Fresh Eye Gallery presents a virtual exhibition of Eye to Eye, our signature exhibition. Following an open call, Fresh Eye welcomed 40 artists paired in teams of two collaborating to build a stronger artistic community. Eye to Eye exhibited at the gallery June 23-August 13, 2022 and is now available for viewing online until Summer 2023.
Founded on the principles of radical inclusivity, the exhibition unites artists with and without disabilities to connect, collaborate, and inspire the community through visual art. Participating artists will be supported through space, art supplies, and the public exhibition.
Creating a collaborative art piece takes patience, respect, teamwork, and helps build community. “Collaboration is important for artists,” Eye to Eye Coordinator Jes Reyes states. “It challenges the idea of working in isolation and encourages exploring interconnectedness as part of one’s art practice.”
To purchase artwork, please email Jes Reyes at jreyes@mssmn.org to discuss the electronic transaction process. Sales tax and shipping costs will be added to price.
Image descriptions in Alt Text or included on screen.
A carousel of images are of Eye to Eye artists either working on their projects or posing with artwork.
Arch Jones & Belle Moua
Look at Home No. 1 & 2
Mixed media on paper
18x24 (Each Framed)
$175 each
Belle: I created one of the pieces that belong to "Look At Home". This set is completed by the work of my partner. A huge part of the collaborative process emphasized on sharing our sense of belonging, to witness a part of what home looks like. The "artist" peers into a reimagined space of what home may feel like to their partner, and the viewer is also given this opportunity. Each piece is meant to invite the viewer to join in and spectate alongside the "artist".
Arch: In our two pieces, we attempt to recreate two experiences, in two different points of time. First, Look at Home is a reflection of our past. As a springboard for cour collaboration, we sought to find commonalities in our lives. We found these in our upbringing; as both People of Color, and one of six children each, our childhoods imprinted deep and lasting memories of what home meant for us. We "travel" to each other's homes through the process of learning about each other, and this is shown in the final piece,where we are presently inserting ourselves as passive observers of these memories. Additionally, by sharing these these moments and entrusting the other to accurately recreate them (Arch Drawing Belle's home, and Bell drawing his), there is a second layer of dialogue between ourselves, our memories, and our collaboration.
Brooklyn T. Kascel & Hedigee
Entangled Disruption
Digital Photography
18x24 (Framed)
$350
This piece reflects what two people can share in lived experiences while holding completely unique identities. Erick and Brooklynn chose to work with two elements, wildlife and nature - their favorite animals and flowers. Both forms show pieces of these individuals while their overlap humanizes bodies and identities that do not fit into the model of a perfect geometric being. This image exists to disrupt societal expectations of what should or should not happen, what can and cannot be.
Drew Arrieta & Kayla Koerner
Bonnie Brae
Photography
11x17 (Framed)
$120
Bonnie Brae represents the moment in time when a season is both blooming and fading. The photograph is a double exposure created by merging two separate photographs by Kayla Koerner and Drew Arrieta together to create a single image.
CL Martin & Mads Golitz
Momento Mori
Mixed Media on Paper
22x30” (Framed)
SOLD
CL: Gendered clothing is part of the performative nature of gender roles. The entire concept of gender (roles) is a social construct that is performed everyday by members of said society. There are two types of traditional costumes worn for these performances, the “masculine” costume and the “feminine” costume. In theory, each costume signifies to others what that person’s gender is. Therefore, people believe that gender performance is a biological truth when really it’s a social construct. Social constructs are rules that everyone in said society recognizes, consciously or not, and obeys. They are dictated by culture, a social contract upon which everyone in said society more or less agrees. But …who writes the rules that dictate what the social constructs are? The people in power. In our society, that’s white men. White men invented the constructs and set the definitions for how we all define things, including gender. Well I say, to hell with all that.
Mads: Memento Mori is centered around the restrictions of self-expression by gender expectations. More specifically it is about the clothes and accessories we wear to communicate who we are and the unofficial laws that make this process exhaustingly difficult. There is clothing designed for women and clothing designed for men (and the occasional unisex graphic tee). Not conforming to these gender norms or trying to exist outside of them can lead to confusion and even hate from others. The figure centered in Memento Mori sheds these expectations as a medley of gendered clothing frames their nude body. This piece asks us to do the same. Strip ourselves of gender expectations and bury gender policing in the ground.
