Tag Archive: Melissa Lee Sisk

  1. Conexión Artist Talk

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    Conexión Artist Talk //  Gamut Gallery and ACME Collective partner to host a conversation with three artists in our current exhibition, Conexión.


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    Gamut Gallery invites you to join us for a panel discussion moderated by Melissa Sisk with guest curator Gerardo Morado and three featured exhibiting artists on Saturday, May 7th.  As the founder of ACME Collective, Morado has become an active player in the Twin Cities events scene and promoted intersectional opportunities for musicians, performers, and artists featured in his shows.  With this intersectional spirit at heart, Morado has assembled the high-octane and visually arresting Conexión as his curatorial debut. 

    Morado cites contributing artists John Alspach, Evan Weselmann, and Nichole Showalter as profoundly influential in developing his appreciation of art. Characterized by their past participation with ACME Collective shows, he publicly admires their shared professionalism and quality of work.  “They give such a huge piece of themselves…” he says, “…the fact that what I’m doing translates to them speaks to the timelessness of that connection.” We are thrilled to host all three, inviting their work and experiences as artists in the Twin Cities to enliven our space through discussion and discourse.

    Friends of the gallery will remember moderator Melissa Sisk as a featured artist from our most recent art talk which highlighted the MPLSART Sketchbook Project.  We appreciate the opportunity to bring Sisk back to facilitate the upcoming discussion, allowing attendees an engaging glimpse into the cross-cultural and inter-generational conversation fostered through Conexión. [/bscolumns][bscolumns class=”one_half_last_clear”]

    Conexión Artists Talk:
    Saturday, May 7, 2022 // 10 AM
    Moderated by Melissa Sisk followed by an Open Q & A
    Featuring Gerardo Morado, Evan Weselmann, John Alpsach & Nichole Showalter.
    • $5 pre-sales available until May 6th
    • $7 at the door, FREE for members
    • This is 30 person limited capacity event
    • Entry will be available at the door if pre-sales do not sell out

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    ABOUT THE CURATOR

    Gerardo Morado is a Mexican American Artist and Curator based in Minneapolis. In 2006 experiencing the youthfulness of 17, Morado was introduced to Underground Rave culture in Northeastern Mexico. This quickly became an obsession and he began to focus all of his energy into organizing parties, collecting music and learning how to DJ. Gerardo uniquely applies/emulates an approach to an event curation and brand development which is rooted in 15 years of personal experience and regeneration, a phenomenon powerful enough to unveil and inspire ACME Collective. 

    His main focus is promoting art, culture, and music in an intersectional, and inclusive way with a non-conforming approach. Gerardo is currently producing bi-monthly showcases which feature renowned and emerging artists in underground dance music and visual arts. These showcases intersect full-fledged raves with concert-grade sound + visual systems, and pop-up installations featuring local exhibiting artists.

    ABOUT ACME COLLECTIVE
    ACME is a collective of interdisciplinary artists from the Twin Cities promoting art culture and music in an intersectional and inclusive way. Throughout the years, ACME’s experimental, avant-garde stylistic events have been uniting artists from various subcultures and generations with the aid of dance music and interactive installations.

    ABOUT THE ARTISTS
    John Alspach has been making art in Minneapolis for over 30 years, much of that time as the operator of the art studio Shiny Robot. He was a member of the artist collective Rosalux and curated shows in condo spaces through Broadcast Exhibitions. His works are inspired by the colors and energy of the city streets. 

    Evan Weselmann is a Minneapolis-based artist and designer working primarily in illustration, animation, and painting. He creates looping drawings that focus on carving a relationship between positive and negative space through subtle color variations. Evan has worked with clients ranging from local mutual aid funds to international advertising agencies. He is currently represented by Closer & Closer. 

    Nichole Showalter is a Minneapolis-based fiber artist. While she has been embroidering for over a decade, most recently, she has shifted her creative focus to crafting tufted wall hangings. Her subject matter is largely sex-positive and greatly inspired by Georgia O’Keefe. She creates work that celebrates and honors one’s sexual autonomy and choice.

    Melissa Sisk is a Minnesota-based visual artist and educator. As a multidisciplinary artist, she works in a range of mediums and illustrates a wide variety of subjects, aiming to highlight the beauty and wonder of our everyday world. Her background in biomedical visualization grounds her creations in well-researched details and accuracy. As a designer, she elevates her artwork by using bold lines and striking compositions.

  2. MPLSART Sketchbook Exhibition Artist Talk

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    Saturday, April 9th, 2022 
    FEATURING MPLSART Sketchbook Project Exhibition Artists: Samuel Fleming, Danielle Pebbles, Melissa Lee Sisk, Piotr Szyhalski, and Jaida Gray Eagle.


