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.
ABOUT THE POETS
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. He is the founder of Nameless Network and The Museum of Pizza. Before becoming a full-time artist and entrepreneur, he was a Growth Editor at The New York Times and the Associate Director of Global Marketing at VICE. Kareem is an alum of NEW INC., “the world’s first museum led incubator program” created by The New Museum. He is a recipient of the 2019 Above The Fold Awards from The University of Minnesota’s School of Journalism and in 2018 was named one of the most impactful Egyptians in the world from CairoScene.
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. Graduate of Rutger’s BFA conservatory and Rutger’s conservatory at Shakespeare’s Globe in London. Molly-Margaret is very passionate about experimental theater and performance art. She is keen on mixed media and interdisciplinary collaboration in her works.
Saturday March 7th, 2020
ARTIST TALK – 11am – 1pm
$10 pre-sale. $15 door • $5 for Members
Purchase your ticket today!
First 30 tickets have seating, additional tickets standing room.
Sweet treats, sparkly beverages, and coffee from Segue will be provided.
Join moderator Jade Patrick alongside From Us: Together Forever Sometimes poets Molly-Margaret Johnson & Kareem Rahma in a discussion of engaging, perception-bending conversations filled with an appreciation and respect for differences.
After careful review of our State’s current status with the coronavirus, and in consideration of data provided by the World Health Organization, we have decided the best way to protect our community is to cancel “CoLab Art Night” that was scheduled for Thursday, April 2nd. We will reschedule to a later date as we take action to collectively contain the spread of this virus.
Thank you for your support during these strange times.
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Our second CoLab Art Night of 2020! This spring we will be creating works to be sold at the Annual Simpson Housing Fundraiser: Art 4 Shelter. Let the creative energy between our current exhibitionFrom Us: Together Forever Sometimes & other CoLab attendees inspire you..
Art 4 Shelter is a free exhibit on Wednesday, May 13th, 2020 at a brand new venue: The Fillmore. The evening consists of 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. A list of participating artists will be updated on the Art 4 Shelter website and posted the night of the event.
For those attending the Art 4 Shelter event on the 13th, you may end up with a work by a famous artist, or be the first to discover an unknown talent! Either way, you will end up with art that you love while supporting Simpson Housing Services.
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED CoLab Art Night – Art 4 Shelter Edition $5 – This event is 18+
Bring your own materials or work from our communal supplies. All visual disciplines welcome: painting, drawing, sewing, projections, photography, design, sculpture, collage and more.
Comments Off on Colab Art Night – Speed Dating Canvases
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We are very excited to welcome back CoLab Art Night: the magic-makers evening that gave rise to Gamut Gallery.
This quarter we celebrate with “Speed Dating Canvases” …not REAL speed-dating! Instead of being paired with a stranger for a few minutes, participants rotate between different art supply stations so that by the end of the night everyone has gotten to explore a variety of media. It is an art party where you will have a brief encounter with a variety of art forms from acrylics to googly eyes. Connect with each medium for 7 minutes as music sets the mood, but when the beat stops…be ready to rotate to the next creation station!
Don’t worry about picking up the masterpieces left behind, this night is all about the process & not the outcome. As each genre is visited by a series of eligible experimenters, a roomful of collaborative artwork takes shape. Witness the hilarious, the clever, and the surprisingly evocative works that are created by a community looking for a canvas to love. Singles, couples, artists, beginners: it all adds up to a wild affair.
“Speed Dating Canvases,” will be set amidst Spit Shade 3: Sailors and Sweethearts, an exhibition celebrating the tattoo community. Curated by Adam Underwood and Rachael Bringgold, Spit Shade 3 showcases work from over 50 local & national artists expressing their individual creations and interpretations of this year’s theme, Sailors & Sweethearts. Thank you to #SpitShade curator Rachael Bringgold for this great image.
Looking for a fun way to tackle your holiday shopping?? Experience historic Elliot Park neighborhood through a comedian-led tour from Theater of Public Policy on Saturday, December 7th, 2019. 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.FINNEGANS, and more!
In conjunction with FINNEGANS 1st Annual Festival of Light Celebrate the holidays with a tree lighting ceremony in the FINNEGANS courtyard and enjoy the light displays from Elliot Park Hotel, Kraus Anderson, and the HQ Apartments.