Kimberly A. Laudert & Lucienne Schoepfer
In the Navel of the Sun
Mixed Fiber Art
3’x3’
SOLD
In the Navel of the Sun is a playfully collaborative, “fiber forward”, art sampler created to inspire and highlight hope and resilience. Through conversations, fiber artists Kimberly Laudert and Lucienne Schroepfer, readily connected though sharing stories about life, and how life challenges can trigger mental health issues in themselves and others. The intention of our process was to create artwork that explores what supports and helps us move forward. A sense of warmth, joy, and happiness emanates from the piece.
On examination, the viewer sees the machine quilted landscape and the hand sewing of needle felted clouds layered with the handwoven, dragonfly-studded spiral, all on a hand painted background. Soft cotton fabric, batting and cording compliment the scratchy wool rovings and yarn. The artists brainstormed ideas together, wrote and drew in artist journals, then passed the piece back and forth between each other until they were pleased with the results!
allison anne & TL Reeves
Mannequin
Mixed Media on Mannequin
Approx 5’ x 2’
$500
Violin
Mixed Media on Violin
Approx 14” x 6”
$150
CDs
Mixed Media on CDs
5”
$30 each
Records
Mixed Media on vinyl records
12”
$60 each
Image description: collaged records and cds
Nate Woodard & Rock Johnsen
Spring at Sunset
Ceramic, Paper, Resin, and Ink
11.75x7.5”
$300
This piece was about combining our talents to create something neither of us would typically.
Alden Gowdy & Joel Haskard
Resist
Mixed Media Raw Canvas and cardboard
36 x 34.5”
$200
Image description: a mixed media painting and drawing done on raw canvas. Near the center of the painting is an expressive and roughly drawn face, with a wide smile and eyes. Hand written text on the piece reads "make the state negotiate". Stenciled in black paint on cardboard at the bottom of the piece is the word "Resist"
This Machine
Mixed Media Raw Canvas and cardboard
69.5x30”
$300
Image description: A large, mixed media painting done on unstretched raw canvas. It is short in height, like a banner or a flag. Across the top half of the piece is a gesturally painted guitar, done with red and black brush strokes. Behind it is a haphazardly drawn grid done with thin red lines on a stark white background. Overlapping the neck of the guitar is a dark blue stenciled word, diagonal across the canvas-“FASCISTS”. The bottom left of the painting is covered in a row of vintage pay stubs, continuing through the middle of the piece only interrupted by a piece of cardboard that has a sketch of man in a newsboy hat, holding cigarette in his lips. The partially burned piece of cardboard also features red bubble letters “Bound for Glory”. To the right of the cardboard is a large swath of black, paint that almost reaches the right edge of the canvas. In white, hand written 5 times in white is the phrase “this machine kills.”
Dear Diary
Mixed Media Raw Canvas and cardboard
29.5x42”
$125
Image description: Dear Diary, a mixed media painting done on raw canvas by Alden Gowdy and Joel Haskard, is painted roughly to look like a large, cartoon sheet of notebook paper. The left side of the canvas is covered by unevenly cut cardboard, with three black ring drawn on it to indicate that the canvas "paper" could go in a three ring binder. Across the painting, in handwritten text, perhaps exaggerated to look more like a child's handwriting, are the words "dear diary, stop union busting! Love, Alden + Joel." Next to the text are doodles of hearts, a smiley face, and the beginnings of a peace sign.
Joel: My Cardboardo art uses stenciled cardboard as a recycled material that is also the main ingrediant of street protests. It was awesome working with Alden and his raw canvas creations; once we focused on organizing and protest as our themes, the work was a joyous, creative blur!
Alden: Life inevitably continues to evolve in an alluring but convoluted narrative that it begs the soul to produce. I try to transmit my imaginative cry onto physical media with the desire to convey nostalgic apprehension.
Chloe Russell Chang & Ryan Suckow
Buds
watercolor, ink, marker on cotton paper
Handspun yarns contain merino wool roving, Angelina fibers, and silk noil. Other fibers used include wool and acrylic yarns.
