The New North: Contemporary Art from the Upper Midwest

The New North: Contemporary Art from the Upper Midwest is an exhibit of art and craft created by creators from the region. The New North is curated by Mary Jo Hoffman and features a dozen artists across multiple disciplines including screenprinting, photography, ceramic, woodworking, and painting.

 

Mary Jo Hoffman has been a lifelong creative dabbler. Growing up as a tomboy in Shoreview, MN, Hoffman developed a deep love for nature, creating, and learning. After earning a graduate degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University, Hoffman moved on to an accomplished career in aerospace science. But her love for creating thrived, and she increasingly threw herself into art and design, eventually finding her new calling. Hoffman is the creator of STILL, a minimalist photo journal where she creates photographs that compose natural elements and findings from nature. Launched in 2012, the beautiful work featured on STILL caught national attention, and the work found within has been the center of several international home decor collections released by retailers such as Target and West Elm.

 

The creatives featured in The New North: Contemporary Art from the Upper Midwest share the modern sense of craft and aesthetics that Hoffman brings to her work. Michelle and Erik Vevang, the duo behind VevangMPLS, bring the use of traditional Scandinavian carving methods to wooden tableware pieces and decor assemblages, while Kristin McCullough creates a chilly but peaceful aesthetic through her textural, abstract encaustic paintings. The New North offers a glimpse into this growing slice of this local contemporary art and craft scene.