The TEXT Show and SNÖBARN

Here's a press release I received this weekend about the upcoming art event at the Prøve in downtown Duluth. Looks like a lot of interesting images and sounds will be on the docket. I'm certain there will be openings at Washington Gallery up the street and at Ochre Ghost down the alley. Hope to see you there.   

Babel, a piece I'd intended to submit.

DULUTH, MN - February 27th, 2013 - A nationally represented exhibition will open March 8th, 2013. Prøve Gallery is excited to open 'Text', which showcases art from 19 artists from all over the country. This exhibition features work that is either text based or incorporates text. The opening reception will include an outstanding musical performance by Snöbarn as well as the musical talent of the DJ collective, Crunchy Bunch.

'Text' will feature a wide variety of art and artists. From Minso Kim's untitled interactive installation that entices viewers to instead listen to what the art has to say to Mark Addison Smith's interactive book 'Red' which allows the viewer to build their own one page experience. This exhibition artists are Ken Kollodge, Catherine L Johnson, Melissa Wagner-Lawler, Tim Kaiser, Molly Roth-Scranton, Apthin Rapp, Minso Kim, Aaron Squadroni, Adam Winnie, Jade Hoyer, Mark Addison Smith, Jan Estep, Hilary Greenstein, William Sattler, Byron Johnson, Jiae Park, Alice Walsh, Kenneth Steinbach, Carolyn Ellis, and Sissorelle Ferox.

Atmosphere and music throughout the opening night will be provided by the Crunchy Bunch with a live performance by local sensation, Snöbarn, at 8:30. Refreshments will be provided by Lake Superior Brewing. This event is free and open to the public

First Phantom Gallery Opening Nicely Attended

In Superior Thursday evening the Phantom Galleries project officially kicked off with an open house that included greeters from the Chamber of Commerce. The adventure has begun.

Erika Mock, who has a space at Art in the Alley, is one of many who have rolled up their sleeves to bring about this union of the arts community, the business community and civil government. With months of groundwork now behind, it was nice to see the doors opened for this initial launch.

The reception was held at 1410 Tower Avenue. Jeredt Runions, another Phantom Galleries artist, has a small space across the street two blocks down, and a third artist kitty-korner from there. The artists here were Ken Kollodge and his wife Kathy. He's a photographer fascinated with the interplay of light and ice. She's a painter. He calls his work "Iced Light" which has an enigmatic quiality that I liked. The Kollodge's moved to Superior six years ago after three decades in Alaska.

In a thank you note to everyone involved with Phantom Galleries, Erika wrote, "It is very exciting to see the once vacant raw space at 1410 Tower Ave become vibrant with people as well as art. Each of our locations provides a different experience. Though 1302 and 1213 Tower provide window viewing only, we hope you find many elements with which to engage in all 3 of our current installations."

Red Interactive, which John Heino and I have been assembling, will be on display in the second round of Phantom Galleries later this fall. You can follow the development of that project on Facebook. You're even invited to join.

If you missed last Thursday's Phantom experience, save the date Thursday August 25th for the next event downtown Superior. Evidently they have some surprises in store for us.