New Solo Show on the Horizon
One of the things I love about living in the mixed grass prairie of West Central Minnesota is the expansive sky. It’s not the same as the New Mexico expansive sky. Or the Wyoming expansive sky, but it is its own gorgeous thing.
In winter the contrast between the blue and the white snow covered landscape has become one of my favorite scenes. A clear bright blue sky in January - agh! So good.
I’m sending this your way during summertime though, where the lush green meets the sky when the sun shines and the rolling hills look truly picturesque.
And with the green tree tops full of leaves the explosion of green set against blue lakes and a blue sky can really inspire a sense of awe and wonder.
I’ve often spoke and reflected on the way rural places can inspire freedom. The space is one thing, but I do really feel a senses of freedom on the 20 acres my sweet Vaimo and I tend with the goats and the chickens.
The freedom is one of many things I’ve been exploring via a series of smaller works that I will debut at Calendula Gallery in St. Paul, MN with an opening reception on August 1st from 6:00-8:00pm.
I’ve titled the collection of works Queericana after a suggestion from my BFF. And if anyone would know Queericana, it’s Nay Nay - who grew up outside of a small town in Stearns County.
When I shared some of the smaller works coming out of my studio with him we marveled at the way there is a rural cultural production rooted in unintentional or even naive camp.
As I prepare for the world premiere of my small paintings I want to share bits of the artist statement with you as it’s evolving.
As an artist living in rural Otter Tail County, I spend a lot of time driving over 15 miles to the closest town in any direction. As I log a lot of hours on the road, I am constantly engaging a process of deep looking at the world around me. My curiosity is often piqued by the unique choices my neighbors make while interacting with the natural environment of rural Minnesota.
The paintings in the show document some of the things I’ve seen, purposefully sought out to see again, or noticed only while looking at other weird things. It feels like a body of work I could continue adding to forever.
For instance, a neighbor down OTC County Highway 3 frequently will put 6-12 weed whackers out at the end of their dirt driveway with a handmade sign reading “for sale.”
Every time I pass it I have so many questions. Where did all the weed whackers come from? Why are there so many? Does the person who lives there repair and refurbish them? How much do they want for one?
And this isn’t even one of the subjects of one of the paintings I’ve made for this show!
But I would argue this is the sort of textbook queericana aesthetic I’m talking about here.
As is the giant fake buck leaping over wood in Deerwood.
I want to keep your interest piqued, so come back next week for the next reflection on more about what I mean by Queericana.
In the meantime mark your calendars and join me August 1st at Calendula Gallery from 6:00-8:30pm. I’m planning a special party, I’ll give an artist talk, and you’ll see and be able to purchase the paintings for the first time there!
My Ko-Fi Cup Fillers have been getting special and early access to these works in progress and some completed paintings as they’ve come off the easel.
Other ways you can join in on the Art of KCF action:
I will be teaching a cross stitch class at the Fergus Falls Public Library July 8th 6-8pm. Registration is required, and the class is currently full but you can still get on the waitlist.
I will be at The Middle of NOWhere Art & Music Festival in Rural Iowa with some wares on the MONfest staff vendor table July 12 at the Cellar Winery in Madrid, IA.
I will be at the Urban Art Village on Saturday July 26th outside of Midtown Market in Minneapolis also peddling wares 11a-4pm.
As always, I’m glad you’re here. If you want to support my art practice the number one way you can do that is buy a painting.
If that’s not possible for you right now, totally fine, please share this email with someone who you think would appreciate my work.
Let’s spread the love! It’s something we can control in these wild times.
Con cariño,
KCF