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Exhibitions
Exhibitions are free and open to the public.
If you are interested in making a purchase or sponsoring an exhibition, please contact Jim Clark at JClark@hopkinsmn.com or 952-548-6489 for further information.
Chris Cinque, 'Beyond the Reach of Words'
Lobby Gallery, Second floor
June 24 - July 31, 2021
Given the fact that my life was upended by trauma at an early age, the phrase “art saves lives” is literally true for me. Working as an artist has always been my salvation and my solace. My task has been to create order in a disordered and disoriented life. I did this first for many years in theater as a playwright, performer, and director, and for almost as long a time now as a visual artist. My work continues to be about finding connections: to the muddled and mysterious past, to the dynamics of the present moment, and to the hope that lives in the future. Storytelling, whether it be through line and color or actual words, embodies that desire: to connect to myself so that I may also connect to others. This always happens by turning towards the light that lives in all of us. For me, that means practicing the art of manipulating color and form to tell stories that are full of emotional content, but which lie just beyond the reach of words.
Kristi Kuder, 'Momento'
Redepenning Gallery
June 24 - July 31, 2021
- Artist Talk: Tuesday, July 20, 5:45 - 8pm
As an installation artist, pushing boundaries by exploring different materials and ways to express myself has always been an instinctive part of my process and artistic effort. My interest as a maker focuses on the ambiguous aspects in our daily life. In a world where boundaries are blurred and presence and absence intersect, I'm compelled to dig into the emotional core of what this means. I believe memory is the author of ambiguity and that belief informs my work.
I often choose to work with wire mesh for its illusive qualities and then augment it with other materials. Mesh’s ability to both reflect and filter light, as well as be delicate yet strong is integral to my artistic expression. Treating wire mesh like fabric and wire like thread; I stitch, fray, knit, felt or layer to create three-dimensional forms and installations that capture the enigmatic nature of ambiguity. Using eyebrow tweezers, in a methodical process, I deconstruct wire mesh thread by thread. I appreciate that the memory from the weave in the deconstructed mesh remains present in the newly formed work.
I’m also intrigued by the inference of presence and absence found in nature. Impressions left by lapping waves along the shoreline, daytime tracings of night-loving creatures and shadows from plant-life upon the earth—their orphic aspects are captured using a cyanotype process with water to create prints on paper and fabric.
Leah Yellowbird, 'Can You Hear Me Now'
Lobby Gallery, First floor
June 24 - July 31, 2021
As a young person, I learned from my extended family how to follow traditional beading patterns, and I have been working in this medium my entire life. This knowledge, combined with my interest in explorations in color has spilled over into the realm of painting. After a challenging time in my life I took a step back from everything and decided to pick up a paintbrush – something that had been absent from my hand for two decades. I had my first solo exhibition in 2013. Since then I have been painting, beading and creating full time. I think of my process in the context of survival; painting and beading are like breathing to me. I draw inspiration from the traditional art forms of my ancestors while adding a modern voice to the imagery. My pointillism work is a visual manifestation of time, each dot embodying a moment and a prayer. I appreciate the synergy of working in a variety of mediums from birch bark to paint on canvas to beads on velvet – each practice informs the others and connects me with my First Nations Algonquin-Metis and Anishinaabe heritage. Through my journey as an artist I know that I never want to stop learning and expanding my understanding of the many voices that came before me.
Twin Cities Iranian Culture Collective
Redepenning Gallery
August 5 - September 11, 2021
Opening Reception: Thursday, August 5, 5 - 8 pm
This exhibition showcases work by local Iranian-Americans whose creative work in the arts reflects or illuminates their rich heritage. It is an opportunity for viewers to learn about Iran’s history and culture through visual art. Participating artists include Leila Rastegar, Ensi Mohammadian, Niccu Taffarodi, Nicky Torkzadeh, Katayoun Amjadi, Mohammad Noori, Fariba Mousavi, and others.
Minnesota Iran Photographers, 'Iran Today: Photographs by Minnesota Travelers'
Lobby Galleries, first and second floors
August 5 - September 11, 2021
Opening Reception: Thursday, August 5, 5 - 8 pm
In November of 2019, a group of Minnesotans visited Iran, traveling from Tehran in the north to Isfahan, Shiraz and the islands of Qeshm and Hormoz in the Persian Gulf. The photographs in this exhibition document their experience, and capture insights they gained into Iranian culture and the daily lives of its citizens. The work contrasts with the images of Iran presented by the media and presents an alternative view of a country few Americans find opportunity to see for themselves.