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    This is not your typical artist talk. This talk will be a Q& Question & Answer Chain — a method where the curator begins by selecting a piece that intrigues them and asks the artist a couple of 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 seven artists, each having the opportunity to speak about their piece for approximately 5-10 minutes, and will conclude with closing remarks from the curator, Blaine Garrett, and Gamut’s director, Cassie Garner.

    MPLSART Sketchbook Project – MPLSART and Gamut Gallery present the MPLSART Sketchbook Project Exhibition. 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-based Revere Auctions.

    Learn More About the MPLSART Sketchbook Project Exhibition.

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    ARTIST TALK – Q & A Chain
    Saturday April 9th, 2021 10AM
    Moderated by Blaine Garrett
    • $7 pre-sales available online
    • $5 for Gamut Members online & at door
    • $10 General Admission
    • Masks Required, limited tickets available
    • We also livestream the talk on our Instagram: @gamutgallerympls[/bscolumns][bscolumns class=”clear”][/bscolumns]


    Artist Bios:

    Jaida Grey Eagle is an Oglala Lakota artist, currently located in St. Paul, MN. Jaida is a photojournalist, producer, beadwork artist, and writer. She is a Report for America Fellow with the Sahan Journal covering communities of color in the Twin Cities. She is also researching Indigenous photography at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts as an ongoing former Curatorial Fellow.

    Melissa Sisk is a Minnesota-based visual artist and educator. As a multidisciplinary artist, she works in a range of mediums and illustrates a wide variety of subjects, aiming to highlight the beauty and wonder of our everyday world. Her background in biomedical visualization grounds her creations in well-researched details and accuracy. As a designer, she elevates her artwork by using bold lines and striking compositions.

    Danielle Pebbles is a southern California transplant that now calls the Twin Cities home. She received her BFA in Drawing from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, after exploring possible futures in Illustration and Fine Arts Studio and spending time studying the field (and learning Portuguese!) in Brazil. She chose her focus in Drawing, as she believes it holds the foundation for a wide variety of mediums, allowing her to transfer her skills to any discipline she may choose to pursue. Danielle’s biggest drive as an artist is to motivate her peers to create artwork and offer them a place to display their talents. She believes that there is an inspiring force of artists of all mediums in the Twin Cities, showcased in the spirit of community and collaboration.

    Piotr Szyhalski is a Polish-born and trained multimedia artist working in the United States since 1990. The Minneapolis-based artist’s wide-ranging practice encompasses an array of media and genres, including poster designs, drawings, mail art, photographs, painted murals, prints, web-based digital art, sound art, large-scale installations, and public performances. In 1998, he established his ongoing project Labor Camp. Szyhalski’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is in the collections of KADIST (Paris/San Francisco), Minneapolis Institute of Art, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Walker Art Center, and Weisman Art Museum, among others. Recent monographs include COVID-19 Labor Camp Report (2021) and Piotr Szyhalski: We Are Working All the Time (2020, Weisman Art Museum), which accompanies his upcoming survey in 2022. The recipient of multiple commissions and awards, Szyhalski is the 2021–22 contributing artist to the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, New York, and a professor of media arts at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. @laborcamp, laborcamp.org

    Samuel Fleming was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN, Sam Fleming has spent his entire life drawing. At the age of 14, he decided he wanted to become a professional artist after being inspired by other artists on a trip to Times Square. From that moment onward, Fleming aimed to expand and improve his skills however he could, branching out to other media, and experimenting with various styles and subject matter. Upon reaching age 18, Fleming began to sell work in art fairs and festivals and even became a cartoonist for a local newspaper. During this time, Fleming began to include screen-printed clothing in his inventory and sold them alongside his artwork at pop-up shops and those same fairs. Herberger’s even carried his brand for a time before their closing. In August of 2021, Fleming released a book he wrote and illustrated centered around mixed-race Black people titled Encyclopedia Mulattica. It is available as a hard copy for purchase and free as an ebook. Today, Fleming continues to draw passionately with a heavy interest in pen & ink. He is currently working towards a master’s degree in architecture. Despite the interference of COVID-19, he sells his work primarily online. Fleming is also working on other projects on a scale similar to that of his book release.

  3. MPLSART Sketchbook Project Exhibition

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    March 18th, 2022 – April 9th 2022
    MPLSART Sketchbook Project MPLSART and Gamut Gallery present the MPLSART Sketchbook Project Exhibition, exhibiting over 30 new original works from local artists featured in the 2021 project.

