, Linnea Maas, Lora Hlavsa, Nelson Cain, Phaedra Odelle, Rachel Schroder, Reid Olson, Rock Johnsen, Roland Patrick, Ron Brown, Rose Weselmann, Russ White, Scott Seekins, Sherstin Schwartz, stace of spades & Witney Bjerke.
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As a local art gallery & retail space, the holidays are our favorite time of year! Nothing makes us happier than helping our community spread love through the arts. While gatherings and holiday arrangements feels a bit different this year, there is so much magic to be made this season. The event that kicked off Gamut’s inception is back for the 9th year in a row! A holiday shop in a gallery setting, Gamut provides a fun-filled, consumer-conscious alternative to chain stores and mall shopping. Our annual holiday retail shop, Raging Art On (RAO), will feature over a dozen new artists and many others that have been with us from the very beginning.
With the exception of selecting the participants, Gamut leaves the rest up to the local artists. In doing so, they choose their works and the number of pieces they wish to show. What emerges is a gallery filled with paintings, photos, prints, collectibles, jewelry, sculptures, and more! RAO will kick-off with adedicated members onlynight on Tuesday, December 1st, followed by 3 weeks of FREE open gallery hours + selected works will remain available online through January 5th.
As we continue to assess the evolving nature of COVID-19, Gamut Gallery will be operating under limited capacity to allow adequate social distancing. Additionally, to ensure everyone has access to a safe holiday shopping experience, patrons may request an appointment. We want our community to know above all, we hear you and we’re herefor you. Hesitations towards crowds and anxiety around holiday planning are valid concerns. We will be keeping the gallery clean by actively sanitizing, temperature readings, and enforcing social distancing. We are also happy to announce that we will be providing alternatives to in-person shopping, such as online ordering, curbside pickup, virtual shopping appointments & private shopping sessions.
Selected works featured in RAO will be available on Gamut’s website for those who wish to shop from the comfort of their home beginning Wednesday, December 2nd! Gamut Gallery will also be diligent with Instagram and Facebook live streams during our open hours. Go ahead and wear your pjs while shopping for your holiday essentials!
Raging Art On reflects Gamut Gallery’s ethos of community, collaboration, the art of the happening and eco-consciousness. Artworks & gifts are cash-n-carry at our holiday sale, they are handmade locally and are in harmony with those values. In 2020, more than ever, let our artists be your elves and continue to support our vibrant community of local artists and makers.
MEMBERS ONLY NIGHT PREVIEW PARTY: Tuesday, December 1st // 5-10pm
Reserve your spot if you are a current Member and/or become a member today!! NEW! Individual & Dual Members will receive 10% all purchases on opening night, Platinum member(s) will receive 20% off!
December 1st – December 2oth
In person shopping Wednesdays – Saturdays from 11am – 6pm & Sundays by Appointment
• Only 8 guests in the gallery at a time.
• We collect info from all guests for contact tracing
• All temps will be checked at the door, high temps will not be allowed to enter.
• Hand sanitizer and extra masks available at the door.
• Gloves will be available to all guests who wish to handle work(s).
• Private hour long shopping sessions every Sunday from noon-4pm – Please book ahead on our website.
• First hour of shopping will be available for the most vulnerable Wednesday – Saturday.
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EXPERIENCE THE BLANK SLATE OPENING NIGHT RECAP VIDEO
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Art & Technology have merged with Gamut Gallery’s first virtual reality (VR) exhibition, Blank Slate. Our virtual Web XR platform, is accessible all over the world for those who wish to enter from the comfort of their own homes via laptop or VR headset from your web browser (Firefox/Chrome). This virtual exhibition space, created by Brian Skalak of REM5, has been digitally simulated to look and feel like our brick-and-mortar. It is full of bright, bold colors, abstract line works and non-traditional portraits in our new virtual environment.
Our WebXR opening was the beginning of the new virtual gallery space, now it will continue to serve as an event and meetup location for the foreseeable future. Gamut members and guests can check in 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without leaving their home. Meet the artists, hang out with your friends, and make your way through Gamut Gallery & our back courtyard that contains a few new twist & turns. This new platform also creates accessibility allowing collectors from around the globe to expand their art collections through the click of the mouse.