Meet our block in #ElliotPark flourishing with creative independent businesses. This slice of 10th street downtown is home to Gamut Gallery, Kristi Abbott Gallery & Studio, Fades Of Gray Inc., Bee Ink Tattoo, Rose Salon, and the legendary Band Box Diner.
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This year we came together to form the @elliotparkarts Quarter. Our first major event is the ART POP! Block Party happened this Fall, and will be followed up with two ‘Art Walks’ in December and the other in Spring of 2020.
The event that kicked off Gamut’s inception is back for the 8th year in a row! Bigger & better than previous years, Raging Art On (RAO) holiday shop will be open for 3 weeks, featuring over 20 new artists, and will include a guaranteed party with extended hours. In addition to extended hours, each Saturday evening will spotlight different musical genres, including House, Hip-Hop and Funk. Local DJ’s, 88project & Nancy Cheng, Sammy Figz & Keith Millions, and Bobby Kahn & Dj Dandy will keep you movin’ and groovin’ while exploring the gallery for gifts from over 40 artists.
An “uncurated” holiday makers market in a gallery setting, 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. 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 cash-n-carry 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, and conversation.
RAO OPENING NIGHT PREVIEW PARTY: Wednesday, December 4th // 6-9pm
Featuring James Patrick $15 Pre-sale, $20 Door • FREE w/ membership Pre-sales & Memberships available
FREE OPEN HOURS & DJ’s EVERY Saturday! Thursday 5th – Friday 6th // 11-6pm Saturday December 7th // 11-10pm • 88project & Nancy Cheng – 6pm – 10pm
Wednesday 11th – Friday 13th // 11-6pm Saturday December 14th // 11-10pm • Sammy Figz & Keith Millions – 6pm – 10pm
Wednesday 18th – Friday 20th // 11-6pm Saturday December 21st // 11-10pm • Bobby Kahn & Dj Dandy – 6pm – 10pm
We will get together to bring back the magical makers evening that started Gamut Gallery.
Let the aesthetics of this years C4W:2019 get those creative gears moving. This year’s show will feature works that are centered around community, emotions, and people; a push back against loss of self. Curator Teqen Zéa-Aida began to feel a very real sense of urgency emerge, an immediacy borne of the political, cultural, and environmental turmoil of our times. As a result, he has selected works from 36 artists, creating a collection of more than 40 artistic statements about place and space, sensory reactions to drastically changing—and degrading—surroundings.
Let the creative energy between the exhibit & other CoLab attendees inspire you. All visual disciplines welcome: painting, drawing, sewing, projections, photography, design, sculpture, collage and more.Your Content Goes here[/bscolumns][bscolumns class=”one_half_last_clear”]
COLAB ART NIGHT
Thursday October 10th, 7pm – 10pm
$7 pre-sale, $10 door • Members $5
This event will have limited capacity – purchase your pre-sale today!
Bring your own materials or work from our communal supplies.
It’s that time a year when we celebrate Gamut Gallery’s thriving community at our Members Gala! Beyond supporting the local art scene, members receive free admission to all exhibition openings and closings as well as invitations and discounted tickets to preview parties, such as early FREE access to our annual Raging Art On holiday market, which is right around the corner. The Platinum membership level receives additional benefits, most notably a 10% discount on artwork sales.
The commitment and generosity of our members helps continue the innovative, community-driven art programming that Gamut strives to provide. Become a supporting Member of the Gamut Gallery community and join us for this special black-tie celebration!
NEW THIS YEAR: Reserve a room at the local boutique Elliot Park Hotel, Autograph Collection, walking distance from Gamut, for a discounted rate of $139/night. Rooms must be reserved by Oct 31st with Troy by phone or email: 612-389-2271 or twhelan@elliotparkhotel.com
MEMBERS GALA Saturday November 9th, 7-11PM
(no regular open hours this day in preparation for the event)
Live music byCurandero, SYM1 & BAARD.
Already a member? This event is FREE for you!
Membership levels range from $60 – $300. Learn more about the year-long perks of gallery membership and become a member a today.
Featuring dancing and libations, set amidst ‘FORAGED‘ an exhibition by collaborators Annie Hejny & Annabella Sardelis. Dress to impress and step into a custom photo booth back drop created byHi Hi Creative.
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MEET THE ARTISTS
SYM1, formerly known as Symone Smash It, is currently blowing up. Claimed to be the ‘EDM pop maven’ of the Twin cites, SYM1 takes pride in reigniting the twin cities pop scene. Outsiders looking for a good time will find SYM1 a meteoric pop dream machine that bops hard.
