Artist Initiative
Artist Initiative
Benson will create a series of oil paintings while looking at the life and work of seventeenth-century Dutch painter Maria van Oosterwijck. She will host a public exhibition with an opening reception and artist talk.
Ardell Brede: Mayor of Rochester, elected 2002.; Peggy Burnet: Businesswoman, art collector, and community volunteer. Chair of the Nominating Committee, Smithsonian National Board. Trustee, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.; Uri Camarena: Business consultant, Metropolitan Economic Development Association. Board chair, Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Michael Charron: Dean of the School of the Arts, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Sean Dowse: Mayor of Red Wing, elected 2016. Former executive director, Sheldon Theatre. Board member for Minnesota Citizens for the Arts. Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Philip McKenzie, Oboe and English horn player; adjunct oboe faculty, NDSU. Secretary/Treasurer, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Mary McReynolds-Pellinen: Executive director, Lyric Center for the Arts; coordinator, First Stage Gallery. Officer at-large, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Thomas Moss: Consultant to nonprofits and government agencies.; Dobson West: Senior advisor, Spell Capital Partners Fund.; Christina Widdess: Arts organization consultant; former managing director, Penumbra Theatre.
Peter Driessen: Visual artist, sculptor, curator, and cultural producer; Teréz Iacovino: Visual artist and curator; assistant curator, Katherine E. Nash Gallery; Catherine Meier: Visual artist; Ryuta Nakajima: Contemporary artist, curator, product designer; associate professort of art, University of Minnesota Duluth; Nicole Simpkins: Visual artist; drawing and printmaking instructor at Minneapolis College of Art and Design; Michelle Wingard: Photographer; professor at Bethel; Arts Board grantee
Executive director Sue Gens (651) 539-2650
ACHF Arts Access
Benson will create paintings that further her artistic process, technique, and conceptual research. This outcome will be evaluated through a personal written reflection of exhibition at Hair and Nails Gallery in Minneapolis at end of grant period and also through discussions and critiques during show. 2: Benson will create paintings that further her artistic process, technique, and conceptual research. This outcome will be evaluated through a personal written reflection of exhibition at Hair and Nails Gallery in Minneapolis at end of grant period and also through discussions and critiques during show.
Benson created and publicly exhibited a series of new large and small scale oil paintings that further developed her artistic practice. Method of evaluation for this outcome was completed through the exhibition of paintings at Hair + Nails Gallery in Minneapolis, Minnesota for six weeks. Paintings showed a deeper level of craftsmanship, nuanced surfaces, and conceptual understanding. 2: Benson investigated her conceptual and formal processes throughout the grant period and was successful in reaching new depths of understanding. The paintings are evidence of a greater level of technical and conceptual development. The work broadened Benson's visual syntax and will allow for a continued development of her painting practice.