Artist Initiative
Artist Initiative
Usdin will build upon her practice of manipulating existing fiber structures through weaving and knotting by pushing current boundaries of scale and sculptural form, exhibiting work at Artistry in Bloomington.
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.
Susanna Gaunt: Visual artist; Josette Ghiseline: Mixed media painter; Emily Johnson: Owner, designer and goldsmith, EC Design, LLC; Tracy Krumm: Artist; director for artistic advancement, Textile Center; Javier Lara-Ruiz: Dakota illustrator, painter, and sculptor; Jess Levanduski: Painter, sculptor, and mixed media artist; owner of Smeared Palette; Nicole Selmer: Artist and educator in papermaking, printmaking, and bookmaking; Amy Toscani: Sculptor
ACHF Arts Access
I will promote and participate in a month long, three-person exhibition at Artistry in Bloomington, Minnesota. Artistry draws more than 40,000 visitors annually. In addition to general promotion, I will invite select gallerists and art professionals to this exhibition to further increase my visibility in the community. 2: I will build upon my practice of manipulating existing fiber structures by pushing current boundaries of scale and sculptural dimension. During the grant period, I will seek advice and critique from my co-exhibitors, both of whom are award-winning fiber artists and sculptors. In addition, I will solicit constructive feedback from peers and art professionals who visit the exhibition.
Amy Usdin promoted and participated in her first small group exhibition, a five week show at Artistry in Bloomington, Minnesota. Artistry's Visual Arts Director reported 744 masked and socially distanced people physically viewed the show, while others engaged virtually. Outreach included the Star Tribune, Art Hounds, the Textile Center newsletter, and social media. 2: In sync with co-exhibitors, Amy Usdin created eleven new works of varied size and structure, for which she invited peer and professional critique. Thoughtful response from art professionals included: 'the emotional depth of the work. transported the viewer to a different time and place' and Usdin's nets 'seem like they're telling some secret story about the previous life of these objects.'.