Comments Off on In Your Own Words – A solo exhibition by Suyao Tian
June 22nd – August 20th, 2022 // a solo exhibition bySuyao Tian, embracing the intimate relationship observed between her work and the unique experiences of her collectors.
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.
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
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.
Featured Artists: Anihail Álvarez, Claire Hickman, Cristian Ybarra, Emily Quandahl, Evan Weselmann, Joshua McGarvey, John Alspach, Joshe Montaño, and Nichole Showalter.
Gamut Gallery’s multi-disciplinary group show, Conexión, layers individual voices of international and local artists, synchronizing their work in a visceral, nine-part harmony. Gerardo Morado of Acme Collective draws on his experience within the underground music scene to compile a collection of paintings and fiber arts in his curatorial debut. Conexión weaves together the stories of emerging and established artists and delivers them to the viewer through electric colors and textures. The installation speaks to the ingrained desire we all share to explore the unexpected world of the downbeat.
And what better way to conclude the month-long exhibition than with a high-velocity dance party? This Art-A-Whirl weekend, add us to your list of stops and join us Saturday, May 21st for our first outdoor event of the season. Gamut Gallery will be partnering with Acme Collective to welcome music by El Niño Indigo and a live Downtempo set by Heckadecimal. Grab your tickets early for a night celebrating art, music, and community!
EXHIBIT FINALE + CLOSING PARTY:
Saturday, May 21, 2022 // 6-9pm
• $7 pre-sales end 05.20.22
• $10 entry day of event
• FREE for members
please note the gallery will not have regular open hour this day.
Music curated by Acme Collective
Featuring El Niño Indigo & a live Downtempo Set by Heckadecimal
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.
Anihail Álvarez is a 25-year-old psychologist and artist born in Tamaulipas. Annie moved from the north to Guadalajara for reasons of violence in the city where he lived, this changed his ideas about art. Before the topic of his career was about exploring his inner world as a teenager of 15 years to replace this with ideas about transcending on the level of economics. She currently works acrylic on canvas and embroidery. Use these techniques to make sense of what you do. He is very interested in creating a new product but cannot lose sight of the irony generated by the innovative art. She conveys the hope that she had generated by start his career young and conveys disappointment at breaking old paradigms as she was forced to start her career all over again. She uses this process to reflect your way of seeing things with designs cold and messages of economic reality such as “nothing is impossible, multitask” or “this box says nothing” with the title innovation desensitizes.
Claire Ethier Hickman is a mixed media artist and designer based out of Minneapolis. Her work uses a combination of embroidery, photography, illustration, and painting and centers on the messy absurdities, contractions, and power dynamics of America in the early 21st century.
Cristian Ybarra aka DIE/ASPORA is an up-and-coming queer Afro-Chicanx artist, DJ & curator. Growing up in the Twin Cities, Ybarra found solace & in their community through the queer MPLS DIY art & music scene, while gradually being adopted into the local goth & techno scenes respectively. Ybarra’s main priorities nowadays include honing in on their visual art, deejaying & curating safe spaces always with the biggest emphasis on making local MPLS dance floors more inclusive, accessible and QBIPOC centered.
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.
Emily Quandahl is an abstract artist and muralist with a multidisciplinary background based in Minneapolis. Her work is created in layers by experimenting with techniques and mediums while maintaining a balance between organic movements and harsh lines united by her use of color. With over 12 years devoted to classical viola, her work is inherently musical in its movements, and her process finds parallels to her music education through practice and repetition
Joshe Montaño was born in Guadalajara, Mexico. He studied Graphic Design and worked for seven years in advertising agencies, currently, he has dedicated the last five years and himself painting 100% of his time. Joshe’s goal is to spread good vibes to viewers through the colors and the messages that his visual work contains. He currently lives in Mexico and works independently.
Joshua McGarvey lives and works in Minneapolis. He received his MFA from the University of Minnesota, and an MA and BFA from Ball State University. He has received a number of awards and grants including the 2018 Jerome Emerging Artist Fellowship, 2017 and 2020 Artist Initiative Grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board, and a 2015-2016 Art(ist) on the Verge Emerging Artist Fellowship.
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.
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.