$150
Pals
Watercolor, ink, marker on cotton paper
Handspun yarns contain merino wool roving, Angelina fibers, and silk noil. Other fibers used include wool and acrylic yarns.
$150
Image descriptions: Two paintings done on paper in white frames hang on a white gallery wall, featuring illustrative flowers and leaves. Paired with each framed painting are weavings done with chunky yarn in similar colors.
Merit Thursday & Mark Kirchoff
Commonalities
Video and photography
Triptych (framed, 7x13”) $75
Individual photos 4x6” $5 each
Inquire about video
Commonalities is a multimedia work focused on two transmasc individuals, Marz Kirchoff and Merit Thursday, connecting over similarities and differences in their transitions. After several Zoom conversations and in person meetings, Thursday used an algorithmic processing software that digitally manipulated the film photos taken by Kirchoff. The software altered the photos by mapping them to the pixels provided by one of the recorded Zoom meetings. The result is a strange, morphing video that depicts the fluidity of their identities and how much they’ve changed over their respective transitions. Included in the work is a musical soundscape, designed by Kirchoff, who took recorded pieces of the artist’s conversations and paired them with recordings of the two of them playing their preferred instruments. The visual component of the work shows the transition of the lifelessness of early Minnesota Spring to the blossoming foliage of Summer. The depicted seasonal transition mirrors their physical and emotional transitions as people, while the accompanying audio reflects the distinct yet similar experiences of the artist’s journeys.
Image descriptions: 1) A triptych of digitally manipulated the film photos which is matted and framed for display; 2) a video of recorded artist’s conversations and paired them with recordings of the two of them playing their preferred instruments. The visual component of the work shows the transition of the lifelessness of early Minnesota Spring to the blossoming foliage of Summer; 3) A slideshow of digitally manipulated film photos from the video..
Hannah Ross & Kenneth Bowling
The Road No. 1 & 2
Acrylic on Canvas
16x20” (Framed)
$150 each
Anne Kramer & Hannah Sheets
Smiling Kindness
Paper and marker on paper
26x40” (unframed)
$300.00
image description: a large scale mixed media collage on white paper. Abstract shapes, happy faces, and and text fill the image with phrases like “We are all together,” “Happy Star Someone,” and “Kindess Follow Heart Smile Together."
Happy 1 (Royal)
Magazine pictures and marker on paper
8 1/2" x 11" (unframed)
SOLD
Image description: This collage has a photo of a woman with jewels surrounding her eyes, staring forward. The background is composed of colorful geometric shapes done in marker, as well as collaged photos of jewels, flowers and perfume.
Happy 2 (Eying Cookies)
Magazine pictures and marker on paper
8 1/2" x 11" (unframed)
$100.00
Image description: A collage by Hannah Sheets and Anne Kramer. The collage features bright colors and varied textures, with photos of women’s eyes interspersed, creating a dynamic and glamorous feel to the collage. There are several photos of chocolate cookies placed throughout.
Hannah and Anne enjoyed 3 fun filled days making their art together. Each artist started a collage and then they passed it to the other to continue creatively adding and relating to the art. What happened out of these sessions were Happy 1 (Royal) and Happy 2 (Eying Cookies. Both artists used color, shapes and fashion in these collages. For their final large piece, Smiling Kindness, both artists worked together at the same time, adding and responding to what the other was doing and the direction the piece was taking. Hannah and Anne both love shoes and each creative session would end with a shot of the shoes they were wearing. Hannah was the photo stylist.
Claire Richter & Janessa Kitzrow
Leopard Garden
Gouache and wax pastels on paper
18x24” (Framed)
$525
Leopard World
Gouache and wax pastels
24x18”
NFS
Claire: I'm an Illustrator and Printmaker, and I create works that are inspired by comics, video games, and fantasy worlds. I aim to create work that is warm, playful, and whimsical. I make my pieces out of a variety of different materials, such as gouache, colored pencils, and markers, but I often switch mediums. I am passionate about experimenting and trying new things, and that applies to my artwork - I am constantly on the lookout for new materials to try and test out in my work.
