Ryan & Jim Pedersen, North Mankato, MN

 

Luce Line – West River Park

http://www.pedersenmetaldesign.com

Media:  Steel, Brass, Stainless                 Sale Price:  $21,500

Sculptors James and Ryan Pedersen are a father/son collaborative team who create welded constructions in relief and free standing form.  The combinations of steel, brass, and copper are used in most designs. The earthy colors and textures are achieved through welding, cutting, grinding and heat-treating these materials.

The finished artwork illustrates their combined passion for the outdoor environment as an artistic selection of these elements with a stylized approach that is related to various interpretations of the modern landscape.

Ruth Gee, Hastings, MI

 

Luce Line – Riverside Park

https://ruthgee.wordpress.com/about/

Media:  Bronze               Sale Price:  $22,000

Ruth Gee was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Scandinavian parents. Her family moved to Bolivia, South America as missionaries when she was six months old until she was 15 and returned to Minnesota when she was a junior in High School. While in Bolivia, Ruth grew up in the Andes Mountains among the Inca Indians.   

While in high school Ruth took her first art class, though she confesses to having illustrated her crib and any blank surface she could find while growing up.  Oil painting has been her main vehicle for artistic expression.  She does commissioned portrait work and allegorical paintings.  In the last couple of years she has taken up sculpture as a means of helping her sister, Judy, a nurse and midwife, build a hospital back in Bolivia, S. A. near where they grew up among the Inca Indians.

Ruth looks at art as a tool of expression. Just as a writer uses words, an artist uses forms and color.  The key lies in the value of the idea, having made it your own, and the ability to get that idea across.

Dale Lewis, Hastings, MN

 

Luce Line at N. E. Riverside Park

https://www.artistdalelewis.com/

Media:  Mixed Metal                             Sale Price:  $55,000

“I love turning scrap into art. My goal is to make each of my pieces entertaining, fun and recognizable as having been crafted with salvaged materials. I’ve never felt that art has to be profound or deep to have an impact. So, while it is important for the viewer to “get” the recycling message, it shouldn’t necessarily override the simplicity of the main purpose which is to make people smile.”

“My hobby has become a full-time obsession. There’s no turning back now. . . this is what I want to do, when I grow up!”

Hilde DeBruyne, Cumming, IA

 

Luce Line – Pedestrian Bridge

http://www.hildedebruyne.com/

Media:  Painted Metal             Sale Price:  $18,000

Hilde DeBruyne is a Belgian-American artist living in Cumming, Iowa. She is a sculptor and designer in clay, metal and bronze. Her work has been exhibited internationally and is included in public and private collections. 

Her artwork in metal is contemporary in style, often abstracted and organic in nature.  She usually works around a certain theme and explores this theme throughout a series of works.  One of them is the “Metamorphosis” series where she explores the stages of the butterfly and in particular the struggle of the butterfly to emerge out of the cocoon.

She uses mild steel, corten steel or aluminum and usually enriches the work with the use of bold, attractive colors. Overall her artwork has an energetic, warm and welcoming feel to it. She works with a team of fabricators to bring about contemporary, durable works of art, created with interesting detail and craftsmanship.

Lee Leuning & Sherri Treeby,
Aberdeen, SD

 

Depot/Farmers Market

http://www.badriverart.com/

Media:  Bronze          Sale Price:  $30,000

Lee Leuning and Sherri Treeby formed the art studio Bad River Artworks after cooperating on several sculpture projects while attending Northern State University in the late 80’s. Their “continuous critique” approach to sculpture delivers high realism to their “Americana” sculptures. Besides their national market they have placed over 70 public, life-sized sculptures making them one of South Dakota’s most prolific bronze sculptors.

The realism, and emotions it evokes, is evident in “Hey, Mary Lou!” whose story goes like this: “Our third string hero is getting his first shot at glory as he sprints along the sideline.  His worn out and patched uniform are clues to his rookie status.  His emerging hormones have helped divert his attentions to the side lines and Cheerleader, Mary Lou.”   Your imagination can fill in the rest.

Gail Katz-James, Minneapolis, MN

 

Main St & 1st Ave N (S.W.)

https://gailkatzjames.com/about

Media:  Painted Steel                Sale Price $6,500

“Trained as a textile artist, I have learned metal fabrication, bending and welding over the last 15 years. In general, I fabricate armatures by heating steel rod and manipulating it, like pliable fiber. After priming and spray painting, each armature returns to my “clean” fiber studio where I build up surfaces using wire, hardware and other elements.”

“Mod Pod is made of toys, found objects, glass beads, washers, plasma cut steel sheeting, threaded rod, bushings, tube and pipe. I created Mod Pod to allow viewers to peek inside the sculpture and gently spin it. The different surface patterns are inspired by textiles from around the world. The colors are inspired by brightly colored vintage toy tops, as well as lighthouses.”

 

Tim James, Good Thunder, MN &
Aidan Demarais, Janesville, MN

 

Library Square

Media:  Steel, Concrete, Misc.                Sale Price:  $8,000

The inspiration for “Dystopia” emerged from the objects used to create the sculpture. Each object that was incorporated into the piece had a unique texture and form. Some pieces were test pads created by welding students at Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton High School. As the sculpture progressed, a repeating circular theme was emphasized. The final sculpture symbolizes the earth supported tenuously by an unraveling foundation and surrounded by the ever-encroaching progress of industry.

Tim James was born in Mankato, Minnesota. He received his Master’s Degree in Education and his Bachelor of Science in Art Education from Minnesota State University. His artwork can be found in a variety of media around Southern Minnesota including six pieces in the permanent collection at South Central College. Much of Tim James’ inspiration comes from being an art teacher at Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton.

Aidan Demarais is an Industrial Arts instructor (at Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton) – a profession that gives him the freedom to be creative, the chance to help others, and the opportunity to be a leader. Recently, the creative aspect of his teaching profession has compelled him to experiment artistically with different mediums.