Inside The Art : What Were They Thinking?

Article by Lynn Kittel, Photos provided by the Bridgewater Lofts Art Committee

On a wintry Saturday in December, residents of The Bridgewater Lofts gathered around a painting of what appeared to be bolts of fabric. They learned about the artist, Patricia Canney, and that the image came from the entry of the costume shop at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. They learned that the artist had always been intrigued by dresses and other garments (particularly those of the legacy designers). She calls them the objects of life.

Patricia Canney, In The Works

As the group moved through the lobby exhibit, the question on everyone’s mind:  What were the artists thinking?

Perhaps you’ve asked yourself that question browsing the collections at one of the hundreds of galleries, museums and studios that pepper the Twin Cities art landscape. Or maybe you’ve scratched your head over that oversized abstract great Aunt Lucy painted during her student days at MCAD. Either way, you’re not alone.

As a newbie art collector it’s important to understand that art is inherently personal. “I know what I like,” or “It just speaks to me,” are both legitimate ways of articulating our preferences. Some say art should challenge our perceptions of the world around us. Ultimately, though, art should move us in some way, emotionally or intellectually.

As viewers we may not relate to or even like a particular piece of art. However, learning something about an artist’s background, inspiration, style and choice of medium can go a long way in developing an appreciation for a piece of art to which you may not be immediately drawn.

With those thoughts in mind, the idea of a docent-led event attached to the current Art@thebridgewater exhibit, Inclusive Spaces, took shape. The brainchild of program curator Alison Price and led by Jerry Lee and Deb Bly, both longtime members of the condo’s Art Committee, the event was designed to develop interest in participating artists and encourage sales of the art.

Nine artists, including Canney, mentioned above, are featured in the current show. A thumbnail sketch of the artists and their work shows a wide range of styles and inspiration. Perhaps there’s something here that “speaks” to you?

Mary Simon Casati

Casati’s current work revolves around the concept of energy. Her sculpture, Transformation, was created to her specifications by a glass blower and is meant to represent human ribs. The piece was inspired by the death of her mother and the transformation of the body after death. www.mscasati.com

Mary Simon Casati:  Transformation

Davie Duke

Duke’s oil painting Father and Sons is not only a commentary on his own bi-racial family (he has two adopted children of color) but is meant to represent atomic physical reality and the mysterious wonder of our universe. It simultaneously suggests how micro and macro forces work together to bring a family together. www.davieduke.com

Davie Duke, Father and Sons

Michael Johnson

While titled Support, Michael Johnson’s painting is open to the viewer’s own interpretation. Like famed expressionist Jackson Pollock, Johnson begins his painting on a flat surface and then mounts the canvas, creating undulations throughout the piece. His intent is to create a sense of urgency that compels closer examination. www.michaeljohnsonart.org

Michael Johnson, Support

Brendan Kramp

Kramp, a former graphic designer, specializes in urban scenes in the Twin Cities and other places he has visited in his ten years living abroad.  His large-format oil, Spyhouse Northeast Autumn, is an evocative scene that seems to capture an entire story in a single image. www.brendankramp.com

Brendan Kramp, Spyhouse Northeast Autumn

Gerri Reid Skjervold

We all have a bit of the Voyeur in us, and in this painting Skjervold lets us know that we, too, are under the scrutiny of others. While her subject matter is identifiable, she mixes in abstraction, narrative, and atmospheric perspective to transport us to that balcony on Santorini. www.gerrireidskjervold.com

Gerri Reid Skjervold Skjervold, Voyeur

Susan Wagner

Wagner’s Landscape #2 and Landscape #12 are part of her White Series in which she challenged herself to a limited pallet of color to create atmosphere. Her technique for these works utilizes Venetian plaster as the base (think fresco only rough, not smooth), oil paint and handmade Korean Hanji paper, which she loves for its color, texture and durability. www.susanwagnerart.com

Susan Wagner, Landscape #2

Susan Wagner, Landscape #12

Denise S. Tennen

An architect by training, ceramic artist Denise S. Tennen’s pieces can be found in many public buildings throughout the Twin Cities. Ovoid is part of her Poetry Series and is inspired by rocks along Lake Superior. Pieces like From Whence I Came capture the relaxation and tension found in the human body combined with shapes of plant life. www.mnartists.org/denisetennen

Denise S. Tennen, Ovoid

Denise S. Tennen, From Whence We came

Pam McCrea

You may know Bridgewater resident McCrea from her extensive involvement in the Mill District community.  Living and working downtown has served as inspiration for her unique impressions of local landscapes. Her image Gold Medal Lights began as a photograph and emerged as a watercolor-like landscape through the use of the grid method of painting in combination with a digital paintbrush to distort and blend the photo.

Pam McCrea, Gold Medal Lights