Must See Art Exhibit: Astroturf at Gamut Gallery

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Ranchero Mirage by Nicole Mueller

Cassie GarnerNot everyone in Minnesota can travel to Palm Springs during the winter months. However, we all can visit Gamut Gallery, 717 10th Street S, for a SoCal experience. Astroturf is the gallery’s first exhibit of 2023. We asked Cassie Garner, Gallery Director, to give us a preview of what we’ll see in the multi-media exhibit, along with the coming months of the year. Here's way she had to say:

We all need a trip to Palm Springs as we enter the peak of winter - save the travel time and head just blocks away to Gamut Gallery in Elliot Park! Gamut Gallery’s first show of 2023, Astroturf, plays with the idea of appearances vs. authenticity through the iconic influence of SoCal architecture, pop art and post-painterly abstraction. Astroturf peers over the neighbor’s hedge to sneak a peek of how the Joneses really live.

Lily Yellow by Genie Castro Gamut’s multimedia exhibit, in collaboration with Blu Dot, features local Minnesota artists, Genie Castro and Nicole Mueller, along with returning SoCal artists, Human Shaped Animal and Neal Breton. Astroturf embraces bold and vivid colors, hard-edge lines and geometry, this selection of work celebrates the resurgence and influence of the mid-century movement and pop-culture Southern California suburbia.

Astroturf features larger-than-life abstract monoprints, an oasis of pools, plants, serene places within paintings and photography and tropical foliage with post-painterly abstraction to produce sculptural, yet functional, wall fixtures that incorporate living plants.

Pink Moment by Neal Breton

Astroturf kicks off Gamut's 2023 calendar year. We have a lot planned for the year and welcome you to each exhibit! Expect artworks from the @kaleidoskullart duo, @montymontgomery and @tony_philippou. The party continues into the Summer, as we will be switching things up this year by hosting our annual group exhibit, Call for Work (#C4W) exhibit while the sunshine is upon us. As Fall approaches, @chucku_art will lend his hand not only as an artist, but curating his first group exhibit this September! We are honored after 5 years of working alongside @emilyquandahlart, we will host the first solo exhibit of her career here in the Twin Cities this October. Finally, we will wrap up the year with a spark of wintery inspiration with our 12th 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. Check out website and social media to stay up to date – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.