From the Curator:
“As many of us have participated in creative, alternate art avenues through live streams, Zoom meetings & Instagram take-overs, we believe the VR world will transcend us to the immersive connections we have been missing. Designing virtual places to gather, discover community & enjoy art is the direction that spaces like ours will be heading.” – Cassie Garner
Blank Slate Social Web XR Happy Hour:
Wednesday, August 10th 2020
ONLINE: 4-6pm // FREE
Gamut’s Gallery courtyard take-over by created by Brian Skalak
Join curator Cassie Garner & Artists Aaron Schmitz, Evan Weselmann, Derek Meier, Maiya Lee Hartman, Neal Breton & Ron Brown in Gamut’s Virtual Gallery. Choose your own “avatar”, invite your friends to join you online and mingle.
JOIN VIRTUAL GAMUT GALLERY
• Late to the party, you’ll be able to wait in a virtual lobby until a spot opens up so don’t leave if we’re full.
• Attend from your home, via laptop or VR headset from your web browser
• Click to Learnhow to onboard & navigate the space
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Blank Slate features Arianne Zager, Aaron Schmitz, Black Daze, Derek Meier, Evan Weselmann, Maiya Lee Hartman, Neal Breton, Ron Brown, Yuta Uchida.
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Gamut Gallery introduces their WebXR virtual gallery and digitally simulated art happenings; after months of cancelled exhibitions and events.“Blank Slate” is the first-of-its-kind extended reality art exhibition that merges virtual and physical worlds. Keeping with Gamut’s collaborative ethos, the creative force of curator and gallery co-owner Cassie Garner and the VR designer Brian Skalak, of REM5, brought this idea to life. “The addition of untethered headsets made the experience possible, this new technology allowed participants to wander the physical gallery while viewing virtual art.” – stated Skalak
Hours were spent digitally reproducing and beta testing the virtual 1:1 scale replication of the Gamut space. The Blank Slate opening featured an innovative experiential event where attendees were delighted, throwing their arms up with laughter, and filling the room with gasps. The initial reaction was shock as they entered an empty gallery bearing only blank walls. Once the attendees put on the wireless VR headsets (facilitated by REM5) the gallery was transformed with bright, bold colors, abstract line works and non traditional portraits popped off the walls in our new virtual environment.
In addition to this cutting-edge in person event, anyone in the world can explore the virtual version of the gallery right from a web browser in the comfort of their own home. This accessibility allows collectors from around the globe to expand their art collections through the click of the mouse. Gamut members and guests can check in 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without leaving their home. Choose your own “avatar”, invite your friends to join you online and mingle.
BLANK SLATE EXHIBIT FINALE September 18th & 19th, 2020 7pm – 9:30pm // $15 per ticket • FREE for Members PURCHASE TICKETS • 4 attendees admitted per 30 minute booked tour
• 6 Tours available both nights
• Masks Required
• Pre-sale ticket required to enter gallery
• Please arrive 10 minutes before your tour time
“As many of us have participated in creative, alternate art avenues through live streams, Zoom meetings & Instagram take-overs, we believe the VR world will transcend us to the immersive connections we have been missing. Designing virtual places to gather, discover community & enjoy art is the direction that spaces like ours will be heading.” – Cassie Garner
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Cassie Garner is a graphic designer, art curator, and gallerist living and working in Minneapolis. A founder of Gamut Gallery from the very beginning, Cassie began as the graphic designer and has grown with the gallery overtime. Three years into business when the gallery was forced to relocate, Cassie joined the ownership team and became the gallery manager where she applied her many years of retail and customer service experience. In spring of 2018 she transitioned into the role of Gallery Director and now leads operations and project management for exhibitions and events. Her other passions include collecting art, dancing, making connections, and spending time in her Southside home.