BAARD is a Producer/DJ from Saint Paul. Music to him is the universal language that should be used as a tool to bring people together. As a Selector, his goal is to mix music seamlessly and thoughtfully to create an environment for those who wish to dance, connect or to simply escape.
Curandero The music, a fusion of pre-Columbian Indigenous instruments, house, and dance hall, is so fresh it doesn’t have a name yet. Reminiscent of the time before Afro-Beat had a name, Curandero’s music brings together traditional indigenous instrumentation and rhythms of Mesoamerica (Mexico) with electronic DJ elements and production. It’s a new sound that the next generation of urban indigenous latinx chican@people are hungry for–contemporary, danceable, and rooted in cultural identity. Produced, mixed, and mastered by Rico Simon Mendez a.k.a. DJ Don Cuco, Curandero is a mash-up of his dj stylings (which draw crowds of the most innovative underground hipsters in the city) plus Gustavo Lira and Xilam Balam on flutes, and Felipe Cuauhtli on percussion. The latter two are known for their hip-hop duo Los Nativos.
HI HI CREATIVE Suzanne Casler is a fine arts enthusiast with a degree to accompany her passion, and experience in Interior Design to round out her skill set. As a dreamer and a doer, you won’t find Suzanne sitting still…ever. She dives into a project with all she’s got, taking your napkin sketches or outlandish ideas into real life palettes of color, texture and form. Compelled to push the boundaries, HI HI is always experimenting with new materials, and re-imagining uses for unconventional ones. With a consistent sense of wonder, and a strong ability to execute, she’ll move your concept into a creation.
Featuring Alex Petersen, Ashlyn Boehme, Christopher E. Harrison, Christopher Palbicki, Claire Hickman, Carissa Fern, Danielle Peters, Darren Terpstra, Dawid Mludzik, Derek Meier, Emily Dzieweczynski, Emily Quandahl, Evan Weselmann, Hilary Greenstein, Jacob Docksey, Jacob Yeates, Jeffrey Hansen, Jeremy Jones, Karine Rupp-Stanko, Koldkral, Loretta Bebeau, Maggie Dimmick, Marcia Haffmans, Matthew Bindert, Meg Lionel Murphy, Mike Ewaldt, MollieRae Miller, Murad Sayf, Natalia Berglund, Ron Brown, Russ White, Scott Roper, Shhhhame, Stephanie Friest, Taylor Robers, and Yuta Uchida.
Gamut Gallery’s annual Call 4 Work and upcoming exhibition never has a pre-fixed theme. The chosen guest curator brings their unique perspective and interpretation of the submitted works ranging the full “Gamut” of visual media. When Teqen Zéa-Aida accepted the challenge of curating this year’s C4W: 2019, he allowed his mind to lead quietly, without prejudice, while sorting through the 722 submissions from 177 artists.
Through the artists’ works, Zéa-Aida began to feel a very real sense of urgency emerge, an immediacy borne of the political, cultural, and environmental turmoil of our times. As a result, he has selected works from 36 artists, creating a collection of more than 40 artistic statements about place and space, sensory reactions to drastically changing—and degrading—surroundings. This year’s show will feature works that are centered around community, emotions, and people; a push back against loss of self.
EXHIBIT OPENING Thursday, September 12th 7-10pm •$5, Free for Members Curated by Teqen Zéa-Aida Returning this year, there will be two “Best in Show” awards. One will be selected by the guest curator and the other by opening night attendees. Both winners will be awarded $100 cash and Platinum Memberships to Gamut Gallery ($300 value). You will not want to miss the opportunity to help one of these artists take best in show. Mark your calendars for opening night!
ART POP! Block Party Saturday, September 21st • FREE // Noon – 6pm Celebrate the dynamic local businesses of the Elliot Park Arts Quarter with live music, live art, local vendors and community
C4W:2019 Art Talk Saturday, September 28th • $5 pre-sale, $7 door, Free for Members // 11am – 1pm Teqen Zéa-Aida and Director Cassie Garner sit down for a conversation with C4W artists
CoLab Art Night Thursday, October 10th • $7 pre-sale, $10 door , $5 for Members // 7pm – 10pm Work together, collaborate, or work solo. Let the creative energy between the exhibit & other CoLab attendees inspire you. [/bscolumns][bscolumns class=”clear”][/bscolumns]
ABOUT THE CURATOR For 25 years Teqen Zéa-Aida has been a business, cultural, and artistic force in Minneapolis. Zéa-Aida was cofounder of the iconic Vision Management Group, Inc. modeling agency, and the founder of the equally iconic—now nomadic—City Wide Artists inner city art gallery. Zéa-Aida described himself as someone with deep ties to the city’s art, fashion, and philanthropy communities, with a long-time resident’s knowledge of its inner-city neighborhoods. Today, Teqen works at the prominent Faricy Law Firm, P. A. and is deeply involved in local politics.
