The Annual Member Show at the DAI Is Always A Favorite: Here's Some of What You Missed

Nicholas Needs A Moment. Shawna Gilmore
Charcoal and acrylic on cradled wood.

Last night was the opening for the annual Duluth Art Institute Member Show, which is routinely my favorite art event of the year. Held in the Depot's Great Hall, it gives local artists and fans a chance to peek at what everyone is doing. It is a show for member artists and the one rule, as far as I know, is that you can only show something new, as in something you've done within the last year.

The show is a good reminder of how many talented artists we're rubbing shoulders with in this town. And it was good to see faces again -- or at least eyes, since there was a mask requirement. An out-of-towner recently referred to Duluth as an Art Mecca. Although that is a big title to live up to, it's certainly impressive how many artists there are here and how many genres they work in. 

Duluth Suuperior Sheepish Orchestra. Damita Beyer.
Acrylic on canvas

And if you've been paying attention at all, you privately know that what we saw last night was only scratching the surface as regards the breadth of work being done. 

I love the variety of themes, too. And the titles. Naming things is just something people have been doing since the beginning of time. I do my best to include the titles of the pieces. 

Here's a smattering of pieces I saw last night at the opening. 

The Artist. Jonathan Thunder. Acrylic on canvas.

Alvin. Anita Curtis. Acrylic on canvas.

Joy in a Jar. Kelly Schamberger. Oil on panel.
The painting is better than the photo I took, but I loved the title.

Love and Trust. Susan Krochallk. Acrylic on canvas.

Strength. Lin Rose. Watercolor, Arches coldpress paper, oil pastels.
The reflection of windows, etc is not in the art but it produced such 

an effect when I looked at this that I kept it to share.

Porky Pine Meat. Scott Murphy. Oil on aluminum.

Perhaps. Linda Glisson. Acrylic on paper.

Real Time. David Austin. Acrylic and mixed media on canvas.

Escape. Lisa Kosmo. Water-base oil on canvas. 

I missed the title on this, but it was by Patricia Lenz, a former
director of the DAI.

In addition to the artwork in the Great Hall, there was some official business conducted (DAI Board Members elected) and an artist talk by Christopher E Harrison whose "paper art" was used to illustrate Jacob Lawrence's The Migration Series.

And then there was also... the food. A wonderful selection from 
some of our classiest eating places. Food is art, too.

If you work in other media, there are spaces for you as well.

FWIW DEPT.

Duluth Dylan Fest continues tonight with the Singer/Songwriter contest at Sacred Heart. There will be additional events Saturday and a farewell brunch Sunday. Full schedule of times and places here: https://duluthdylanfest.com/duluth-dylan-fest-2022/