Brian Skalak is a multi-disciplinary creative based in Minneapolis and the Marketing and Events Manager at REM5 VR Lab. Through this collaboration with Gamut, he was able to lead the charge from the technical production of the virtual gallery and cutting-edge interactive events. Additionally, Skalak founded Second Sight Visuals, a digital art platform that merges tech and reality. He has produced live visuals for numerous festivals and concerts, interactive installations, visual experiences for music and a collection of nearly infinite experiments in between. You can see the work of Second Sight Visuals featured in the courtyard of the virtual Gamut Gallery.
FEATURING: Alejandro Zhang, Amina Harper, Andrea Osterhout, Anna Brauch, Anna Johnson, Barret Lee, Brandon Movall, Canaan Mattson, Christopher E. Harrison, Claire Hickman, Colee Recke, Corrie Steckelberg, David Mueller, Destiny Davison, Eduardo Salgado, Erin Paradis, Jacqueline Nuzzo, Jamie Owens, Jessica Kitzman, Justice Jones, Kate Sciandra, Kehayr Myles-O’Shaé Brown-Ransaw, Kelsi Sharp, Leah Edelman-Brier, Leeya Jackson, Lora Hlavsa, Lynda Mullan, Margaret Lindahl, Martzia Thometz, Matthew J. Bindert, Merick Reed, Nicole Thomas, Philipo Dyauli, Reid Olson, Ron Brown, Russ White, S. Catrin Magnusson, Sherstin Schwartz, Sidney Coleman, Stephanie C Friest, Suyao Tian & Torey Erin.
Curated by: Katie Garrett
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Gamut Gallery’s annual Call-4-Work exhibition is not a show that influences what art should be. Instead, the chosen guest curator brings their unique perspective and interpretation of the submitted works ranging the full “Gamut” of visual media. When Katie Garrett accepted the challenge of curating this year’s C4W: 2020, she practiced an exercise in responsive curation, empowering the 175 artists to lead the way through all 745 submissions.
On par for C4W, the 2020 submissions were a wild slice of the local art scene. A cross section of who saw the call, and who felt compelled to contribute. It was especially heartening to discover a collection of submissions from artists novel to the gallery. As a step toward more balanced representation, Gamut Gallery waived all submission fees for Black Artists and Artists of Color. This is a practice that we will continue with progressing into the future, opening the door to artists that may not have had the accessibility in previous years.
A theme emerged around ideas of projection, optimism, truth, and action – creating a wild, saturated world that breathes life into us from every angle. Revealed in a body of work by 42 artists, these elements convey a hopeful and restorative life ahead. Biological elements invite inspiration of growth through texture, material, pattern, and figure. This rich, fertile ground features jewel tones pulling everything together, welcoming wet, magnetic pieces to pull at the imagination and occupy your whole mind. These chosen 43 works tell you stories and let everything else slip away for a moment, releasing judgement allowing the art do the work.[/bscolumns]
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Back to Back Openings:
Friday October 9th & Saturday October 10th
7pm – 10pm • $5 // FREE for Gamut Members Shop the Collection!
• 45-minute ticketed tour times
• 4 tours each night
• 20 visitors per tour
• Masks required
• Temperature taken upon entry
• Please stay home if you are feeling unwell
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ABOUT THE CURATOR:
Since 2005, MPLSART has been the Twin Cities’ best resource to access local art. Katie and team have been running the site since 2014. MPLSART is dedicated to building a larger art audience, and being a voice for under represented and emerging artists. Since 2017, Katie has used a curatorial role with The Hive Salon in Minneapolis as an experimental opportunity to develop her relationship with local artists and introduce new work to the clientele. In early 2019, Katie was selected to jury Wintertide, produced by Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA), facilitated by Public Functionary.
Katie delights in applying her decade-long background in advertising to the fine arts, elevating the role of art in everyday life. She wants everyone to know how much better life is with meaningful art on your walls and artists as friends. She is determined to make an art-lover (and art-buyer) out of every resident in MSP.
FEATURING: Arianne Zager, Aaron Schmitz, Black Daze, Derek Meier, Evan Weselmann, Maiya Lee Hartman, Neal Breton, Ron Brown, and Yuta Uchida. Curated by Cassie Garner
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Just when you thought we were done, we had another trick up our sleeve! We are excited to announce our virtual Web XR platform, accessible all over the world for those who wish to enter from the comfort of their own homes via laptop, cell phone or VR headset from your web browser (Firefox/Chrome). This virtual exhibition space, created by Brian Skalak of REM5, has been digitally simulated to look and feel like our brick-and-mortar.