“One has to allow the brightest talent of the moment to reach inside themselves and pull forth work that represents the energy, anxiety, and creativity of today. And of course, one has to hope that dreamed-of artists actually come through. But isn’t this the nature of art itself? Time and time again, during moments of collective confusion work can, should, and will emerge from toxicity and emptiness. I hope I’ve put together a taste of that confusion, and encapsulated the resulting battle to retain our individual and collective sense of self.” – Zéa-Aida
The Elliot Park Arts Quarter is proud to announce the inaugural ART POP! Block Party, set for September 2019!
The ART POP! Block Party is a full day event for all ages celebrating the dynamic artists, creatives, and small business owners living, working, and thriving in one of Minneapolis’s most historic neighborhoods, Elliot Park. ART POP! Block Party will feature live painting, food trucks and brews, local vendors in a pop-up art market, and interactive activities up from one end of the block to the other.
This year neighboring independent businesses located on South 10th Street came together to create the Elliot Park Arts Quarter (EPAQ). In partnership with the Elliot Park Neighborhood (EPNI), EPAQ was awarded funding by the Great Streets Business District Support Program. With that funding, EPAQ is proud to host the inaugural ART POP! Block Party on Saturday, September 21st, 2019 from noon – 6pm. For the first time ever in east downtown, the intersection of 10th Street & Centennial Place will be filled with music, dancing, food, and a live-art showcase reflective of the diverse and growing Elliot Park community.
– Live Performances by Sarah White, Al Church, 26 Bats, Craig Clark Band, Somali Museum Dance Troupe, & Mickey Breeze – Live Art by Anton Horishnyk and Martzia Thometz – Interactive Art Displays by Mary Jane Mansfield and Kristi Abbott, plus Colab Creation Station by Gamut Gallery – Historical Art Walk Tours by the playful members of the Theater of Public Policy – Pop-up Art Market with local artists vendors selling work along the street – Beer Garden hosted by FINNEGANS Brewery and Erik the Red benefitting FINNEGANS Community Fund–donating 100% of its profits to hunger relief charities. –Food Trucks and featured eats by Band Box Diner
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HISTORY OF ELLIOT PARK & THE ARTS QUARTER Nestled at the edge of downtown, the Elliot Park neighborhood is one of Minneapolis’ oldest and most historic neighborhoods. Located adjacent to U.S. Bank Stadium, the neighborhood hosts an abundance of historical architecture and well-known establishments including Bandbox Diner, HCMC, The Armory, 9th Street Historic District, Hinkle Murphy Mansion, and the Elliot Park greenspace. More than just a neighborhood—it’s also an arts and community hub to the Elliot Park Arts Quarter (EPAQ). EPAQ consists of locally owned small businesses including Gamut Gallery,Fades Of Gray Inc.,Kristi Abbott Art, Band Box Diner,Bee Ink, Rose Salon, and with support fromThe Theater of Public Policy ,and Finnegans Brewery
Thank you to all of our sponsors: Drexel Apartments, Hennepin Healthcare, Sherwin Williams, Portland Tower, Clear Channel, Speed Pro Printing, Green Rock Apartments, North Central University, Life Center, Weidner Apartment Homes, and The City of Minneapolis Greater Street Grant.
Guest Curator Teqen Zéa-Aida and Director Cassie Garner sit down for a conversation with C4W artists, including, Dawid Mludzik, Meg Lionel Murphy, Koldkral and Shhhhame. Learn about their individual processes, their ideation and their feelings on current events.
Gamut Gallery’s annual Call 4 Work exhibition never has a pre-fixed theme. The chosen guest curator brings their unique perspective and interpretation of the submitted works ranging the full “Gamut” of visual media. When Teqen Zéa-Aida accepted the challenge of curating this year’s C4W: 2019, he allowed his mind to lead quietly, without prejudice, while sorting through the 722 submissions from 177 artists.