Art Is For Everyone – Gamut Gallery celebrates a decade of Art and Community in the Twin Cities. Our exhibit features artists Aldair Dosmil, Ash Hane, Barret Lee, Bunny Portia, James Zucco, John Foster, Kristi Abbott, Rodrigo Oñate, Lora Hlavsa, and Urban Camper.
Gamut Gallery will be closed 6/1 – 6/5 for Independence Day. You can shop our collections online while we’re away.
Gamut Gallery has thoroughly enjoyed a decade of art, music, performance, and collaborations! From our first location in the Handicraft Building to our current home in Elliot Park, the relationship that continues to define our space is the one we share with youevery day. As we look forward to another year together, we invite you to join us in celebrating ten years by attending our first summer exhibition of the year: Art is for Everyone!
As the gallery evolves from one show to the next, the heart of Gamut’s mission remains the same: we believe that art fosters community, and everyone should have access to becoming a collector! In honor of our tenth anniversary, ten of our supporters, from dabblers to devotees, have graciously agreed to lend us one of the pieces that first caught their eyes and captured their hearts. The loaned work will be displayed in tandem with new, original pieces by the corresponding artists. Gamut is delighted to welcome back artists Ash Hane, Barret Lee, Bunny Portia, James Zucco, John Foster, Kristi Abbott, Rodrigo Oñate, Lora Hlavsa, Urban Camper, and 2Mil for this group exhibit. As a special compliment to the month-long retrospective display, portraits captured within the homes of the featured collectors will be on view along with a few words of their own stories that embody Gamut’s mission of bridging artists and their communities to life!
“Come for the art and stay for the party!” We couldn’t kick off a show as big as this without you! Join our space on opening night for food and festivities with live music and performances back-to-back. We can’t wait to celebrate all of our collectors who have supported small businesses and working artists over the past ten years. Whether you have been with us from the very beginning or are among our newest friends, our story begins and ends with you!
10-Year Anniversary Party:
Saturday, June 11th, 2022 // 4 PM – 10PM
• $15 pre-sales available until June 10th • $20 at the door, FREE for members • Music by Daniel Volovets, Digital Nap, James Patrick & Sassy G • Icy Icy Baby Snowcone Truck • Taqueria Victor Hugo Taco Truck • Live art by Hibaaq Ibrahim, Evan Weselmann & Jamie Owens • Photobooth with Caleb Timmerman
Featured Artist Bios:
Aldair Dosmil is a Mexican street artist, born in Morelia, Michoacán. He has dedicated his work to the appropriation of urban spaces with murals since 2015. With a varied and eclectic style, he represents through Mexican folklore an iconic character of his work, a personal reinterpretation of the torito de petate dance, one of the most traditional emblems of Morelia.
Ash Marlene Hane can be found wandering amongst the myths and the stars, greeting the spirits of the animate cosmos, and dancing amongst the northern forests. A student of *the way of things* she is in tutelage with the Great Mystery and a devotee of the Jovian path. Her current body of work is an intuitive collaboration with Creator, inviting re-enchantment and magic into the eye and heart of the beholder. Ash studied Printmaking and Art history at the U of M and MCAD, co-owner of the former Midnight Brigade Gallery, and creator of TLA Press. Ash Marlene Hane has shown at numerous galleries and is the recipient of an MRAC Next Step Grant. Her practice centers around an ethic of experimentation and is in collaboration with the Nymphs and Muses of creation.
Barret Lee is a Minnesota-based fine artist and illustrator with a BA in drawing and painting from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) in 2016. Barret is a multidisciplinary artist who works in a range of mediums. He paints a wide variety of subjects, including wide-eyed characters, playful landscapes, and pop culture.
As a representational feminist artist working in oils, encaustic, pencil, and video, Bunny Portia examines issues of aging, change, and traditional ideals of female beauty. Her work is based on personal experience and incorporates a retrospective view from her 70-year vantage point. Fifty years ago, Bunny Portia spent the summer of her sophomore year in college stuffed into an impossibly tight-fitting, padded costume, serving drinks and meals to customers who bought into the Playboy myth. Using that experience juxtaposed to her image today, she explores age bias and her experience growing old. Her large Memento Mori skeleton paintings made their debut at Gamut Gallery in 2017.
James Zucco spent many years creating award-winning work as an art director in advertising.In 2015, he shifted his focus to fine art. His work resides in private collections around the world and was recently featured in New American Paintings. James has also created illustrations for clients including The New York Times, New York Magazine, and Mother Jones.