This opening event will be the beginning of our new virtual gallery space that will live online and serve as an event and meetup location for the foreseeable future. Meet the artists, hang out with your friends and make your way through Gamut Gallery & our back courtyard. Capacity will be around 30 people connected at a time so get in early. If you are late to the party, you’ll be able to wait in a virtual lobby until a spot opens up so don’t leave if we’re full.
Blank Slate is a time for new ideation and beginnings. As many of us have participated in creative, alternate art avenues through live streams, Zoom meetings & Instagram take-overs, we believe the VR world will transcend us to the immersive connections we have been missing. Designing virtual places to gather, discover community & enjoy art is the direction that spaces like ours will be heading.
If you have visited our space before, we cannot wait to get together again in this new innovative virtual experience. Even when this pandemic is over, Gamut’s VR world will continue to be a sister experience to physical art exhibitions moving forward. Please join us for this special inaugural event as we step into the future.[/bscolumns][bscolumns class=”one_half_last_clear”]
Blank Slate Social Web XR Opening:
Saturday, August 15th 2020
7-9pm // JOIN VIRTUAL GAMUT GALLERY
Attend from your home, via laptop, cell phone or VR headset from your web browser
Capacity will be around 30 people connected at a time.
If you are late to the party, you can wait in a virtual lobby until a spot opens up so don’t leave if we’re full.
Make an avatar from a photo of you: https://readyplayer.me/
*Sometimes this doesn’t work, try from mobile or from a computer with a webcam.
ABOUT REM5: REM5 Virtual Reality Laboratory is a full-service, vertically integrated immersive technology company. Founded in 2017, REM5 operates a flagship event space in St. Louis Park, MN that serves over 10,000 guests a year. REM5’s impact-driven arm, REM5 For Good, is a global leader in using VR to enhance K-12 education, arts, and social equity initiative.
FEATURING: Arianne Zager, Aaron Schmitz, Black Daze, Derek Meier, Evan Weselmann, Maiya Lee Hartman, Neal Breton, Ron Brown, and Yuta Uchida. Curated by Cassie Garner
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Gamut Gallery &REM5 Virtual Reality Laboratory are excited to announce Blank Slate, Gamut Gallery’s first virtual reality (VR) exhibition, opening on Friday August 7th. On opening weekend, Blank Slate features an innovative experiential event, attendees will be shocked as they enter an empty gallery bearing only blank walls. After putting on fully immersive VR headsets (facilitated by REM5) the gallery will be transformed with bright, bold colors, abstract line works and portraits with a non traditional ideation in this new virtual environment. This mind-bending format is the first of its kind!!
This virtual exhibition space, created by Brian Skalak of REM5, has been digitally simulated to look and feel like our brick-and-mortar. Artworks will be curated and “hung” on the replicated walls, identical to our traditional exhibitions. Additionally, the show will be accessible all over the world for those who wish to enter from the comfort of their own homes via laptop, cell phone or VR headset.
Blank Slate is a time for new ideation and beginnings. As many of us have participated in creative, alternate art avenues through live streams, Zoom meetings & Instagram take-overs, we believe the VR world will transcend us to the immersive connections we have been missing. Designing virtual places to gather, discover community & enjoy art is the direction that spaces like ours will be heading.
If you have visited our space before, we cannot wait to get together again in this new innovative virtual experience. Even when this pandemic is over, Gamut’s VR world will continue to be a sister experience to physical art exhibitions moving forward. Please join us for this special inaugural event as we step into the future.[/bscolumns]
[bscolumns class=”one_half_last_clear”] BACK to BACK OPENING NIGHTS:
Friday, August 7th 2020
5-9:30pm // $15 per ticket • Members Only $5 tickets
Capacity 4 attendees per tour • Must wear a mask
Pre-sale ticket required to attend the VR Opening
8 Ticketed tours will include 30 minutes in the gallery, with an opportunity to discuss your experience in the courtyard afterwards with your tour group.
