Visions Unveiled

Local Artists featured at this show:

Maggie Anderson – ceramic artist

April Barnhart – jeweler

Eric Cornett – painter

Anna Karena – painter

Laura Stamper – jeweler

Mary Welke – painter

The Mill Yard is delighted to present two artists from Art for All*:

Lena Osman – painter

Hannah Rousar – photographer

The Mill Yard at Stonebridge Lofts

The Mill City. Residents celebrate our area’s industrial heritage of the mighty Mississippi River and the mills. Today, what we see are the most recognizable Minneapolis landmarks. However, this is only part of the story. Rail lines were key to Minneapolis’ growth, and were particularly integral to the Mill District, bringing in wheat and timber and shipping out flour and lumber. We also honor the history of the mills, the reason for the rail yard’s existence.  The Mill Yard aims to be both a gathering place for art and artists and a conduit by which art can be shared with and disseminated into the wider community.

ARTIST DETAILS:

Maggie Anderson – ceramics

Maggie Anderson’s primary clay body is porcelain. She creates functional pieces that present visual interest beyond their functionality. Most of these pieces will be carved, pierced, slipped or in other ways altered to balance beauty and function. Her sculptural pieces are fired using the Raku method, a Japanese technique of quick firing that exposes the clay to violent temperature extremes. Raku always produces a one of a kind piece. 

April Barnhart – jeweler

Aprilierre Jewelry, led by the creative visionary April Barnhart, embodies the essence of "Re-Birth" and draws inspiration from nature. The metals used undergo a transformative journey as they are recycled, melted, and forged into new orks boasting rich organic textures. The jewelry created by Aprilierre is a seamless blend of delicacy and chic sophistication, with a touch of boldness that effortlessly complements individual styles. 

Eric Cornett – painter

Eric left his job as a scenic artist and manager for commercial art production, and in 1998 he established Faux Pas, painting custom murals and decorative wall finishes. In 2006 he began painting commissioned and un-commissioned oils on both canvas and linen.  His realistic depictions of nature and landscapes draw the viewer into a space of beauty and repose.  “I have only recently realized that the majority of my paintings are capturing quiet moments, peaceful and tranquil, as if to preserve a moment of beauty and calm in a world of too much background noise.”

Anna Karena – painter

Anna Karena is an intuitive, abstract artist working in a variety of mediums including paint, mixed media, ink, and beadwork.  Her pieces frequently evolve from layering that builds upon a spontaneous direction without a preset outcome. This keeps her work vibrant, lively, and authentic. Anna shows her work in various locations around the Twin Cities and viewers are drawn into the bright and inviting nature of her pieces.  Anna works in her studio located in the Carriage House in the NE Minneapolis Arts District.

Laura Stamper – jeweler

Laura Stamper’s background is in illustration, painting, and sculpture. She brings these skills to her figurative jewelry pieces. For years, Laura incorporated porcelain sculpture with metal work. Her progression into enamel work seemed inevitable. Her current body of work is a marriage of elegance and the unexpected. The contemporary movement of the metalwork is in sharp contrast to the primitive elements of rough stones and the elegance of enamels.  

Mary Welke – painter

Mary Welke’s art represents nature and natural things.  In her birch tree series she considers the markings and design of the peeling birch bark as a metaphor for the human life experience, one of renewal and hope. Mary has an MFA from Pratt Institute in New York and a BFA from Minneapolis College of Art & Design. Her birch paintings are in US Bank Corporate Art Collection and other collections.

Lena Osman – painter, Art for All

Lena Osman is a visual artist who discovered her passion for painting years ago while growing up in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Living with cerebral palsy, she faces unique challenges daily but her indomitable spirit finds expression through art. Lena’s collection, which now boasts more than 200 original works, encompasses a diverse range of subjects, from vibrant flowers to captivating portraits, animals, and thought-provoking abstract designs. Her artwork has been featured in shows both in the Twin Cities and Abu Dhabi.  

Hannah Rousar – photographer, Art for All

Hannah Rousar grew up with three siblings, one of them her twin.  Hannah has Down Syndrome. When she was in high school, she learned to use a camera and take photographs. Following that graphic arts class she learned the joys of photographing with an iPhone! Many of her photographs reflect her experiences while traveling with family.  “Being able to take pictures of what I see and what I do makes me so happy!”  Hannah also has a love of dance and has participated in the Special Olympics. 

* Art for All, The Stephanie Evelo Program for Art Inclusion at the University of Minnesota’s Institute for Community Integration, supports the work of emerging and professional artists with disabilities. To learn more visit https://art.ici.umn.edu/about 

Image: Eric Cornett