Musings from Studio 218
“Sam’s Garden (For Sam Gilliam),” acrylic on canvas, 24 x 30
No, you did not miss the July newsletter. I really had no news. Casket Arts is holding no open studio events over the summer, and after the exhibit at the Robbin Gallery in June, seems there was a natural break. Like being in school again! Now it’s a slow start-up to fall events, but hopefully it will be a productive August in the studio.
I had a couple projects in mind for summer back in May, and so far one has materialized. Since returning to Iowa City to see my Mom pretty much every month for the past few years, I have been a frequent visitor to the Stanley Museum of Art on the University of Iowa campus. For a fairly small museum, the Stanley has an impressive collection of 20th century, mostly American art, as well as a renowned collection of African art. I enjoy seeing it all, but a couple galleries of modern American art draw most of my attention, every visit. I return over and over again to works by Joan Mitchell (“Red Painting No. 2”), Sam Gilliam (“Red April’), Robert Motherwell (“Elegy to the Spanish Republic No. 126”), and Jackson Pollack’s giant “Mural.” I stare at them for a while, whip out my cell phone and photograph portions of these works, and stare at them later.
My project this summer (and I am sure into fall) is to reinterpret these works, in whole or in part, using these elements to create a new series of paintings. I started with Motherwell because I am so intrigued by his huge series of “Elegies”—nearly two hundred variations on a theme centered on rectangular and oval-ish shapes. (Even apart from the “Elegies,” many of Motherwell’s paintings bring these shapes together.) Motherwell typically joins these shapes together; without thinking about it, I separated my shapes (using thick paper rather than paint). So far I have created two, “Elegy to the American Republic” Nos. 1 and 2. It’s challenging to align shapes—like putting words together to make a coherent sentence.
Robert Motherwell, “Elegy to the Spanish Republic No. 126,” Stanley Museum of Art.
“Elegy to the American Republic No. 1,” 24 x 36.
“Elegy to the American Republic No. 2” 24 x 36.
I have also started a set of paintings inspired by Sam Gilliam. Gilliam was a prolific abstract painter who often used mixed media, particular folded and draped fabric. I love his “Red April” which was created in response to the murder of Martin Luther King. It’s a very large work with drapes of fabric covering the canvas (which has slanted stretcher bars that follow the drapes of the fabric); paint spattered on folded/unfolded fabric suggests Pollack drips suspended in water. I’ve never worked with fabric other than scraps in collage. My first Gilliam-inspired painting did not use any fabric, just a canvas with spatters to suggest fabric folds (see top image, “Sam’s Garden”). I moved on to fabric, using a piece of raw canvas that nearly covered the 24 x 30 canvas. I used spray paint and water spray on the underlying stretched white canvas itself; then draped the raw canvas on top with subtle folds that I glued in place before adding paint and a lot of water. The paint really soaks into the raw canvas such that I felt my results were too subtle. Too pastel ? I think using white cotton fabric rather than raw linen canvas will give me brighter results. And if using raw linen again, I might take advantage of the more subtle color. Stay tuned.
Sam Gilliam, “Red April,” Stanley Museum of Art.
“Gilliam Folds,” 24 x 30
Open Studios Return October 10!
I have had mixed feelings about our decision to skip open studio events at Casket Arts this summer. On the one hand, attendance of visitors and participation of artists has been quite low during summer months for at least two years. During the same time (and probably not coincidentally), there has been a dramatic increase in the number of art events in the Twin Cities area during the summer—outdoor art fairs almost every weekend. And it is great to see so much interest in art and music, particularly events that are kid-friendly. Still, I miss the opportunities to visit with our neighbors, friends, and the just-curious who might turn up during our Saturday open studios, who might be casual in their interests at first but later return for our bigger events in fall and spring.
Of course the hiatus at Casket Arts this summer means I might be able to attend open studios in other buildings or check out some of the art fairs in the area. I can block out longer periods of time to work on projects, test out some new ideas, or repaint a wall without feeling the need to “clean up” the studio for visitors.
We will be back with Open Studios on October 10, featuring a salute to Halloween and a preview of our long weekend “Open Casket” event November 13-15. And we will end the year with our annual Holiday Market (December 5). So watch for updates, Fall 2026 will bring a lot of fresh work and fun to Casket Arts.
On Exhibit
Usually I have an exhibit slowdown during the summer. But it never lasts long.
Burl Art Gallery “Aesthetic Essence III,” through August 8. The third of four juried exhibitions for 2026 features work from over 60 artists on the purposely vague theme of “aesthetic essence.” My acrylic “Manhattan” hangs with the rest. 308 Prince Street, St. Paul (Lowertown), www.burlgallery.org
Minnesota Artists Association Fall Show, August 8 – September 20 at Frameworks Gallery; opening August 8 6-8 pm. MAA’s annual fall exhibit returns to Frameworks. I am pleased to show my “Before the ICE Age” (below) with 55 other works by MAA members. 2022A Ford Parkway, St. Paul. Monday-Friday, 10 am – 6 pm; Saturday 10 am – 5 pm.
“Before the ICE Age,” acrylic on canvas, 24 x 36.
Coming Sooner and Later
Watch for two solo exhibits in the coming year:
“New Tales of Abstraction,” Ambiente Gallery (Minneapolis), November 21-December 31. Reception tentatively November 21. Title subject to change. (Mostly) new works will be on display in this unique Northeast Minneapolis gallery that moonlights as a chiropractic studio.
“Essence of Place,” Hopkins Center for the Arts, August 2027. Works in acrylic and mixed media. This solo exhibit will take place in the second floor atrium gallery. Typically Hopkins hosts three exhibits monthly in the main floor gallery and first and second floor atrium galleries, as well as an artist’s talk.
And sooner or later, I hope you come visit my studio at Casket Arts. Check out my new experiments with fabric, as well as new works that I hope to include in upcoming exhibits. Summer can be a good time to have a relaxing studio visit, discuss a commission, or just cool off—Studio 218 is air conditioned! I am in town throughout August and the first part of September.
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