Manipulating time and light, John Foster is creating works of art that evoke a visceral response. Through a radical synthesis of poetry and engineering, highly technical feats of geometry leave us with objects that do not appear to have passed through the artist’s hands. Foster draws on sacred geometry to provide the base parameters for an experience that grips viewers, drawing them into the moment with a kaleidoscopic play of color, texture, and rhythm. Colors dance and transform as the eye moves from one perspective to another, generating iridescent figures that metamorphize as viewers move around them.
Kristi Abbott is an Australian multimedia collage artist. Kristi spent 8 years growing her art business in Minnesota, having her own gallery in downtown Minneapolis for 3 years. She has won several awards and public commissions and her work is collected across the US and Australia. As a collage artist Kristi is fascinated with the use of color, pattern, and texture. She combines these elements in her work in an innovative and exciting way using a combination of papers, paints, and other embellishment materials. Each piece and series is thoughtfully researched and conceptualized to tell a story through the use of familiar imagery richly layered throughout each artwork. She describes her amazing and innovative methods as “painting with paper”. After a year-long art residency in Texas, she has returned to Minnesota, where she looks forward to adding artworks to the previous series as well as creating completely new series and artworks inspired by her life and travels.
Lora Hlavsa is a self-described “professional dabbler”. Professionally, she solves creative problems as an art director and designer, but her personal fine art and illustration practice reveals an unconstrained world of color and energy. Inspired by femininity, pop culture, nature, and intersectionality, she uses color, pattern, chaos, and emotion to create multi-dimensional works that reflect the many (and often innocuous) layers of the daily human experience.
The creation of characters and fantastic worlds is the universe that defines the work of Rodrigo Oñate (Rocodrilo). Originally from the city of Queretaro, Mexico, Roco embarked on his career as a self-taught plastic and graphic artist, influenced by the pop culture of the 80s, comics, graffiti, and various artists representing Mexican art. By extracting himself from his context and looking at it from the outside, he found a better appreciation and understanding of Latin American culture, thus conceiving a style with a contemporary and modern vision of Latino folklore, mixing techniques that since his career has gained great relevance as in graffiti or pop art. Urban Camper is a Minnesota-based photographer who primarily documents street art and graffiti. His focus is to give some permanence to a generally ephemeral art form. With the same sense of documenting a moment in time, Urban Camper journals life experiences with his camera.
Conexión Artist Talk // Gamut Gallery and ACME Collective partner to host a conversation with three artists in our current exhibition, Conexión.
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 spiritat 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 theupcoming discussion, allowing attendees an engaging glimpse into the cross-cultural and inter-generational conversation fostered through Conexión.
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
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 Alspachhas 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.
Comments Off on MPLSART Sketchbook Exhibition Artist Talk
Saturday, April 9th, 2022 FEATURING MPLSART Sketchbook Project Exhibition Artists: Samuel Fleming, Danielle Pebbles, Melissa Lee Sisk, Piotr Szyhalski, and Jaida Gray Eagle.
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.
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
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.
Saturday, February 19th Earth’s Alchemy Artist Talk featuring Rock Johsen – moderated by Cassie Garner, Director of Gamut Gallery & Ceramicist Carter Casmaer.
We invite you to start your day out with Rock’s two favorite things; art & science. Join us for a conversation with exhibiting solo artist, Rock Johnsen, moderator Cassie Garner & Ceramicist Carter Casmaer. Listening to Rock Johnsen engage with patrons that came to his exhibiting opening left the room with an overall feeling of awe. Rock’s passion for science and art combined for the ultimate experience our all attendees. We guarantee you will not want to miss the opportunity to listen to Rock dive into his biggest project to date. This will be a limited capacity event and we recommend getting your presale to reserve your seat.
Earth’s Alchemy has turned Gamut Gallery into a transcendent winter-scaped wonderland. Just like no two snowflakes are alike, each piece featured in this exhibit is one of a kind, inspiring us to remember science in everyday life and its inherent influence on societal progress and inclusivity. Rock’s work represents the certainty of constant evolution at an atomic level, the diversity that stems from these atomic interactions, and their eventual influence on our collective appreciation and interest in expressing ourselves through art.
