Local Art Seen: Student Shows and a Tweevening at the Tweed

Nascent, by Sarah Nelson

What a gift the Tweed Museum is to this community, and especially to the students who attend schools in this region. I, for one, had taken it for granted for most of the years I have lived here. It's my hope over time to stir others to re-acquaint themselves with this treasure.

Tuesday evening was another opportunity to enjoy the ambiance of the Tweed while awaiting Ann Klefstad's presentation which she titled Double Vision. On that topic more needs to be written than I have time for here, but it's a subject we'll return to.

I started at the student show downstairs to your left as you enter. It happened to be an opening reception for Sarah Nelson and Dolly Phillips' joint show. The size of the space is perfectly suited for these student shows. There's a sense of privacy, yet with the space embedded in the gallery proper it gives a sense of importance to the work. Year after year I have been impressed with the level of maturity and depth of thought these students shows demonstrate.

The title of Nelson's exhibit is Anatomize. Working in ceramic and mixed media, the pieces combine the anatomical with something other, inviting more questions than answers. Phillips' theme was '42, as in 1942. Photographs evoke nostalgic reflection. There would clearly have been valuable to have taken advantage of the opportunity to speak with Nelson and Phillips to learn more about their motivations and aims.

It was interesting to learn last week at the Glensheen Chester Chat just how intentional the early inhabitants of Duluth were with regards to bringing art and culture to this corner of the world.

In the next day or so I'll share a bit of what we learned from Ann Klefstad illuminating ruminations. As always, she is a fountain of insights.

EdNote: Tonight there is another artist-curator discussion with Kip Praslowicz and Kristen Pless, 5:30 p.m. at the Duluth Art Institute    on't miss River Ulke's opening reception followed by poetry and music tonight at Beaners Central.