Life in the Details

The Annual Member/Supporter Show is intended to celebrate the work of member artists and makers who create at Art Works, as well as the work of the larger community of supporters whose contributions make programming happen here every day. This exhibit invites artists to submit collaborative pieces created with other friends from the community outside of Art Works. Collaborative work takes a lot of cooperation to work out the details and contributions to the whole.

Resilience is a collaborative needle felted work which was funded by a 2021 MSAB Creative Support for Individuals grant awarded to Kimberly A. Laudert. “Through this project, I invited people who live with mental health issues to participate in exploring our own and others stigma around Mental Health/Mental Illness.” This culminated in the creation of a work of fine art. Through lively conversation and in adapting the curriculum as part of the collaborative process; and through activities looking at stigma in mental health, each participant was invited to think of what, in “darkness, difficulty and even death”, brings hope and resilience into their lives. Each individual felted their own 9”x6” piece.

Martha Bird, member of Art Works, was part of this group and created one of the felted pieces and, along with a few other participants, collaborated further by gathering all of the solo pieces of art and then brought them to life as a powerful representation of what can happen when working together.

Collaboration does take a lot of cooperation. To develop a voice from which one can speak or create on their own terms while highlighting hope and resilience draws us together. The intersection of the individual with the vision of the collective is powerful. And through this process, a common purpose elevates us to a higher purpose.

Artist Reception: Saturday, May 14, 2022 5-6 pm 

followed by fundraiser

Battle of the Eagan Stars Creative Teams Competition: Saturday, ay 14, 6-8 pm.