Local Art Seen: Adam Swanson @ the Magnolia Cafe

Detail from lower corner of the Owl below.

This week's Magnolia Salon took pace not at Oldenburg House, where they usually gather, but rather at its namesake, the Magnolia Cafe just off the main intersection in Carlton. The reason for the switcheroo was to host an Opening Reception for an exhibition of paintings by Adam Swanson.

The place was packed with friends of the arts. Room at Table Catering added their upscale appetizers to the down-home goodness of the Cafe. Guitarist Spencer Walton provided a musical accompaniment and Pippi Ardennia added some brightness.

The 6 to 8 reception followed on the heels of a 4 to 6 reception for Kris Nelson that took place at the Pine Knot offices, a two-stop art crawl. The packed Cafe was full of energy. Midway through the festivities things quieted down for Adam Swanson's "artist talk" in which he gave an overview of his career for those unfamiliar with his background or how he came to this neck of the woods.

Nearly right off he noted that he is not related to the Oldenburg House Swansons, though it is very possible back in time they may share mutual bloodlines.

At one time Adam lived and worked in Antarctica, hence the occasional appearance of penguins in his paintings. His transition to the Northland was not as challenging as it might be for someone who only lived in the tropics previously.

When he came to Duluth they lived in town initially. He initially did as much painting as he was able but supplemented the family income with a bartender job. This enabled him to cut back hours slowly as his commission work grew, which it did. Eventually he as able to obtain enough work to move out of Duluth and begin painting full time.

Today he paints every day from 8 to 5 with 60% of what he paints as commission work. Swanson said he was grateful that he's never had to do work he doesn't like "just to make the money."

Swanson paints on Masonite panels, a versatile tempered hardboard with a smooth surface. He gessoes and primes the surfaces before painting. As for subject matter, he likes painting humans interacting with nature, and as is readily apparent, he loves color.

Swanson is currently working on four murals which we be unveiled this summer in a few locations. In the meantime, if you're in the Carlton area, be sure to drop in for coffee and other treats at the Cafe and check out the rest of Adam Swanson's paintings on display at this time.

White Owl or Snowy Owl? 

Meantime, art goes on all around you. Get into it.