Through the artists’ works, Zéa-Aida began to feel a very real sense of urgency emerge, an immediacy borne of the political, cultural, and environmental turmoil of our times. As a result, he has selected works from 36 artists, creating a collection of more than 40 artistic statements about place and space, sensory reactions to drastically changing—and degrading—surroundings. This year’s show features works that are centered around community, emotions, and people; a push back against loss of self.
FEATURED ARTISTS
Alex Petersen, Ashlyn Boehme, Christopher E. Harrison, Christopher Palbicki, Claire Hickman, Carissa Fern, Danielle Peters, Darren Terpstra, Dawid Mludzik, Derek Meier, Emily Dzieweczynski, Emily Quandahl, Evan Weselmann, Hilary Greenstein, Jacob Docksey, Jacob Yeates, Jeffrey Hansen, Jeremy Jones, Karine Rupp-Stanko, Koldkral, Loretta Bebeau, Maggie Dimmick, Marcia Haffmans, Matthew Bindert, Meg Lionel Murphy, Mike Ewaldt, MollieRae Miller, Murad Sayf, Natalia Berglund, Ron Brown, Russ White, Scott Roper, Shhhhame, Stephanie Friest, Taylor Robers, and Yuta Uchida.
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ART TALK
Saturday, September 28th // 11am – 1pm
$5 pre-sale, $7 door, Free for Members Get your pre-sale today!
* This is a limited capacity event we recommend purchasing in advance.
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ABOUT THE ARTIST
Dawid Mludzik is a Polish-American multidisciplinary artists currently living and working in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mludzik is a veteran engineer of the United States Air Force. He studied at the University of North Dakota as well as the Florence School of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy. Mludzik recieved a BA in Art, from the University of North Dakota in 2018. His works have been displayed in private galleries, museums, as well as international exhibitions.
Meg Lionel Murphy compulsively paints heartbroken womxn that magically grow larger, stronger, and scarier than the world around them. As the paintings grow in number, she grows just a little larger, stronger, and scarier too. When not painting, she divides her time between working as the Art + Story Director of Pollen and volunteering as Editor-in-Chief of Paper Darts.
Shhhhame is a non binary artist living in Saint Paul working in various mediums. Although their current primary focus is painting they also engage in mixed media, design, illustration, film, photography, woodwork, & textile. Growing up in a art based family structure influenced many early creative endeavors. Shame learned how to sew before they could read at age seven & fell deeply in love with the satisfaction & control of manifesting dreams. Currently they are exploring relationship with self through portraits & textiles of humans who inspire self love.
KOLDKRAL is a Turkish artist based in Minneapolis. Coming from a background in music, more recently he explores art through a visual variety. From Painting, to photography, and miscellaneous design – KOLDKRAL uses art as a coping mechanism to escape the confines of formality and structure in everyday life. Much of the themes present in their art are provoked by the desire to stray away from surface level realities. “Music is something far more than what my ears can hear. At first I started to see colours in music..Now it’s become scenes, landscapes, beings, and worlds. Music and visual arts hold the same weight for me. It’s a warhead for me to push a button on that will obliterate toxic worlds that we are living through. The days where a person could only focus on one medium are long gone. I’ve got the mind and will to create worlds from anything – how could I not do what I want?”
Surprise! We will be extending #Foraged for one more week, the exhibition will be up through Small Business Saturday. Next week’s hours will be limited due to the holiday. We will be open on Wednesday the 27th & Saturday the 30th. Find us online however 24/7!
Gamut Gallery presents Foraged, a collaboration between textile artist Annabella Sardelis and visual artist Annie Irene Hejny, two artists who have dedicated their lives to celebrating the natural beauty of Minnesota in their art. Their unique artistic process involves months of foraging for local plants to create natural dyes and pigments that grow abundantly around the Twin Cities. Foraged will premiere Hejny’s first body of abstract paintings created exclusively with handmade natural pigments rather than manufactured acrylic alongside Sardelis’ new line of wool scarves and an installation of sample specimens that the two women have collected on their journey.
