In conjunction with the exhibition Text/Messages: Books by Artists, 35 Minnesota artists who make book-related multiples set up shop at the Walker for a day of merriment last Saturday, February 21. The event was a overwhelming success with over 1200 people in attendance.  Multiples Mall was a collaboration between the Walker Art Center community and public programs department and mnartists.org with support from the Walker Art Center Gallery Shop, Rain Taxi Review of Books and The Minnesota Center for Book Arts.  The exhibiting artists represented a wide range of approaches to the book-related multiple concept from Bill Gorcica’s interactive station which allowed attendees to customize their own book to the elegant craft of Regula Russelle’s pieces to the collaborative sketchbooks, stickersheets and posters of local artist collective Hardland/Heartland. 

From my personal perspective (as one of the organizers and also an attendee) it was wonderful to be in a room full of local artists, talking with one another, swapping artwork and meeting other community members. I took the opportunity to meet several artists whose work I have admired and met several new artists as well. It was hard to be in the room for most of the day and not spend a fortune on all of the pieces I would have liked to add to my collection.  Judging by the long lines at the checkout table throughout the day, I was not alone.  My biggest regret is not grabbing one of Josh Journey-Heinz’s very cool handcut 3D vinyl albums before they sold out.  That’s a hint Josh…we need to talk.

Overall there was warmth throughout the day that was refreshing and energizing. For me, it was a potent reminder of the vibrancy, strength and talent within the local artist community. We hope this will be a model for future collaborations between mnartists.org, The Walker and the local artist community.

participating artists:

Raighne and Megan Hogan, 2D CLOUD
Brian Aldrich
Emmet Bryne
Ryan Dorshorst, Synthetic Infatuation
Wendy Fernstrum, Fernwerks
Bill Gorcica
Hardland/Heartland
Lacey Prpic Hedtke
Sam Hoolihan
MC Hyland, Double Cross Press
Josh Journey-Heinz
Chad Kloepfer
Sean Lynch
Andrea McKay
Ed Choy Moorman, Bare Bones Press
Rachel Melis
Kelly Meister
Sarah Morean
Abigail Mullen
Paulette Myers-Rich
Brian Ness
Mylinh Trieu Nguyen
Regula Russelle, Cedar Fence Press
Noa Segal
Chip Schilling, Indulgence Press
CB Sherlock
Chuck Smith
Richard Stephens, supersession press
Elizabeth Workman and Erik Brandt

ARTmn 2009

mnartists.org and Minneapolis Public Library are excited to announce a call for submissions for the 2009 ARTmn exhibition program. Artists will be selected by an established a panel of regional curators, artists and critics to participate in a group exhibition at the Minneapolis Public Library’s Cargill gallery opening in the fall of 2009.

Eligibility: Open to all Minnesota residents working in any visual art medium.

Application Process and Materials: Submissions will be accepted via email only. No slides, photos or other physical documentation will be accepted. Questions or problems regarding the submission process or guidelines should be directed to submit@mnartists.org. Every attempt will be made to assist artists in the application process.

The following materials must be emailed with the subject line “ARTmn Submission” to submit@mnartists.org by February 13th, 2009 to be considered.

• Resume or Curriculum Vitae saved as a Word document (.doc)
• 6 Images (images should be JPG format with a max resolution of 1024×768, 72dpi) . Images should be labeled in the preferred viewing order with the artist’s last name. For example smith1, smith2, smith3 etc. Submitted work samples should represent the artists work, but will not necessarily be the pieces selected for the exhibition.
• Image list saved as a Word document (.doc). The image list should contain the relevant information for each submitted image including date, medium, dimensions and title. It may also include an optional short (2-3 sentence) description of the concept or context of the documented piece.
• DEADLINE: All Applications must be received by February 13th , 2009

Review Process: The scope and theme of the exhibition will be established by the jurors from the pool of submissions. Artists will be notified by mid-March after the panel has selected the winning artists. Selected artists will have the opportunity to participate in studio visits, critiques and panel discussions leading up and during the exhibition. A public reception will take place at the opening of the exhibition. An extended gallery guide will be produced with essays by the curators in conjunction with the exhibition.

mnART and all of mnartists.org 2009 competitive series are sponsored by The Onion and The Decider.

mnartists.org is a joint project of the Walker Art Center and the McKnight Foundation.