Yesterday was a busy night for art-supporting Minneapolitans and St
Paulites. Minnesota Museum of American
Art (MMAA) opened DIY Printing: Presses Not Required, at the Project Space
in downtown St Paul, and of course, the galleries and studios of Nordeast Minneapolis
were open for First Thursdays.
After a week of shoveling snow and, to be honest, still less than 100%,
yours truly played it safe and spent First
Thursday at the Northrup King Building with artists and friends.
Despite recent weather, Studio 265 (Perry Ingli and Laura Donovan) was
hopping with friends, collectors and casual viewers. Ignoring the perils of sequestration, at least one art piece was also destined to change
hands this night.
Some who chose comfort and gemütlichkeit
over the headaches of St Paul’s parking and construction scene include artist
painter Kevin
Wellington, of Plymouth, Karen Monson, Visual Arts Instructor
at the Perpich Center Arts Education, Candy Kuehn, fiber artist, and
Kuhn’s partner Craig Lucas of the Playwright’s Center Advisory Board in
Minneapolis.
Laura
Donovan showed off her studio space to family and friends. Credit for the night’s sale goes to Donovan.
Perry
Ingli discussed plans and programs for artists and gave some
impromptu advice to artists considering arts travel abroad. Ingli was accompanied by a very charming and
supportive Michael Greene.
Claudia
Poser and husband, of Studio 394, also made the rounds. Poser is currently publicizing her new
memoir, Dreaming in German: A Memoir
About the Meaning of Home, a tale of growing up in East and West Germany.