ARTIST TALK Saturday, February 19th, 2022 • 10am
Moderated by Cassie Garner, Director of Gamut Gallery & Ceramicist Carter Casmaer, followed by open Q & A
• 30 person limited capacity event
•FREE pre-sales available and recommended
• All tickets are will-call at the door
• Masks required indoors
• This event is FREE in thanks to the Artist Initiative grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
MN State Board Art Grant. Rock Johnsen is a fiscal year 2021 recipient of an Artist Initiative grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
Rock Johnsen is a scientist and potter living in Minneapolis, MN who grew up in Kansas and Missouri. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree from Pittsburgh University in studio arts with a focus on ceramics and chemistry. Rock’s work explores concepts of duality that he has been perpetually confronted with growing up as a queer person of mixed race in the United States. He uses human anatomy and creatures to examine our comfort level with functional items and also explores the links between chemistry and geology in ceramic glaze.
His unique crystal growing process is really the recreation of an environment. Rock uses a kiln to simulate the earth’s mantle. Over several hours, between 1800-2200 degrees Fahrenheit, the mixture of basic elements transition to a liquid state. While the vessel’s surface is still fluid, zinc and silica atoms attract one another due to their natural polarities, migrating through the liquid to form larger molecules. With each new piece, Rock mimics environmental conditions by making slight adjustments to the temperature and holding times of the ceramic media; the chemical properties of each element emerge from the crystal solution as the final size, shape, and reflection of each piece becomes an individual representation of material science.
Carter Casmaer is a Doctor by day and ceramicist by night. He first learned ceramics in his hometown of St. Louis and has ten years of experience working with clay. He aims to make beautiful, functional, affordable pieces that are a pleasure to interact with one’s daily life.
Cassie Garner is a graphic designer, art curator, and gallerist living and working in Minneapolis. A founder of Gamut Gallery, Cass began as a graphic designer and has grown with the gallery over time. Three years into business when the gallery was forced to relocate, she joined the ownership team and became the gallery manager where she applied her many years of retail and customer service experience. In the spring of 2018, Cass 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.
Comments Off on MPLSART Sketchbook Project Exhibition
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.
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 basedRevere Auctions this May.
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.
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.
We look forward to hosting two solo exhibitions featuring local ceramicist Rock Johnsen in February and MFA MCAD Alumni Suyao Tian in July. Bridging our solo shows, we are thrilled to be partnering up with @mplsart to bring back the MPLSART Sketchbook Project Exhibit again this March. The party continues into the spring with emerging curator Gerardo Morado, founder of the ACME Collective, for his first curatorial gallery exhibition exclusively at Gamut. This June, we celebrate our 10th anniversary with our community with a retrospective exhibit that is sure to take us all on a trip down memory lane! Artist, curator, and one of our rock-star installers, Jamie Owens, will guest curate our annual group exhibit Call for Work (C4W) this fall, followed up with a showcase of resident artists and staff from Interact Arts led by Derek Meier. Finally, we will wrap up the year with a spark of wintery inspiration with our 11th Annual Raging Art On (RAO) Holiday Sale featuring all MN artists. As always, each of our events will feature bonus art talks, music, and festivities.
The gallery was vivacious from every one of our artists and patrons that attended our exhibits and events last year, we thank you again for your support and excitement!
🥰- The whole Gamut Crew
••••
December 1st, 2022 – January 10th, 2023
Raging Art On 2022 – Gamut’s Annual 11th “uncurated” Holiday Shop in a gallery setting.
Raging Art On (RAO) will be back for its 11th year! Bursting at the seams with locally sourced art, RAO has no bounds and helps us answer that age-old question: what do you get the person that has everything? Art, of course!
The gallery is transformed, filled from floor-to-ceiling with paintings, fiber art, 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. Join us in the yuletide as we uncover all the hidden gems our local artist community has to offer!
