Artists of Minnesota

The Artists of Minnesota (http:/artistsofminnesota.org) meet twice yearly, and the spring meeting includes an art competition. I have accumulated awards over the years and now compete at the highest level, "Super Gold". Tough competition here, with all participants being top winners from the "advanced" category. My entries this year each were honored with Merit awards. It's always nice to have hard work recognized and enjoyed by fellow artists. 

Whew! Duluth Art Institute and ShipRock Art Gala in one night!

I couldn't pull off being in two places at once, but  I did get to both of the events. They were the kind of art events I like-lots of people enjoying themselves and enjoying my paintings. I especially like to watch the faces of people who really love the work, the intake of breath, smile, and exclamations.  

At the Duluth Art Institute I was invited with five other landscape artists to exhibit in a special exhibit in the Great Hall at the Duluth Depot.  I had not met all of the other artists before, so I got to meet them and enjoy their work. It was nice to match the faces to the  paintings, some of whose work has been familiar to me for years, other whose work is new to me. New friends and old came to celebrate with me. Thank you!

ShipRock Management put on their Art Gala for the third year. I was happy to be able to participate again this year. This was a really fun crowd,  a mix of walks of life, all there to celebrate with Andy and Blake and their associates. Thank you, ShipRock.

 

Poetry in Pictures

I participated in the Poet/Artist Collaboration at Crossings Gallery in April (www.CrossingsAtCarnegie.com). 25 poets submitted poems and 25 juried artists each picked a poem to illustrate. The poem I chose celebrated how fleeting patterns of light can transform even the most lowly objects into objects of beauty. For my subject I chose eggplants. And to really challenge myself, I painted them in oils, with a painting knife rather than a brush. They were such great fun to paint, I did two! One 11x14 for the exhibit, and one 6x8.I named them "Kitchen Jewels". At the reception for the exhibit the poet was pleased with what her poem inspired. Painting is such an adventure, you never know what it will bring.