    Featuring: Adam Denton, Alex Kuno, Alison Arens, Alison Bergblom Johnson, Amit Michael, Angel Hawari, Caitlin Karolczak, Chuck U, CL Martin, Cory Favre, Danielle Pebbles, Shade Pratt, Hibaaq Ibrahim, Hilary Greenstein, Jaida Grey Eagle, John Sauer, John Schuerman, Kristina Fjellman, Margarita Sikorskaia, Mary Gibney, Melissa Lee Sisk, Micah Savage, Natalia Berglund, Nicholas Harper, Oni Sakti, Piotr Szyhalski, Ramses Alarcon, Renee Chartier, Ross Auger, Samuel Fleming, Sarah Nicole, Simone Needles, Yunior Rebollar Carbonell, and Yuya Negishi.


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    We have partnered up with MPLSART once again for the second iteration of the MPLSART Sketchbook Project Exhibition. When the 2021 sketchbooks were near the end of their travels, MPLSART and Gamut Gallery connected again to host a brilliant exhibit to showcase the five original sketchbooks and new works from half of the artists contributing to the traveling project. 

    Given the magnitude of artists and limited wall space, an open call was sent to all 70 artists and the first 35 to respond would have the opportunity to showcase their original work in the exhibition. 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 18 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. 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 based Revere Auctions this May.[/bscolumns][bscolumns class=”one_half_last_clear”]

    Members Only & Press Preview Night:
    Thursday, March 17th  // 6–8 pm
    A VIP Preview Night for Gamut Gallery Members: become a member today!!l
    • Must be a Member to attend
    • Masks encouraged

    Public Opening Night:
    Friday, March 18th  // 6–9 pm
    • $7 pre-sales available until 4pm on 3.18
    • $10 door entry
    • FREE for Gamut Gallery Members
    • Masks encouraged

    Artists Talk Exhibit Finale:
    Saturday, April 9th // 10 am
    •$7 pre-sales coming soon, $10 at door
    • $5 for Members

    • Masks encouraged
    The talk art talk chain consists of curator Blaine Garrett and artists Samuel Fleming, Danielle Pebbles, Melissa Lee Sisk, and Piotr Szyhalski. This is not your typical artist talk. This talk will be a Q&A Chain — a method where Blaine Garrett, of MPLSART, will select a piece that intrigues him and ask the artists a couple of questions. From there, each chosen artist picks the next one, opening up the dialogue and inviting the artists to respond to each other.[/bscolumns][bscolumns class=”clear”][/bscolumns]


    Complete list of artists involved in the Sketchbook Project:
    A Drew Hammond, Adam Denton, Alex Kuno, Ali Kahlert, Alison Arens, Alison Bergblom Johnson, Amit Michael, Angel Hawari, Anne Ulku, Anonymous, Barret Lee, Benjamin Brown, Caitlin Karolczak, Charles Denton, Chuck U, CL Martin, Cory Favre, Danielle Pebbles, FOLA (Shade Pratt),Hibaaq Ibrahim, Hilary Greenstein,Ivy Sendrijas, Jaida Grey Eagle, JDecker, John Sauer,John Schuerman, Jordan Wiebe, Joshua Cunningham, Joshua Wilichowsk, Jovan C. Speller, KNZ., Kristina Fjellman, Luis Fitch, Maddi Geislinger, Maiya Lea Hartman, Margarita Sikorskaia, Maria Epiphany Robinson, Marty McConnell, Mary Gibney, Matthew J. Bindert, Mel Sue Castillo, Melissa Lee Sisk, Melodee Strong, Micah Savage, Natalia Berglund, Nicholas Harper, Nicole L. Thomas, Noah Lawrence-Holder, Oni Sakti, Pete Driessen, Piotr Szyhalski / Labor Camp, Preston Drum, Ramses Alarcon, Renee Chartier, Ricardo Levins Morales, Ross Auger, Samuel Fleming, Sarah Nicole, Scott Neff, Simone Needles, Star WallowingBull, sunshine gao, Ta-coumba Aiken, Vickie LaCroix, W S Norton, Wenwen Liao, Xee Reiter, Yunior Rebollar Carbonell, and Yuya Negishi.

    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 nearly two decades. The Minneapolis and St. Paul arts community has long been hailed as one of the best in the nation and MPLSART works tirelessly to showcase the hard work of this amazing community as well as strive to create a more sustainable arts scene for all.

    The 2021 MPLSART Sketchbook Project is a unique survey of the Twin Cities visual arts community during another challenging year. Started in 2020 as a way to connect and support artists during the pandemic, the 2021 project is the second iteration bringing together a whole new set of amazing Twin Cities artists. Throughout 2021, 70 local artists contributed 120 original works to a series of five traveling sketchbooks. The project will be compiled into a beautiful limited edition book available for presale in March 2022 and the five original sketchbooks will be put up for auction with all net proceeds being divided among the 70 participating artists. Learn more about the 2021 MPLSART Sketchbook Project.

    GALLERY & GIFT SHOP OPEN HOURS
    FREE open hours starting Saturday, March 19th, 2022: Wednesday – Friday, 11 am – 6 pm; Saturday 11 am – 4 pm.