Hejny and Sardelis invite viewers to reconnect with nature and recognize the wisdom of plants in our everyday lives. These works will feature handmade colors created from eight plants including jewelweed, tansy, black walnut and buckthorn, gathered from diverse places in the Twin Cities’ bioregion from wooded paths and riverbanks to city boulevards. A personal connection to the natural world defines the on-going work of both artists, whose practices involve the use of organic materials, waste reduction, and environmental stewardship. As Hejny says, “Our work is made for the earth, in honor of the earth, and for people to connect with the earth.”
In addition to the opening night event and regular viewing hours, patrons will have the opportunity to engage with the art and artists directly on Saturday, November 16th for “Show & Tell.” In this hands-on Art Talk, moderator Carolyn Halliday will lead a conversation that dives deeper into their creative processes, motivations, and connections to the Twin Cities’ natural landscape.
EXHIBIT OPENING Foraged Opening Reception Thursday, October 24th from 7 – 10pm
$5, Free for Members
MEMBERS GALA *Saturday, November 9th, 7-11pm Libations, Dancing, Art & Live Music Admittance with Gamut Gallery Membership, become a Member TODAY! *No open hours this Saturday
SHOW & TELL Saturday, November 16th 11am – 1pm
$7 pre-sale admission, $10 door Annie Hejny & Annabella Sardelis host a hands on look into materials that went into creating Foraged.
GALLERY & GIFT SHOP OPEN HOURS SHOP THE COLLECTION Weekly Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday • 11am – 6pm Or by appointment [/bscolumns][bscolumns class=”clear”][/bscolumns]
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Annie Irene Hejny is a visual artist who creates abstract paintings and drawings with natural materials. Rooted in a strong connection to the earth and her home state of Minnesota, she has successfully completed nearly 50 commissioned projects for galleries, private collections, and public institutions, both locally and nationwide, that utilize organic foraged materials. She has participated in several notable residencies and mentorship programs, and exhibited in many solo and group exhibitions. Her largest solo exhibition to-dateat the Minnesota Marine Art Museum (2018) received 10,000+ visitors and one painting remains in the museum’s permanent collection. Hejny is currently a member of Form + Content Gallery in Minneapolis, MN. www.annie-hejny.com
Annabella Sardelis is a textile artist and founder of INDIGO & SNOW, a Minneapolis studio located in the Casket Arts building that is dedicated to sustainable design. In addition to producing hand-dyed and painted apparel, accessories and decor, she teaches natural indigo workshops with a focus on zero waste practices. She exhibits her work nationally and has been featured in the New York Times, Elle, and Apartment Therapy, as well as others. indigoandsnow.com
Members of the Twin Cities dance community, including dancers from local contemporary company TU Dance, will perform an improv series in conjunction with the closing night of John Foster’s first-ever solo exhibit, Shimmer. Followed by Q and A.
Artistic ambitions collide as movement brings objects to life in this existential exploration of light, color and reflection. The juxtaposition of Foster’s kaleidoscopic geometry matched with the immediate proximity of improvisational dance will make for an experience that bridges two different corners of the local artistic landscape – providing two different interpretations of the same world.
“I think the combination of John’s work and the response we have planned will make for an interesting display that adds yet another dimension to his artwork,” says Amanda Sachs, one of the participating TU Dance members. “Just like some of the pieces in Shimmer, improv can embody varying textures and can represent meaning that is both direct and abstract. Your perspective defines what’s a contradiction or a similarity, and an interpretation is often dependent on what it’s in relation to.”
This freeform performance experience aims at redefining the traditional audience-performer relationship while examining the concepts of perspective and reflection.
EXHIBIT FINALE DANCE PERFORMANCE Thursday August 22nd, Doors 7pm
$10 presale, $13 at the door This event will have limited 30 person capacity, tickets available
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ABOUT JOHN FOSTER Materials geek John Foster employs various formal and situational strategies to create what can best be described as beautiful moments. Born in Los Gatos, California, John’s fascination with color and light began early, when he was diagnosed with a condition that causes severe bone pain. The limited physical mobility this resulted in inspired John to create movement and relationships with materials, combining the effects of light, color, geometry, and physics. Foster’s work evolved into creating and documenting actual objects that allow us to glimpse a glimmer of the infinite that lies beyond the future.
ABOUT THE DANCERS The improvisational response to John Foster’s work will involve dancers Jake Lewis, Samantha Lewis, Emma Marlar, Alex Pham, Amanda Sachs and Christian Warner, many of whom are involved with Bon Iver’s Come Through collaboration, among many other dance projects both locally and internationally.