FEATURED ARTISTS: Aaron Schmitz, Amit Michael, Ashtyn Sibinski, Astralchemy, Barret Lee, Bekah Worley, Benja Wuest, Betsey Giles (Rockin’ Octopus), Black Daze, Briana Auel, Bruno Press, Catherine Brinker, Carter Casmaer, Cassie Garner, Destiny Davison, Eli Libson, Emily Floyd, Emily Forbes, Emily Quandahl, Evan Weselmann, Genessis Lopez, Heather Renaux, Hilary Greenstein, Jorie Kosel, Josh Katzenmeyer, Juliana Ferguson (Hello Cross Stitches), Kate Johnson, Kathryn Flora, Keya Hutchins, Jenna Murphy, Jovy Rockey, Lauren Strom, Leeya Rose Jackson, Lindsee Boyer, Linnea Maas, Liza Ferrari, Madison Rubenstein, Malleus Pottery, Marne Skusa (Prajna Bodyworks), Martzia Thometz, Melissa Sisk, MK Metten(From MK with Love), Monica Helland, Nichole Showalter, Nina Perkins (Pompa Goods), Phaedra Odelle, Rachel Schroder (Ms. Stitch), Russ White, Sander Kolodziej, Sara Kahn (Imaginary Conservatory), Sari Lennick, Scott Seekins, Sydney Newman, Tiffany Lange, and Travis J. Collins.
Member Only Preview Night
Thursday, December 1st // 5-9pm
Don’t miss first dibs on your favorite pieces!
Not a Gamut Gallery member? Become one today.
• Must be a Gamut Gallery Member to attend
RAO Pop-Up Dates: December 2nd – December 23rd
717 S 10th St, Minneapolis, MN 55404
• In person shopping
• Wednesdays – Saturdays, 11am- 6pm
Online Orders
December 2nd – January 10th, 2023
• Shipping available nationally
• Shop all artworks at Gamutgallerympls.com
GALLERY & GIFT SHOP OPEN HOURS
FREE open hours: Wednesday – Friday, 11am – 6pm; Saturday 11am – 6pm through December 23rd.
We are available by appointment, please request an appointment 48 hours in advance.
••••
Past Exhibits:
••••
February 4th, 2022 – February 26th, 2022
Earth’s Alchemy – Rock Johnsen’s solo exhibition from exploring the periodic table through ceramic glazes.
With the new year in full swing, the transformative power of winter in the Twin Cities sets the stage for Gamut Gallery’s first show of 2022: Earth’s Alchemy. We are thrilled to host Minnesota State Arts Board recipient, Rock Johnsen, who shares his passion for chemistry and ceramics in his first solo gallery exhibition.
Through his experimental glazing methods, the distinctive and delicate crystal structure highlighted in Rock’s body of work evokes the familiarity of ice cracking under the weight of heavy-soled snow boots this February. From everyday objects like plates, mugs and bowls to his larger-than-life periodic table installation, Rock explores the intersection of art and science by way of the earth’s rare elements and his pottery wheel. In doing so, he shows us that elements can interact with one another within the confines of solid and functional objects.
Just like no two snowflakes are alike, each piece featured in this exhibit is one of a kind, inspiringus to remember science in everyday life and its inherent influence on societal progress and inclusivity. Rock’s work represents the certainty of constant evolution at an atomic level, the diversity that stems from these atomic interactions, and their eventual influence on our collective appreciation and interest in expressing ourselves through art.
Rock Johnsen is a 2021 fiscal year recipient of an Artist Initiative grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. Learn more!
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, Jaida Grey Eagle, Josh Decker, Jesse Barstad, 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.
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.
MPLSART will again partner with St. Paul based Revere Auctions to auction the original sketchbooks. All net proceeds from the print book and the originals will be distributed amongst contributing artists.
ACME is a collective of interdisciplinary artists from the Twin Cities promoting Art. Culture. Music. Etc. (ACME) 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 within the arts in conjunction with dance music and interactive installations. While we selected artists, we approached this exhibit based on compatibility and color palettes, representing a collection of paintings, illustrations, and textiles that serve to foster new connections between artists. Every artist has a counterpart connection to a similar style of artwork or particular element distinguishing their work/respective medium, through color and texture. Gerardo also aims for Conexión, his group exhibition to feature local and international artists who will bridge the conversation between generations and nationalities. And for the participating artists to find parallels between their art and someone else’s that may have a very different background or lifestyle as themselves.
••••
June 11th, 2022 – July 9th, 2022
ART IS FOR EVERYONE!
Gamut Gallery has thoroughly enjoyed a decade of art, music, performance, and collaborations! From our first location in the Handicraft Building to our current home in Elliot Park, the relationship that continues to define our space is the one we share with you every day. As we look forward to another year together, we invite you to join us in celebrating ten years by attending our first summer exhibition of the year: Art is for Everyone!