Saturday, August 8th 2020
7-9:30pm // $15 per ticket • Members Only $5 tickets
Capacity 4 attendees per tour • Must wear a mask
Pre-sale ticket required to attend the VR Opening
6 Ticketed tours will include 30 minutes in the gallery, with an opportunity to discuss your experience in the courtyard afterwards with your tour group.
Elliot Park Art Walk: Saturday, August 15th 2020
FREE // 1-4pm, Masks Required
Tour begins at Finnegans, leading through Elliot Park & EPAQ Celebrate a summer day with amazing local art, laughs & local Twin Cities Makers Las Ranas Jewelry, Made in Mpls, Thraxis Threads, Martzia Thometz & Cross Stitches by Juliana!
Return to FINNEGANS for live painting by Reggie LeFlore RSVP today, 8 spots available per time slot
FREE OPEN HOURS: WEEKLY OPEN HOURS WILL NOT INCLUDE VR HEADSETS Wednesdays – Fridays, 11am – 5pm & Saturdays by Appointment [/bscolumns][bscolumns class=”clear”][/bscolumns]
*Opening Night attendees walk through Blank Slate, only visualizing the art from the VR Headset.
ABOUT REM5: REM5 Virtual Reality Laboratory is a full-service, vertically integrated immersive technology company. Founded in 2017, REM5 operates a flagship event space in St. Louis Park, MN that serves over 10,000 guests a year. REM5’s impact-driven arm, REM5 For Good, is a global leader in using VR to enhance K-12 education, arts, and social equity initiatives
Celebrate a summer day with amazing local art, laughs & local Twin Cities makers!
Experience historic Elliot Park neighborhood through a comedian-led tour from Theater of Public Policy. Learn fun facts about the neighborhood, check out historic landmarks, and explore exclusive promotions and experiences in the Elliot Park Arts Quarter featuring Gamut Gallery, Kristi Abbott Art,Fades Of Gray Inc. Bee Ink Tattoo, Rose Salon, Bandbox Diner & FINNEGANS Brewery. Enjoy a pop-up makers market at Gamut featuring Las Ranas Jewelry, Made in Mpls, Thraxis Threads & Cross Stitches by Juliana!
Join us for an evening of celebrating the incredible art here in the Twin Cities and the Elliot Park neighborhood! Stay tuned to the Elliot Park Arts Quarter Facebook Page for details!
ELLIOT PARK ART WALK Saturday, August 15th // 1-4pm • FREE
Party begins at Finnegans 1pm
Tour times at 1:30pm, 2:30 pm & 3:30pm
Return to FINNEGANS for live painting by Reggie LeFlore
FEATURING: Abraham Lule, Alexis Politz, Anne Ulku, Briana Layne, Booka B, Christopher Alday, Dan Souligny, Dana Christopherson, Destiny Davison, Evan Weselmann, Fiona Avocado, Gina McMillen, Jamie Owens, Jared Maire, Lindsey Made This, María José Castillo, Maximilian Mauracher, Meghan McDilda, Melissa Sisk, Miles Taylor, Milton Un, Molly McDougall, Nicholas Straight, Paige Guggemos, Sara Paul Kahn, Schuyler Huber, Shivani Parasnis, Studio on Fire, Ted Kusio & Thy Doan.
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We began with thirty untitled and unauthored poems by Molly-Margaret Johnson & Kareem Rahma. By eliminating titles and byline for each poem, the audience is given an opportunity to connect more viscerally with the work by having to read between the lines without preconceptions of race, gender or sexual orientation. The outcome is an ouroboros of words written by two uniquely different individuals coming together.
Johnson & Rahma’s poetry was then shared with local and national typographers, illustrators and designers who were challenged to conceive a personal rendition of the selected poem of their choice. Through screen print, letterpress, hand lettering, and various illustrative elements, they will produce posters that push the viewer’s interpretation, adding yet a third layer of complexity to the written prose.
