Gifted and Guided: Opening Reception
Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at 8:37 PM 
A great crowd came out to celebrate the opening of
WARM's Mentor Program Exhibition: Gifted and Guided.
There was great food ...
great art ...
and great friends ...
There is still plenty of time to check out the exhibit which runs thru November 10th.
Here is a list of building and event hours for the exhibition--
Normal Building Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 9 am to 6:30 pm.
Friday: 9 am to 5 pm.
Saturday: 9 am to 4 pm. Gallery sitters present from 11-4 pm.
Sunday: Closed.
Special Events:
Exhibition Artist Talks: Saturday, October 20th, noon-2 pm and
Thursday, November 1st, 7-9 pm.
- Mentor Program 2013-2014 Introductory Events at ACC offices: October 24th, 7-9 pm (gallery open 5:30-9:30 pm) and October 27th, 12-2 pm (gallery open 9 am-4:00 pm)
- Sunday November 4th will be open from 11:00-4 pm with gallery sitters, Art Attack weekend.
- WARM Coffee with Judith Roode: Saturday November 3rd, 3:30-5:30 pm. Meeting at the Grain Belt exhibition. (Gallery sitters present 11-4 as well).
Hope you can stop by to check it out!!!
Mentor Program, WARM, exhibit A sneak peek...
Saturday, October 6, 2012 at 9:44 PM
Artist Karen Searle checking out Protege Moira Bateman's installation.
Today I had the opportunity to check out WARM's Mentor Program exhibition that I am a part of (see earlier post). The exhibit is being held at the GrainBelt Bottling House in NE Mpls, which is a huge space that allowed for a number of mixed media installations as well as plenty of two-dimensional work presented on two levels (including three of my paintings).
Exhibition view from upper level
The breadth and wealth of work is incredible. Eighteen Protegees, alongside their ten different mentors, began this journey nearly two years ago. The benefits of participating in this program were evident as I looked around the room.
Work by Protege Thrace Soryn
Work by Protege Barb Betz
Earlier in the day, I participated in an informational session for prospective protegees interested in participating in the next cycle of the program. I remember sitting at a similar table just two short years ago, nervous and unsure of myself. I wasn't sure if I really belonged, but I felt determined to overcome my fear and take this leap of faith.
Work by Protegee Tara Tieso
Thirty years ago the WARM Mentor Program was formed by WARM (Women's Art Resources of Minnesota) to provide a differnt sort of framework to support and encourage the development of women artists. I felt the power of this framework today as I listened to the program coordinator speak about the benefits of women artists supporting other women artists, together finding solutions to problems we all face (such as juggling work and raising children while trying to make art) and together claiming our place in the art world.
Installation by Mentor Jill Waterhouse
The past two years have been life-changing. I can now call myself an artist without feeling the need to apologize or explain. I feel I have become part of a community that understands and supports my committment to making art.
Together we lift each other up.
Mixed media figure created by my mentor, Brenna Busse
Mentor Program, WARM, exhibit Gifted and Guided: 2011/12 WARM Mentor Program Exhibition
Wednesday, October 3, 2012 at 9:23 AM
As many of you might know, I have been participating in WARM's (Women's Art Resources of Minnesota) two-year Mentor Program. Emerging artists, like myself, are paired with a more experienced artist. The protege and mentor meet monthly during the course of the two-year program. The mentor serves as a role model and guide, offering insight and feedback in a supportive framework.
The program is coming to an end at the end of the year and a final exhibition of protegee and mentor artwork will open October 6th, with an opening reception on October 13th from 6-9 pm. This exhibition is the culmination of the mentoring relationship and the art produced during this two-year journey. Thirty-two artists are participating in the exhibit, 10 mentors, 18 protégée, and 4 Program leaders. All forms of visual art will be represented: paintings, photographs, works on paper, mixed media, installations, and sculptures.
The exhibit is being held at the GrainBelt Bottling House--a huge space that will accomodate a large variety of work. I will have three larger paintings in this exhibit. Besides the opening reception, the exhibit can be viewed during normal business hours during the week (9 am-5 pm), as well as the following dates--
Saturday, October 6th: 11-4 pm Show Opens
Saturday, October 13th: 6-9 pm Opening Reception
Saturday, October 20th: 11-4 pm Artist Talks 12-2
Wednesday, October 24th: 5:30-9:30 pm
Saturday, October 27th: 11-4 pm
Thursday, November 1st: 5:30-9:30 pm Artist Talks 7-9
Saturday, November 3rd: 11-4 pm Art Attack
Saturday, November 10th: 11-4 pm Closing Weekend
Additional information, including a list of participating artists, on the poster below.
Mentor Program, WARM, exhibit KaBoom!
Monday, August 6, 2012 at 11:23 PM 
Last night I was a little worried I had bit off a little more than I could chew, so to speak. Working full time (at a job that is physically exhausting still) + helping with a week-long pop-up gallery = overwhelm. But my partner in crime, Tara Tieso told me not to sweat it and reassured me that we would have fun.
And today we had LOADS of fun!
To promote our little pop-up gallery, we made little bags of "art surprises" and then "art bombed" the neighborhood where the gallery is located (2401 University Ave--which is University Ave and Raymond).
Some bags contained artwork....
Some contained little watercolor kits! They all contained information about our pop-up gallery, our business cards, little watercolor bookmarks... Once we had the bags all put together, we ventured out to place them in the community...that's when it got really fun!
Tara drove and when we found a spot to place a bag I would jump out of the car to "deliver" the bag. "Art bombing" is the most fun I've had in ages! Seriously, it was so good for my soul. It was delightful to find a spot and imagine someone finding the "art treat".
It was so much fun that I think we might keep doing it all week!
We even "art bombed" these Nice Ride bikes.
And we "art bombed" the yarn bomb!
After all that, we started moving some art into the pop-up! Hanging will continue tomorrow, but we will be open! We will even have some music in the evening around 8!
Stop by to check it out...and while you're in the neighborhood, watch out for art bombs!