As the gallery evolves from one show to the next, the heart of Gamut’s mission remains the same: we believe that art fosters community, and everyone should have access to becoming a collector! In honor of our tenth anniversary, ten of our supporters, from dabblers to devotees, have graciously agreed to lend us one of the pieces that first caught their eyes and captured their hearts. The loaned work will be displayed in tandem with new, original pieces by the corresponding artists. Gamut is delighted to welcome back artists Aldair Dosmil, Ash Hane, Barret Lee, Bunny Portia, James Zucco, John Foster, Kristi Abbott, Rodrigo Oñate, Lora Hlvasa, and Urban Camper for this group exhibit. As a special compliment to the month-long retrospective display, portraits captured within the homes of the featured collectors will be on view along with a few words of their own stories that embody Gamut’s mission of bridging artists and their communities to life!
••••
July 22nd, 2022 – August 20th, 2022
Suyao Tian’s Solo Exhibition
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 interpretations 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 a 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 color our interpretation of the world around us.
••••
September 9th, 2022 – October 8th, 2022
C4W:2022 Features: Analeise Jarvi-Beamer, Ash Hagerstrand, Ashley Ray, Brian Nagel, Christopher Alday, Christopheraaron Deanes, Constance Klippen, Daniel Allyn Lee, Derek Meier, Desirée Forgét, Emily Quandahl, Emma Beatrez, Erin Peña, Gary Stewart, Jake Zirbes, Jeremy Jones, Jesse Quam, Jordan Shepherd, Luis David Moran, Mara Glover, Merick Reed, Nick Knutson, Odam Art, Richard Wehrs, Tara Robinson, Tina Ford, Tony Kukich, Xiao Faria daCunha
Gamut Gallery’s annual Call-4-Work exhibition is a chance for artists to push against preconceived norms of what art “should” be. All media is accepted for submission, artists of all levels are encouraged to submit, and there is never a predetermined theme for the exhibit. After reviewing the body of submitted works, each year’s chosen guest curator is free to hand-select a group of pieces that showcase the complete “Gamut” of visual mediums. The resulting exhibit makes for a memorable, one-of-a-kind event that our space is thrilled to host each fall. With guest curator Jamie Owens behind the wheel, Gamut Gallery’s 2022 C4W exhibition, Pinky Promise, is an enthusiastic and unexpected portrayal of emerging, established, and outsider artists across North America and Mexico.
For our last small group exhibit of 2022, we are partnering up with Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts. Derek Meier, curator, working artist, and Interact Center instructor shared his collaborative vision with us for Coaction in 2019. After 3 years of Covid postponements, Coaction is finally coming to fruition this October! Coaction will feature independent artwork from Interact staff, Interact artists, and collaborative pairings. The gallery will host the “Gamut” of mediums ranging from illustrations to paintings and fiber arts to ceramics.
Interact Center’s mission is to create art that challenges society’s views of disabilities, push the boundaries of traditional art forms by including the unique perceptions of their artists, and to expand the meaning of “accessibility” beyond physical structures for artists with disabilities by playing an active role in the creative process.
Since we opened our doors a decade ago, Gamut’s mission is to foster a community that spans all disciplines, lifestyles, and backgrounds. For that reason, we deeply appreciate the opportunity to partner with Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts studio artists and their instructors to facilitate the breadth of these works within our own gallery space.
Visit interactcenter.com for more information on their art center, studio facilitators, and Interact Artist.
Comments Off on Earth’s Alchemy – Featuring Rock Johnsen
Exhibition Extended through Saturday, March 5th, 2022!
February 4th – March 5th, 2022 // Rock Johnsen solo exhibition exploring the periodic table through his custom ceramic glazes.
With the new year in full swing, the transformative power of winter in the Twin Cities sets the stage for Gamut Gallery’s first show of 2022: Earth’s Alchemy. We are thrilled to host Minnesota State Arts Board recipient, Rock Johnsen, who shares his passion for chemistry and geology in his first solo gallery exhibition.
Through his experimental glazing methods, the distinctive and delicate crystal structure highlighted in Rock’s body of work evokes the familiarity of ice cracking under the weight of heavy-soled snow boots this February. From everyday objects like plates, mugs and bowls to his larger-than-life periodic table installation, Rock explores the intersection of art and science by way of the earth’s rare elements and his pottery wheel. In doing so, he shows us that elements can interact with one another within the confines of solid and functional objects.
