Material Mythos
Early in 2024 my friends at the Kaddatz Galleries asked me if I would be willing to think about a show in the main gallery again. The super kind and supportive Artistic Director (hi Stacy!) told me I could do any collaboration I would want and the first idea that popped in my head was to ask an artist acquaintance (now friend) if she’d like to do a Duo Show with me.
When Ilaamen and I spoke about this opportunity for the first time she declined, thinking that I was talking about an exhibition in the late fall of 2024. But when I said it was in November of 2025 we both (foolishly) thought that’s so much time from now (hahahahahaha) and she gladly obliged.
We’ve really bonded over this misguided thinking as the due date to drop our paintings off ensued and neither of us were sure we would be able to actually get the paintings done on time.
I first came to know of Ilaamen because this beautiful sculpture of hers was positioned next to my painting at the 2022 ArteLatinx show hosted by the University of Nebraska Omaha. I loved the interaction between our colorful works and it should surprise no one that the sculpture pictured above was scooped up by a lucky collector on opening night.
And so here is part of the background lore of KCF and Ilaamen - where it all began. I asked Ilaamen if she’d be willing to make more sculpture works to pair with my paintings and she said yes! AND she wanted to add some paintings in as well and so, over the course of the last 18 months or so we’ve been dreaming and scheming this show that is about to come into the world!
Driven by color, shape, and memory, Kandace Creel Falcón and Ilaamen Pelshaw explore dreams, folktales, and the cultural realities that emerge from their childhoods in a Duo Show bringing paintings, quilts, and sculptures into conversation.
This is my first Duo Show and it’s been such a gift to work with such a thoughtful and wonderful artist collaborator. She’s put me up in her home that she shares with her hubby and sweet pup. She’s given me studio tours and we’ve conspired to bring something together that I do believe is the kind of thing that is better because of the two parts creating a more exciting third thing because of the union.
I feel extra protective of making sure she and her art will be welcomed and well received in Otter Tail County. The best way to show your support would be to come to our opening Thursday November 6th from 5-7pm at the Kaddatz Galleries to see the works, experience the magic of material mythos for yourself, and consider buying a work of art.
I won’t speak too much about the works so you’ll be motivated to come to the opening to hear about them in person at the opening. What I can say is that I’m really proud of the experimentation that has been happening in my studio and I’m almost to the place where I want to be with my dream of making quilted paintings so YAY!
See you Thursday?
Other happenings in the Art of KCF world - I am happy to be a part of this community celebration for Día de Los Muertos in Pelican Rapids - please join us on Saturday (tomorrow) for a good time. We’ll kick of the event at 4:15 at 108 Yoga and Wellness Studio with a gentle honor our ancestors flow and then move to the library for snackies and oohing and ahhing over our community altar ofrenda we’ve been working on for the last six weeks! It is really nourishing to be in community in these times and this has been a fantastic way to get more embedded in a nearby community for me - and taught me lessons about the kind of teaching and art work I want to continue to have as my focus onward.
Phew, ok, now that I’m not going at such a wild pace I am going to find out what it feels like to cruise at maybe 55mph instead of 100, knowing of course that my eyes (desires) remain bigger than my stomach (capacity). Here’s to 2026 planning beginning and taking the lessons I’ve learned in 2025 with me.
As always, support your local independent artist. Thank you for those who do so in all ways big and small. It all matters.