Tuesday Artist Talk: Jonathan Thunder @ Duluth Art Institute

Tuesday evening the Duluth Art Institute hosted an artist talk featuring Jonathan Thunder, whose work is currently on display in the Morrison Gallery, Kathy McTavish serving as moderator. Thunder, who hails from the Red Lake Reservation, grew up in an urban Twin Cities setting. His interest in art as a vocation led him to study painting in Santa Fe for three years. After this period of study he proceeded to isolate himself in order to paint without the influence of others and find his voice. What emerged was something of a blend of American cartoons, Southwest art, and a "magical realist" sense of the everyday... though it's evident that there's much more than meets the eye.

Thunder acknowledges that his first paintings were filtered through a Santa Fe lens. When the paintings sold it served as an encouragement to continue in that style, but for an artist it was more important to produce work that was honest. He took an inward journey to find this authentic self.

The artist, who grew up in an urban setting, noted that many stories are tragedies. He cited Shakespeare, who also wrote tragedies, and how the Bard would find light in the darkness. He described the process of chiaroscuro in which one begins with a dark foundation and layers the light over the dark surface, pulling everything forward.

Most of the paintings feature a single character which is often cartoonish, but which has layers of meaning. "I've met with a lot of different responses to my work," he said. Because it doesn't fit the mold of a traditional Southwest style, he added, "It would be hard to get into a Santa Fe gallery. They don't know how to sell it."

"I like to paint truthful pictures," he stated. As a result, his work doesn't perfectly align with a Native or Non-native gallery.

Thunder moved to the Twin Ports four years ago and has appreciated the warmth he's found in this community. He's also begun some collaborative work that has taught him new things about the "beauty of collaboration.

Most of the paintings show strong, defined characters, but two of the pieces in the alcove feature softer imagery. He assented that it was a change of direction, that the softer imagery has become more painterly and is "a reverse of what I normally do," beginning with defined images that he washed over and repainted and washed again. Like many other painters in the room it was evident that he likes paint.

The artist also discussed his interest in animation, which was triggered by his seeing a remarkable black and white film of a shadow boxer at the Walker Museum. Quoting Charles Bukowski he said, "If you're going to try, go all the way."

Nearly all the seats were filled when Kathy McTavish introduced the speaker at the beginning, but as more people arrived, more chairs were brought in. One could tell that everyone was engaged for when the Q&A began. A dialogue commenced between audience and artist for near forty minutes, discussions about every aspect of the work it seemed. One recurring theme was in regards to how far a painting should be explained by the artist. I think a case could be made for taking opposing sides on this, but I did appreciate one observer's remark: "It's like explaining a joke. If they don't get it..."

The impression I was left with afterwards was of an artist whose skills have been honed, as well as his vision. His "voice" has an unrestrained quality, like the singers who accompany the dancers at a powwow: bold, evocative and seriously moving.  It's been good having this voice in Duluth. It will be a worthwhile endeavor to follow him as his career unfolds.

* * * *
EdNote: There will be a September 8 opening for Wendy Rouse, and a September 9 workshop.
Also, Jonathan Thunder will be featured in an exhibition at the All My Relations Gallery on Franklin Avene in Minneapolis.

Meantime, art goes on all around you. Engage it!

Minneapolis Art Seen: Northern Spark @ the Walker and a "Fantastic" Jack at Even Break

On a corner table at Even Break.

Saturday I made a flying trip to Minneapolis and had the good fortune of picking up a number of arts-related events. The day began with the delivery of Brutie, a German Shepherd that we were watching for a friend who had undergone open heart surgery. This was followed by the delivery of a Dylan painting I sold as a result of the Red Mug show I curated in May. After my lunch with "Magic Marc" Percansky, producer of the annual Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan events in the Twin Cities (and now this past month in Duluth) I met J.Z. Howard -- author of the novel All of Me Wants All of You -- for coffee at Dunn Bros. in Edina, doing some prep work for an upcoming interview.

I was told he's not Jack.

From here I found my way to Even Break Gallery near the corner of Penn and 50th Avenue South to hear John Geenen, a motivational speaker whose talk was titled "Change Your Way of Thinking. His business card says, "He's not Jack," but he looks so much like Jack (Nicholson) that it's only natural that the slogan for his motivational speaking is "Jack Up Your Thinking." If I get time I'll share my notes later this week.

Even Break Gallery brought to mind a number of other gallery experiences I've had in spaces back east. It's a second floor location so if you're accustomed to finding a place by its storefront or showroom window, you may have a problem. There are plenty of lofts and galleries of this kind in New York, and my most recent visit was to a gallery similarly located in Allentown. Co-owner of Even Break, Gretchen Seichrist, was a whirlwind as she prepared things for the event. My overly early arrival gave me time to take in the art which seemed to fill every space in every room, including the kitchen and bathroom.

Seichrist is similarly a singer/songwriter who in addition to painting also performs. I acquired her Patches & Gretchen CD titled Even Breaks to listen to and keep me awake later as I planned to return to Duluth late that night. (EdNote: This is original, thought provoking work by an original person who has chosen to not fit a mold.)

Sophronia at The Walker Art Center.

Alas, the original plan had been to spend the weekend, but as the day approached I had to crimp it, which was too bad because when you read about Northern Spark, you know going in that you can't grasp much on the fly.

Northern Spark is an annual art all-nighter in Minneapolis that takes place in 38 venues involving 250 artists sharing 125 projects. Since some of this was to take place outdoors, my guess is that a lot of people had to alter their plans when the weekend weather riled up the Twin Cities. Projects like Sophronia had contingency plans. Other may not have been so lucky.

Kathy McTavish at the Walker

Upon leaving Even Break I headed to the Walker, which gratefully has indoor parking as another torrential downpour was preparing to consume the city. In addition to seeking out a few fellow Duluth artists I did a quick walk-through of the museum's contemporary art collection and then a very slow walk through the Edward Hopper exhibit, which features the drawings that went into twenty of his most famous paintings. It was very generous of the Walker to share all its treasures for free like this.

Other exhibits included re-enactments of old school drawing classes (actual, real artists drawing a staged set-up with very skilled models who I half thought were art and not people.

By late evening it was time to head north. The torrential rains and lightning were very real reminders that Mother Nature can also create amazing 3-D effects. By 1:30 a.m. I was crashing... in my bed.

Old School Art School, "Office at Night"

Meantime, art goes on all around you. Engage it!