Just like no two snowflakes are alike, each piece featured in this exhibit is one of a kind, inspiring us to remember science in everyday life and its inherent influence on societal progress and inclusivity. Rock’s work represents the certainty of constant evolution at an atomic level, the diversity that stems from these atomic interactions, and their eventual influence on our collective appreciation and interest in expressing ourselves through art.
MN State Board Art Grant.
Rock Johnsen is a fiscal year 2021 recipient of an Artist Initiative grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
MEMBERS ONLY PREVIEW NIGHT
Thursday, February 3rd, 2022 // 6-9pm
Meet & greet with Rock Johnsen
• This event is for Gamut Gallery Members, become a Member today!
PUBLIC OPENING & ARTIST BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION Friday, February 4th, 2022 // 6-9pm
• This event is FREE in thanks to the Artist Initiative grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
• Limited 30 person capacity
• FREE pre-sales available & recommended
• Masks required indoors
ARTIST TALK
Saturday, February 19th, 2022 // 10AM
Moderated by Cassie Garner
• This event is FREE in thanks to Artist Initiative grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board
• Masks required indoors
• Coffee & treats provided
Rock Johnsen is a scientist and potter living in Minneapolis, MN who grew up in Kansas and Missouri. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree from Pittsburgh University in studio arts with a focus on ceramics and chemistry. Rock’s work explores concepts of duality that he has been perpetually confronted with growing up as a queer person of mixed race in the United States. He uses human anatomy and creatures to examine our comfort level with functional items and also explores the links between chemistry and geology in ceramic glaze.
His unique crystal growing process is really the recreation of an environment. Rock uses a kiln to simulate the earth’s mantle. Over several hours, between 1800-2200 degrees Fahrenheit, the mixture of basic elements transition to a liquid state. While the vessel’s surface is still fluid, zinc and silica atoms attract one another due to their natural polarities, migrating through the liquid to form larger molecules. With each new piece, Rock mimics environmental conditions by making slight adjustments to the temperature and holding times of the ceramic media; the chemical properties of each element emerge from the crystal solution as the final size, shape, and reflection of each piece becomes an individual representation of material science.
December 2nd – December 22nd in-person, online through January 11th, 2022 –
Gamut Gallery’s annual holiday pop-up shopping event featuring floor-to-ceiling artwork, handcrafted gifts & more from over 50 MN Artists!
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 Thometz, Marne Skusa, Nichole Showalter, Pompa Goods, Oh, Beehave!, Phaedra Odelle, Philipo Dyauli, Rachel Schroder, Russ White, Sara Kahn, Sarah Evenson, Scott Seekins, Sherstin Schwartz, stace of spades, Suyao Tian, Tierney Houdek, Tiffany Lange, Tom Jay, Trace, Zach Julen
With so much to celebrate this year, 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, fiber art, prints, jewelry, sculptures, and stocking stuffers to choose from. You’ll never find yourself agonizing over holiday shopping again!
Since the inception of Raging Art On in 2011, we have hand selected the artists, but leave the rest up to them! In doing so, they choose their “best of the best” artworks spanning all sizes & price points creating the full Gamut of work. The gallery will feature 25 NEW artists alongside familiar names that we have shown throughout the years. Our holiday pop-up shop is the only time of the year where you can take your new found love off the wall & go home with them that same day! Members of the gallery are invited to get a preview of the festivities on Wednesday December 1st from 5pm–9pm, followed by three weeks of in person shopping open to the public. Snowed in? We’ve got you covered. RAO will be shoppable again this year on gamutgallerympls.com/shop so that you can support your community consciously from the comfort of your home (jammies and cocoa optional). For those who fall in love with a piece of art before the holidays but feel guilty about making that big purchase will have a chance to circle back via the online shop thru January 10th!
While others at the office party are unwrapping mass-produced gifts bought from chain stores, you know that sustainability is the true gift that keeps on giving. 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 those values. In 2021, more than ever, let our artists be your elves and continue to support our vibrant community of local artists and makers.
