Art at the Bridgewater Hosts 20th Rotating Exhibit “Two Hundred Six” through July 29

Submitted by the Bridgewater Lofts Art Committee

Walk into the Mill District’s Bridgewater Lofts and the first thing you might notice is the quantity of original art that graces its interior common spaces. Several pieces were purchased by the condo association for its permanent collection. Others are part of an established rotating exhibit program that showcases local artists from a wide variety of disciplines, from abstract oils and watercolor landscapes to sculptural works in bronze, clay and other natural materials. Four shows a year are produced, and the current exhibit, Two Hundred Six, demonstrates the depth and diversity of the Minnesota arts community.

Nebula — Martha Bird

Some of the largest and most striking pieces in the show are the creation of sculptural basket weaver Martha Bird, whose “Nebula” inspired the exhibit title. Commenting on the work, Bird noted that the sculpture, a French technique known as Perigord, contains 206 individual pieces of rattan, coincidentally the same number of bones in the human body.

Sea Floor — S. Catrin Magnusson

S. Catrin Magnusson takes inspiration from another natural structure, the diverging oceanic plates that comprise the deep trench in the Atlantic Ocean, also known as the mid-Atlantic ridge. But it is more than physical separation that the artist evokes in her large-scale felted creations. “I express my own personal timeline of emigration from Sweden to the United States,” says Magnusson. “The distance between my two countries, cultures and family inevitably continues to grow each year.”

Immigration Series — Brenda Litman

Emigration is also a touchpoint for Brenda Litman. Her seven-painting series of abstracts looks at the variety of ethnicities cultures and races that make up the American melting pot. She filters her subjects through the rhythms of nature: seasonal change and the life cycle. In Litman’s view, “All who live in our nation inhabit a garden, a rich mosaic of entwined blossoms.”

Interior and Portrait Series: Maria, Restaurant Entrepreneur — Ann Magnusson

Ann Magnusson’s ongoing series of paintings, “Interior and Portraits,” highlights the kind of structure that is found in the everyday objects with which people surround themselves. Each of her subjects is placed in their carefully curated environment. What emerges is not just a collection of lifeless things, but a deeper understanding of the personality of their owner. When choosing her subjects, Magnusson looks for differences in age, gender, occupation and culture, but also the interconnectedness of the human experience.

Messenger — Gordon Coons

Common Loon — Ellen Moses

Native American artist Gordon Coons and ceramicist Ellen Moses both take inspiration from the natural world. Coons original, hand-pulled block prints featured in the Bridgewater show highlight the role of the Raven as a messenger between man and the spirit realm. Moses creates slip-cast sculptures from original molds and, like Coons, she seeks to capture the interface of humans and wildlife as we work on sharing the natural environment.

Chaos — Marvin Wise

An early developmental speech problem made it difficult for painter Marvin Wise to communicate. Drawing cartoons eased the challenge and allowed him to share stories with others. That skill translated into a full-fledged art career which brought his talents before such luminaries as Maya Angelou and Bishop Desmond Tutu. Wise’s work ranges from the fantastical to the abstract, and his use of bold colors and brushwork is highlighted in the works displayed at the Bridgewater.

Ebullience — Wendy Heimsness

Self-taught artist Wendy Heimsness creates abstract paintings in acrylics and mixed media that burst with color and energy. Feelings and emotions take center stage in works like “Merriment,” “Outburst” and “Ebullience,” but the viewer is always encouraged to place their own interpretations on her array of Bridgewater contributions.

Two Hundred Six runs through July 29 at the Bridgwater Lofts condominiums, 215 10th Avenue S. For more information on viewing/purchase opportunities, contact bnfacommittee@gmail.com.