The culmination of this process extends to those who will visit the gallery to experience From Us. Featuring bold, fluid, high contrast, and vibrant visual representations, the gallery walls will be filled with content that will connect with viewers. We anticipate engaging, perception-bending conversations filled with an appreciation and respect for differences as the outcome.
ABOUT THE POETS Molly-Margaret & Kareem are from Saint Paul, MN living in Brooklyn New York. They are gay, straight, Egyptian, American, male, female, depressed, hilarious and love Hamm’s on tap.
Molly-Margaret Johnson is a gay, sagittarius, sex-positive internet freak and writer. She is based in Brooklyn, NY and runs the instagram account @whatswrongwithmollymargaret which covers dating, sex, confidence, queerness, self love and romance.
Kareem Rahma is an Egyptian-American poet, media entrepreneur, and writer/actor/producer living and working in New York City. He runs the instagram account @kareem and his debut poetry collection We Were Promised Flying Cars was released by Pioneer Works in 2019.[/bscolumns]
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OPENING NIGHT: Thursday March 5th, 2020
7pm – 10pm // $5, Free for Members Music selections by Ramses Alacron & Ruby Hind
A collaborative exhibition of multidimensional artistic processes between poets,Molly-Margaret Johnson andKareem Rahma, alongside 30 local and national designers.
ARTIST TALK: Saturday March 7th, 2020 11am – 1pm // $10 pre-sale. $15 door • Free for Members We recommend purchasing in advance. Sweet treats, sparkly beverages, and coffee from Segue will be provided. Join moderator Jade Patrick alongside poets Molly-Margaret Johnson & Kareem Rahma in a discussion of engaging, perception-bending conversations filled with an appreciation and respect for differences.
LEVEL UP:POSTPONED 6:30pm – 8:30pm • $40/artist for a 90 minute group session, 30 seats available. Join Amira, of AMF Artist Business Management Services, for an interactive presentation covering strategies to enhance audience engagement. This event is mostly intended for artists who are looking to increase current sales, though artists at any stage will learn techniques and concepts that will help them sell their art.
COLAB ART NIGHT – Art 4 Shelter // CANCELLED 7pm-10pm // $5 • Free for Members This spring we were going to be creating works to be sold at the Annual Simpson Housing Fundraiser: Art 4 Shelter. Find original artworks on paper by emerging and established artists -and- a benefit for Simpson Housing Services. Each 5×7″ piece will sell for $35, the cost of housing someone for one night at the overnight shelter : www.simpsonhousing.org/shop –
BEHIND THE POSTER FINALE: Wednesday, May 27th, 2020 7pm // Click link: www.mplsart.com
Hosted with mplsart & Gamut Director Cassie Garner FEATURING DESIGNERS: Alexis Politz, Anne Ulku, Evan Weselmann, Destiny Davison, Gina McMillen, Fiona Avocado, Ted Kusio, Nicholas Straight, Maximilian Mauracher, Melissa Sisk, and Sara Paul Kahn [/bscolumns][bscolumns class=”clear”][/bscolumns]
Cassie Garner is a graphic designer, art curator, and gallerist living and working in Minneapolis. A founder of Gamut Gallery from the very beginning, Cassie began as the graphic designer and has grown with the gallery overtime. Three years into business when the gallery was forced to relocate, Cassie joined the ownership team and became the gallery manager where she applied her many years of retail and customer service experience. In spring of 2018 she transitioned into the role of Gallery Director and now leads operations and project management for exhibitions and events. Her other passions include collecting art, dancing, making connections, and spending time in her Southside home.
Brian Skalak is a multi-disciplinary creative based in Minneapolis and the Marketing and Events Manager at REM5 VR Lab. Through this collaboration with Gamut, he was able to lead the charge from the technical production of the virtual gallery and cutting-edge interactive events. Additionally, Skalak founded Second Sight Visuals, a digital art platform that merges tech and reality. He has produced live visuals for numerous festivals and concerts, interactive installations, visual experiences for music and a collection of nearly infinite experiments in between. You can see the work of Second Sight Visuals featured in the courtyard of the virtual Gamut Gallery.
ABOUT THE CURATOR:
*Opening Night attendees walk through Blank Slate, only visualizing the art from the VR Headset.