I was diagnosed with PTSD at a very young age, and have struggled with anxiety and depression throughout my life - as a result, I feel as though I'm learning about who I am as an adult more than I ever did as a child. I have turned to art as a way of exploring who I am and what is meaningful to me. Thus, my work tends to center around things that are personally important to me - whether it's my own interests, or world issues that I feel passionate about, I find that centering my pieces around the things that speak to me allows me to remind myself all that I have, both good and bad.
I have found it difficult to connect to others for most of my life - I struggle with making close, interpersonal connections with the fear and trauma that comes with PTSD. Despite that, I have a strong desire to be a part of my local community, and to connect with others through the things I'm passionate about. Finding opportunities to do so are rare, and hard to come by - which is why I'm so grateful for projects such as this one (Eye to Eye). With this project, I wanted to focus on the connection with the other person first and foremost, and find something that ties us together. I am happy to say that working with my partner Janessa has been a joy - she was sweet, kind, and always positive and understanding. We found a lot to connect over, but we definitely were both giddy about cute animals, and nature - so we focused in on making two pieces about a leopard. I'm really happy with the result, and hope that it showcases our love for the subject.
Sophia Munic & Kristina Mengis
Color Study 1
Cotton Fabric, denim, canvas, batting, and thread
8.5x8.5”
$125
Color Study 2
Cotton Fabric, denim, canvas, batting, and thread
10.5x10”
$125
Color Study 3
Coton Fabric, denim, canvas, batting, and thread
13x13”
$175
Elvis Doesn’t Know How to Dance Like This
Cotton fabric, denim, canvas, batting, fiber fill, thread, pink spray paint, and metal base
48" x 32”
$3,250
Sophia Munic and Kristina Mengis are both fiber artists based in Minneapolis. This collaboration began with an unfinished quilt project of Sophia’s consisting of bright colors and intricate free motion embroidery quilting. This piece was then given to Kristina. Kristina deconstructed parts of the quilt and began to shape the quilt into a more bulbous form. From there Sophia and Kristina worked together, combining quilting and soft sculpture techniques to react to a partially created form. Together the artists discussed form, pattern, color, and how they wanted the object to be presented. Both artists continually pulled different materials from their respective studios to add to the object. Throughout the process both artists shared artists of inspiration including Hanna Washburn and Jade Yumang as well as what they each care about in the Minneapolis Artist community.
CJ Weydert & Lauren Hughes
CJ’s Awesome Bowling day
Comic Zine
$8 each
Untitled
Mixed Media on Paper
8.5x11” (Framed)
$75
Stacie Sampson & Bridget McDonald
Berlin’s Journey
Acrylic on Canvas18x24”
$150
Our work tells the story of Berlin the Polar Bear and her journey from Duluth to the Kansas City Zoo. We liked this story because it is about a new beginning.
Dorinda Tviet & Jodi Youngman
Waterfall of Life
Acrylic on Canvas
12x24”
SOLD
Nina Martine Robinson & Lynda Mullan
Untitled
Acrylic and Thread on Watercolor Paper
9x12” (Framed)
$300
Pharaoh Maximus
Acrylic and Thread on Fabric
22x16”
$350
Untitled
Acrylic and Thread on Fabric
22x16”
$350
Untitled
Acrylic and Thread on Fabric
22x16”
$350
Untitled
Acrylic and Thread on Fabric
43x16”
$690
Untitled
Acrylic and Thread on Fabric
16x22”
$350
Image descriptions: 1) a colorful mixed media work with sticked shapes and color blocks on paper; 2) multicolored block patterns create a cat shape drawn onto black fabric; 3-5: multicolored block patterns on black fabric; 6: multicolored block patterns frame collaged shapes on paper on black fabric.
