Tag Archive: watercolor

  1. In Your Own Words – A solo exhibition by Suyao Tian

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    June 22nd – August 20th, 2022  // a solo exhibition by Suyao Tian, embracing the intimate relationship observed between her work and the unique experiences of her collectors.

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    This July, Gamut Gallery is pleased to welcome nationally recognized artist, designer and independent curator residing in the Twin Cities, and adjunct faculty at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) Suyao Tian for her latest interactive solo exhibition, In Your Own Words.

    The intimate relationship Suyao has observed between her work and the unique experiences of her collectors is the inspiration behind the upcoming exhibit. Through the liberal use of water in her painting application, Suyao embraces the spontaneity of shapes as they organically unwind across her composition. “My inspiration comes from my childhood memories. I try to think like a child, without the constraints of space and time.” Her choice of vivid color strengthens this notion, illustrating whimsical scenes full of life and movement. In doing so, she encourages the viewer to embark on an exploration of their inner world, interpreting the path her paints take through the lens of their own childlike imaginations.

    During the exhibition, visitors are encouraged to share their favorite pieces from the collection online, along with a few comments about their individual interpretation of her art. “I don’t try to force viewers to understand my work, more importantly, I hope my work can inspire viewers’ curiosity and new understanding of themselves and the world.” Meanwhile, buyers will be offered the opportunity to name their piece upon purchase. In doing so, In Your Own Words sets out to weave together a narrative echoing Suyao’s recognition that we each autonomously navigate events, demonstrating how experiences colors our interpretation of the world around us.[/bscolumns][bscolumns class=”one_half_last_clear”]

    MEMBERS ONLY PREVIEW NIGHT:
    Thursday, July 21st // 7-9pm
    Meet & greet with Suyao Tian
    • Memberships required, become a member today!!
    • RSVP Required

    PUBLIC OPENING NIGHT:
    Friday, July 22nd // 6-9pm
    $10 day of event, $7 presale
    • Pre-sale tickets available
    • Entry will be available at the door

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    About the Artists:
    Suyao Tian began her studies in Music Education at Qinghai Normal University and Xiamen University in China. Following graduation, she began teaching Music Education as Assistant Professor at Guangdong Tianhe Technical Normal College in Guangzho, China. She later came to the US in 2011 where she began her studies in art and design. She started with her BA in Fine Art at the University of Central Arkansas. Afterward, she completed her MFA in Design and Branding Identity from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) in 2017. From her MFA studies, she developed and established her company Modern Cover™ where she designs and sells playful outerwear which has been sold across the US.

     

    While curating, painting, running Modern Cover™ and raising her son, she continues to be a strong and active member across organizations within the art and creative communities of the Twin Cities. She currently serves on the Executive Board of Art Buddies, and is passionately engaged with multiple galleries and organizations across state. Her works have also caught the eye of local and national companies, like Room & Board, with her designs being applied and sold across a range of product types.

  2. In Between

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    Gamut Gallery presents In Between, a joint exhibit featuring the art of James Zucco and Kim Heidkamp running February 7th through March 9th. Zucco’s work draws on existential questions about life, death, and transcendence. Heidkamp creates fluid paper sculptures that capture movement in a paused moment.

    Eyes play a central role in Zucco’s art. Zucco uses his own eyes as models, allowing him more freedom and range than working from stock photos. It also pitches him outside the confines of his physical body and opens portals into a more esoteric realm. “Getting outside of myself into a spiritual space is where I like to work.” His pieces often have more negative space than marks, reflecting his practice of meditating on empty space. Zucco believes the simplest compositions help him look within himself. “Simplicity is a huge part of my work. An idea is the best idea when it’s in its simplest form.”

    Heidkamp’s work shares the simplicity and restraint of Zucco’s. Using fine saturated archival(?) papers, she creates abstract sculptural works that hang from the wall. “My work is about a paused growth. If one of my pieces was alive, it would continue to grow. My finished pieces are dormant creatures.” Though she considers her art paused growth, her paper sculptures, which explode into the atmosphere in fluid movement, still seem very much alive. During the creation process Heidkamp’s pieces can take on a life of their own. “Some of them I envision from the start, but with some of them I’m surprised by the end product. Some of them are accidents. A piece of paper curls up in an unintended way and I realize that’s how it’s supposed to be, how it would occur naturally once it experienced the force of the blade.”

    With the delicate repetitive nature of Heidkamp’s style, the creation process is meditative and often leads her to the same deep thoughtfulness that inspires Zucco’s work. “In Between” embodies that space between life and death, conscious and subconscious, pen and paper, form and transcendence.

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    EXHIBIT OPENING​​
    Thursday, February 7th 7-10pm, $5

    ARTISTS TALK
    Join artists James Zucco, Kim Heidkamp, and curators Jade Patrick and Cassie Garner for an intimate discussion on Gamut’s current joint exhibition. “In Between” embodies that space between life and death, conscious and subconscious, pen and paper, form and transcendence.

    Saturday, February 23rd 11am-1pm, $10
    The mimosas (or juice!) will start flowing at 11am – tour will begin at 11:30.

    FREE OPEN HOURS
    Thursdays – Saturdays // 1-7pm
    or by appointment

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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    ABOUT THE ARTISTS

    James Zucco spent many years creating award-winning work as an art director in advertising. Three of his commercials are featured in the permanent collection at MoMA, and his work has earned an Emmy nomination and other industry honors. In 2015 James shifted his focus to his passion for fine art. He now spends his days in the studio, drawing and painting across a variety of mediums. His art now resides in private collections across North America, Europe, and the Middle East and has been featured in The New York Times and The California Sunday Magazine.

    Kim Heidkamp graduated from the Bethel University. She has a 1 year post-baccalaureate certificate program at Bethel for fine art. . After working as a graphic designer for seven years, the urge to create led Heidkamp to abandon her day job and focus on her art. Working out of her studio in the Casket Arts Carriage House, she has dedicated the last two years to developing and honing her paper sculptural works. She has completed several commissions and participates in the annual NEMAA Art-A-Whirl. This is her first major gallery show.

     

  3. Synergy

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    MINNEAPOLIS June 9, 2012 – Synergy is the third joint exhibit for Kingman and Yordanova. Their collaborative work process involves applying oil-based ink to a glass plate and quickly manipulating it to create an image. As soon the application is done, they press a sheet of paper on the glass plate to transfer or ‘print’ the image. After the ink dries, they add watercolors. The brilliance of the watercolor adjacent to the rich black ink provides contrast and vibrancy. The whole process allows for “happy mistakes” and unexpected surprises that create a spontaneous and expressive look.

    For the opening reception, Playatta provided an interactive component to Synergy. Using images from the artworks, Playatta installed a projection mapping station where guests could manipulate the movements and textures being projected onto geometric shapes (shown below). As part of the Northern Spark Festival – the grand opening of Gamut Gallery –  Synergy’s opening reception lived up to its name. With projections inside the gallery and out, live painting, sculpture, and soundscapes with Kingman and Yordanova’s energetic works on the gallery walls, the sum was certainly more than the parts.

    Brant Kingman /// International artist and staple in the Minneapolis creative community, Kingman lived in NYC for seven years booking shows in art venues such as PS1, now run by MOMA. He has transformed a 5,600 square foot studio in NE Minneapolis into a production facility, where he creates interactive installations, sculptures, and more. http://www.kingmanstudios.com

    Silvia Yordanova /// Born in Yambol, Bulgaria, Yordanova grew up in a family of artists. She has a Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Minnesota, and her love for nature is reflected in her artwork. She strives to communicate positivity through the use of color with surreal and impressionist elements.