Members ONLY Preview Night Wednesday, December 1st // 5-9pm Our Members only “first dibs” opener is not to be missed! Not a Gamut Gallery member? Become one today! • Must be a Gamut Gallery Member to attend
• Masks required in the gallery
RAO POP-UP DATES: December 2nd – December 22nd // 11AM – 6PM
• Masks required in the gallery WEEK 1 December 2nd – December 4th WEEK 2December 8th – December 11th WEEK 3 December 15th – December 18th LAST IN-PERSON DAY– December 22nd
Online Orders December 2nd – January 11th • Selected works online • Shipping works will be available from Dec 2nd – Dec 22nd & resume Jan 13th
• Shop all artworks at Raging Art On
Balancing Act // October 22 – November 20, 2021 //A solo exhibition by Barret Lee exploring distinctions of chaos and harmony in the world around us to create balance amidst our reality. Shop this exhibition today!
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
MEMBERS ONLY PREVIEW NIGHT: Thursday, October 21, 2021 // 6-8pm Meet & greet with Barret Lee! • RSVP Required • Memberships required, become a member today!!
PUBLIC OPENING NIGHT: Friday, October 22, 2021 // 6-9pm $7, FREE for members • Pre-sales available and recommended
• Featuring Michaelton • Entry will be available at the door • Masks required indoors
ARTIST TALK: Wednesday, November 3, 2021 // 7pm Moderated by Russ White of MPLSART $5pre-sales, $7door, FREE for members • Pre-sales available and recommended • Entry will be available at the door if pre-sales do not sell out • Masks required indoors
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Barret Lee is a Minnesota based fine artist and illustrator with a BA in drawing and painting from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) in 2016. Barret is a multidisciplinary artist who works in a range of mediums. He paints a wide variety of subjects, including wide-eyed characters, playful landscapes, and his take on pop culture.
Since graduating, Barret Lee has participated in countless art fairs and exhibitions around the Midwest, with Gamut Gallery being a staple consistently showcasing his work since 2017. Barret has permanent collections on view at Rafter Lofts Minneapolis, Saluté Dental in Woodbury Minnesota, and Arete Lacrosse at the TCF performance center in Eagan. He currently works as a freelance fine artist and you may find him at his studio #385 in the historic Northrup King Building in Northeast Minneapolis.
An intimate evening with solo artist Barret Lee and Moderator Russ White exploring distinctions of chaos and harmony in the world around us to create balance amidst our reality.
We invite you to join us for an evening of conversation with exhibiting solo artist, Barret lee, and moderator Russ White. Balancing Act turns Gamut Gallery into a bright world of imagination full of unreleased works that encompass the characters Barret has been illustrating since childhood and subject matters he has expanded upon since graduating from MCAD in 2016. His unique approach to surrealism through the use of squids, birds, bears and humans stimulates the audience’s imagination and emotions, communicating unrestrained thoughts and softening the discord of everyday experience.
His use of poppy, saturated colors will draw viewers in as you are given an opportunity to explore the macro- and microcosms that Lee has unleashed from his mind. 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.
BALANCING ACT ARTIST TALK: Wednesday, November 3, 2021 // 7pm Moderated by Russ White of MPLSART, followed by open Q & A $5pre-sales, $7door, FREE for members • This is 30 person limited capacity event • Pre-sales available and recommended • Entry will be available at the door if pre-sales do not sell out • Masks required indoors
ABOUT THE ARTIST Barret Lee is a Minnesota based fine artist and illustrator with a BA in drawing and painting from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) in 2016. Barret is a multidisciplinary artist who works in a range of mediums. He paints a wide variety of subjects, including wide-eyed characters, playful landscapes, and pop culture.
Since graduating from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD), Barret has participated in countless art fairs and exhibitions around the Midwest and has been displaying his artworks at Gamut Gallery beginning with our group exhibition Brightside in 2017. Barret has permanent collections on view at Rafter Lofts Minneapolis, Saluté Dental in Woodbury Minnesota, and Arete Lacrosse at the TCF performance center in Eagan. He currently works as a freelance fine artist and you may find him at his studio #385 in the historic Northrup King Building in Northeast Minneapolis.
Russ White is an artist, writer, and editor living in Minneapolis. After growing up in the Carolinas and Mississippi, White received a BA in Studio Art from Davidson College and has maintained a studio in the Casket Arts Building in Northeast Minneapolis since 2014, where he works primarily in colored pencil and mixed media. He has exhibited his work regionally and nationally (including a 2016 solo show at Gamut), is the recipient of two Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative grants (2018 & 2020), and works as the editor of written content for MPLSART.COM.