Marrie Bottelson & Linnea Mass - Inside the Robot
Cats in the garden
Acrylic on canvas
18x24” (Framed)
$432
Love in the garden
Acrylic on canvas
18x24” (Framed)
$432
Robots in the garden
Acrylic on canvas
18x24” (Framed)
$432
Triptych sold together: $1000
When Marrie and Linnea met, they decided they wanted to create an artwork with the intention of bringing joy to the viewer. Marrie loves to paint cats and flowers, and Linnea also loves flowers, hearts, and her Robot character. They used Spring as the inspiration and wanted to incorporate the return of growth and warmth to the natural world. Colors played a major role in deciding what to paint, and both artists want people to be happy when they see the art. The artwork is created with 3 panels in order to combine the two styles: a side panel done separately by each artist and central panel incorporating both of the artist’s work. Marrie’s canvas has a flower and cat paw prints; Linnea’s has the Robot and hearts. The central panel anchors the piece and both artists worked on it together. This was the first time the artists met each and both enjoyed collaborating with each other. They think they are an excellent match artistically and are extremely happy with the final artwork and experience.
image description: the first a turquoise flower with black paw prints around it, the second a yellow flower with red center with peach colored tulips, three hearts, and a robot standing next to the flower, the third painting has a robot with a heart in the center, surrounded by tulips and hearts.
Danielle Day & Martha Bird
Swirls Collage
Gouache on Paper
11x15” (Framed)
$350
Image description: This painting on watercolor paper features blue, purple, and green stripes with purple and white swirls. The swirls also have colorful polka dots.
Forest Swirls
Acrylic on Paper
9.5x12.5” (Framed)
$120
Image description: This painting features dark and light green, yellow, and white paint which creates a bumpy surface. The image features swirls and is abstract.
Flat Weaving Swirls
Digital Print of Swirls Collage, UV Protectant varnish
14x14'“ (Framed)
$280
image description: A digital print copy of the Swirls Collage was cut into strips and then woven together horizontally and diagonally to create a square. The image is abstract. The edges of the strips are trimmed at angles.
Swirls Cathead Basket
Archival inkjet print of Swirls Collage on cotton paper, wax linen thread, button, and UV protectant varnish
7x6x6"
$950
Image description:A basket with four feet. The feet are pointy like cat ears. The basket is woven from a digital print copy of the Swirls Collage. A white swirl is created on the front of the basket. The inside is green. The rim of the basket features black stitching and a button.
“The process of weaving makes me happy!”—Danielle Day
Danielle is a versatile fine artist who creates work in many different media. She was recently featured on News Channel 9 for her participation in the “Rainbow-ish” exhibition at Fresh Eye Gallery and also currently has a piano on display in downtown Minneapolis that she painted for “Pianos on Parade.”
“One of my fondest memories of our collaboration experience was watching Danielle flip over her flat weaving and start playing the tips of the paper strips like a piano!”—Martha Bird
Martha Bird is an interdisciplinary artist that specializes in traditional and sculptural basketry. Her work can be found in numerous collections throughout the United States, including the Minnesota, Newark-Arcadia and Romulus Historical Societies. Martha has spoken around the country on basketry as a tool for healing and empowerment and the evidence-based research of the health benefits of creating with one’s hands.
This was a 50/50 collaboration where Danielle was excited to try out basket weaving techniques and Martha loved learning more about mixing paint colors. The two of us met for 7 sessions and worked for a combined total of 38 hours, creating 4 pieces of art for this exhibition. Our project started with the collaborative painting Swirls Collage where Danielle painted the striped background with white swirls and then spirals were cut out of Martha’s polka dot painting to create collage elements and glued down. After practicing our signatures and a sample green wash on another piece of paper, we began to have fun adding swatches of the color that Danielle had used to create the wash, creating another swirling and textured painting Forest Swirls. After printing an enlarged copy of Swirls Collage, we cut it into weaving strips for Danielle to create Flat Weaving Swirls and Martha to use a technique learned from teacher Jackie Abrams to create Swirls Cathead Basket where Martha was excited to successfully re-create a specific image on the surface from the original painting for the first time.
We found Eye to Eye to be a very rich experience where we built connections through sharing our artist practices, inspirations, and strengths around living with a disability. Each time we met, we started and ended with sharing how we were feeling that day by using a scale from 1 to 10. The number ALWAYS improved by the end, sometimes reaching an 11!
This project is made possible by Wet Paint, Master Framers, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
1) A carousel of images from the opening reception of Eye to Eye on June 24, 2022.
2) A carousel of images from the Eye to Eye Artist Meet & Greet on April23, 2022.