Samantha Lewis graduated with her BFA in Dance at Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts in 2019. She grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota where she started her training at Minnesota Dance Theatre and TU Dance. She has attended summer intensives such as Joffrey Chicago, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Samantha has performed works by Yin Yue, Maxine Doyle, Mark Morris, Alonzo King, Dwight Rhoden, Greg Dolbashian, and Uri Sands. Samantha received her 200hr YTT certification in 2018.
Emma Marlar originally from Kenosha, WI, now resides in the Minneapolis area, balancing a career in the performance, creation, and technical aspects of dance. Since graduating from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities with a BFA in Dance in 2016, she has taken on work that allows her to support others, spark conversation, create collaboratively, and pursue endless explorations in movement. Emma currently dances with Slo Dance, Jennifer Glaws and her company Jagged Moves, while also performing in other various project work around the Twin Cities. She is also constantly moving and making in the emerging dance trio, Kelvin Wailey, who creates in spaces such as houses, music venues, hair salons, rooftops, attics, and more. Emma creates her own work and recently premiered “ready when” at Rhythmically Speaking 10/2018, a performance that engages people in staged works inspired by jazz and American social dance forms united by a core of rhythmicity. In addition to creating and performing herself, Emma serves as the Production Manager for Ananya Dance Theatre and has toured both nationally and internationally with the company for five years.
Randall Riley has been ministering, performing, and studying dance since his late childhood. Having trained at diverse schools such as The Rock School at Pennsylvania Ballet, The Ailey School, Ballet Atlantic, and Long Island University Brooklyn Campus’ BFA Program. Randall has worked with a plethora of artist from Earl Mosley, to Darrell Moultrie, Nathan Trice and most recently Ron K. Brown. Former member of Steps Repertory Ensemble and Ronald K. Brown/Evidence a Dance Company He is currently a company member with TU Dance.
Jake Lewis is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. In 2010, he was inducted into the National Honor Society for Dance Arts and was a finalist for the NDEO Artistic Merit, Leadership and Academic Achievement Award. Mr. Lewis has worked with choreographers Dwight Rhoden, Victor Quijada, Jean Emile, Jae Man Joo, Darrell Grand Moultrie, and members from Pilobolus. In 2013 and 2014, he performed in Alvin Ailey’s Memoria during Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s New York City Center season. After graduation from the Ailey/Fordham BFA program in 2015, he joined Ailey II.He is currently a company member with TU Dance.
Christian A. Warner began his professional career at the age of seven in the NetWorks touring production of Oliver! The Musical, and later joined the east coast tour of Disney’s The Lion King as Young Simba, making his broadway debut two years later. He graduated from HSPVA in Houston and Point Park University in Pittsburgh with a BFA in dance. Christian has acquired repertoire by Sonya Tayeh, Troy Powell, Thang Dao, Dwight Rhoden, Larry Keigwin, Jessica Hendricks, Mark Morris, Bennyroyce Royon and Luke Murphy, and Stacey Tookey. He most recently worked for Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre. He is currently a company member with TU Dance.
Alexander Pham a native of Minnesota, received his BFA in Dance and BS in Human Resource Development from the University of MN Twin Cities with dual honors. Alexander has performed works by artists such as Roy Assaf, Gregory Dolbashian, Martha Graham, Bill T. Jones, Larry Keigwin, Stephen Petronio, Zoe Scofield, and Yin Yue among others. Alexander most recently danced for Spectrum Dance Theater under the artistic direction of Donald Byrd for three years, touring nationally and internationally. He has also performed with Seattle-based company zoe | juniper, and Boise-based company LED. He is currently a company member with TU Dance.
Amanda Sachs was born and raised in New Jersey. She started her training at The Academy of Dance Arts in Red Bank, New Jersey. At age 17, Amanda moved to San Francisco to be part of the Alonzo King Lines Training Program. During this program she had original roles created on her by Iratxe Ansa, Sidra Bell, Maurya Kerr, Gregory Dawson, Erik Wagner, Kara Davis, Keelan Whitmore, Sandrine Cassini, and Uri Sands as well as performing excerpts of King’s Rasa and Ocean. Following the training program, Amanda joined The Francesca Harper Project in New York City and has also participated in the Metamorphosis International Dance Residency under the direction of Iratxe Ansa and Igor Bacovich. She is currently a company member with TU Dance.
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ABOUT THE CURATOR
