March Madness and Inspiring Mondays
“Birthday Party,” mixed media on canvas, 24" x 30"
I am stealing this paragraph heading from the Robbin Gallery in Robbinsdale—it’s the theme of their annual spring members show which opens March 6 (see info below). It might also be the theme of the Minnesota Legislature, Congress, the Universe, my latest artworks… whatever you are trying to make sense of at the moment. And don’t forget the return to Daylight time. The current “madness” of the world does find its way into my art, even if contemplating a joyous occasion (e.g., “Birthday Party” above).
For various reasons I have been working in spurts for the past couple months, and my usual fear of losing momentum has not played out—maybe because my work spurts have been long enough to see projects through from start to finish. Often a painting is “born” on Monday afternoons when I join a small group of diverse painters who gather in an art classroom at Artistry (the Bloomington Center for Arts). Originally the group was an open studio class taught by local artist Tom Tyler, and over the years (yes, years) the group shrank, grew, morphed… until Covid and financial crises temporarily closed Artistry. We stayed in touch, expecting classes to resume when the center reopened. Artistry reopened but painting classes did not. When we learned that the city of Bloomington owned and rented the studio spaces, our core group of 8 reconvened, now renting “our” studio space for the past three years, and hiring Tom to continue to his mentorship on Monday afternoons (with a break over the summer months). It’s not a class, it’s an experience. It’s like we have 8 (sometimes only 6) small adjacent studios sharing a big sink as well as Tom. We don’t collaborate but we communicate, informally share our progress or frustrations, borrow a tube of paint, and Tom offers ideas, questions, and often a book of potential inspirations. Last spring, we shared a show with Tom at Grand Hand Gallery in St Paul.
I mention this experience because many of my projects start on Mondays. Every weekend I plan my Monday for the launch a new painting, or two. Sometimes I actually finish one in those two hours, but typically I bring the canvas(es) back to my studio to take the next steps—or rethink those first steps. It’s a challenge to pack up the materials and tools that I anticipate using and then transport a mini studio of stuff to the second floor space at Artistry, and then pack up the car again a few hours later with still-wet canvases to unload at Casket Arts. It might seem unnecessary since I already have studio space. But it gives my practice a degree of structure and a weekly opportunity to “talk” art as well as make it.
Second Saturday Open Studios, March 8! This month’s Second Saturday brings two guests to Studio 218 originally scheduled for February. Although some studios were open last month with a big handful of intrepid visitors, it seemed best to postpone scheduled guests to March. Right now the forecast sounds far better! Now, Studio 218 welcomes ceramics artist James Reid (wares pictured here) and jazz pianist Patrick Adkins (playing around 1-2:30 pm). I will have some new works and notecards, and expect my studio neighbors on second floor will be open to welcome you, too. I know several studios are hosting guest artists as well. And while you are in the neighborhood, check out open studios at the California Building and Northrup King Building in the Northeast arts district.
“Ceramics by James Reid”
Don’t miss Stanley Whitney (“How High the Moon”) at the Walker! There are so many opportunities to view outstanding local and internationally recognized artists in the metro every day but I wanted to specifically recommend getting to the Walker before the Stanley Whitney exhibit closes on March 16. Whitney is an American abstract artist (painting and prints) most recently known for his highly colorful “grid” paintings, which are the focus of the show at the Walker. Seen across the gallery, the colors alone will make you smile, but viewed up close, each painting becomes a collection of smaller experiments in texture as well as color and form. This is a retrospective, arranged more conceptually than chronologically. Come over to Casket Arts and then head over to the Walker!
"I follow the paintings wherever they take me. If the painting goes out the door, I follow it out the door; if it goes out the window, I follow it out the window.” —Stanley Whitney
On Exhibit
“Artists Kaleidoscope I,” Burl Art Gallery (formerly A-Z Gallery), Lowertown St Paul, through March 22; Reception February 22, 5-8 pm. Each year this gallery presents 4 juried exhibits based on a general theme that encourages diverse submissions. 2025’s theme, “Artistic Kaleidoscope,” encompasses “transformation through perspective,” “ever-changing possibilities,” “diversity and complexity,” “creativity and imagination,” and “the initiative to sustain beauty”… “the kaleidoscope is a metaphor for art.” I am pleased that my acrylic mixed media “The Mourning After” was selected for this first show of 2025. 308 Prince Street, St Paul (Lowertown); www.burlartgallery.org
“March Madness,” Robbin Gallery, through March 30; awards reception March 6 (5:30-8 pm). This popular, annual spring members’ show fills the Robbin with an eclectic range of visual art. Two of my paintings, “Antarktika” and “Wood Lake” are included in this exhibit. 4915 N. 42nd Av, Robbinsdale; https://robbingallery.org/. Gallery open Friday-Saturday 1-5 pm, Sunday 1-4 pm.
Minnesota Artists Association Annual Spring Juried Show, Phipps Center for Arts (Hudson, WI), March 14-April 19, opening reception March 14. MAA hosts two juried members’ shows each year, and the 2025 spring show moves across the border to the stellar galleries of the Phipps. In addition to the MAA show, several other galleries boast the work of artists Linda Snouffer, Bebe Keith, Kat Nottingham and Attila Roy Dabasi during this time period. I’m honored to have my abstract landscape “Daybreak: North Coast” included in the MAA exhibit. Note the Phipps is just a 30-minute ride down I-94 from downtown Minneapolis and no passports needed. 109 Locust Street, Hudson; https://thephipps.org
“Daybreak, North Coast”, acrylic on canvas, 30" x 40"
And on Into Spring….
Hard for me to believe we have little over two months til the annual Art Explosion, “Art-a-Whirl”®. We do have a few Second Saturdays leading up to the biggest outdoor art crawl in the nation in the area perennially voted in the top three arts districts in the nation (Northeast Minneapolis Arts District). If you hate crowds, you can still enjoy the fresh art of the district by attending Second Saturdays and get an early view of the works we will have on display during AAW. Another way to enjoy art in a more personal fashion is to set up a time for a studio visit. You can come to Studio 218 to see new (and not so new) works or discuss a commission, or just to visit a working studio. Call, text or email to set up a time—no purchase necessary.
Andrea
612-501-8812
andreacanterartworks@gmail.com
Andrea Canter
Artist and Owner
andreacanterartworks.com
Andrea Canter Artworks
The Casket Arts Building
681 17th Ave NE, Studio 218
Minneapolis, MN 55413