Artist Initiative
Artist Initiative
Cooke Benson will create a series of large-scale graphite drawings that will be exhibited at Saint John's University in Collegeville. The artist also will host an open studio event in Minneapolis.
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.
Teresa Audet: Artist and furniture maker; Loretta Day: Art director, ROHO Collective; freelance artist and curator; Emily Donovan Carney: Multimedia artist; Lois Peterson: Visual artist; retired art professor at Gustavus Adolphus College; Nathaniel Wunrow: Proposal writer, bibliotheca; Leah Yellowbird: Artist; Arts Board grantee; Cameron Zebrun: Sculptor and photographer
ACHF Arts Access
I will expand my audience exhibiting in Minnesota. I will build my creative community by hosting two open studio events. Success will be evaluated by the successful completion and exhibition of new works at Saint John's University Art Center, as well as audience engagement and feedback at the exhibit and open studio events. 2: I will refine my drawings by dedicating myself to my artistic practice. Success will be evaluated by the completion of new works, experimenting with new techniques within powdered graphite. I will also start creating and selling archival print reproductions of my drawings.
Melissa Cooke Benson expanded her audience in Minnesota, and connected with community members virtually. Melissa Cooke Benson completed an exhibition at St John's University and hosted a variety of online studio visits and artist talks. Over 300 visitors saw the exhibition at SJU. The YouTube virtual exhibit discussion has over 500 views. 2: Melissa Cooke Benson refined her drawings and discovered a new technique. This technique has inspired a whole new body of works and is motivating Benson to approach her drawings in new, exciting ways. She has also started reproducing her artworks.
Other,local or private