Minnesota Funk Kicks-Off Regis Center's 10th Anniversary Year ...

vulnerability during the resting point of a journey. I'm inspired by and seek to create
works that are descriptive of every thing along the way: benevolent meetings, attacks,
ridicule, injury, feast, discovery, dalliance, and pleasure.
Frank Gaard
Early on I learned from Peter Saul the importance of artistic freedom and courage; the
value of doing something original, and not to fear the risks inherent in a more
experimental approach to painting. Since then my instincts have been very helpful in
guiding my aesthetic decision-making and now forty-five years into my career I feel like
I’m at the height of my artistic powers. One of the difficult realities of doing unusual art
is it’s not as readily accepted as more conventional artistic products. This is one of the
problems with work that falls somewhat outside the boundaries of normal practice. I’ve
always felt you have to go where your art takes you and often it may be off the trodden
path. The art has a voice and a life of its own.
Tom Garrett
In 2010, I traveled to Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, and Shanghai, China. I was stunned by the
sheer energy, beauty and rich history. To capture my impressions of a modern China, I
began creating portraits of a male and female using a 10” x 10” template. The series
allowed me to create over 150 different images with multiple variations of pattern,
concept and collaged elements. The work has also evolved into using the portraits as
surface designs. With a nod to the decorative works of the Qing Dynasty, the images are
functional and decorative works of design.
Chris Larson
Chris Larson has a multi media based practice that is rooted in sculpture. His work
incorporates film, video, photography, performance and drawing/painting, often in
installed environments. He builds objects/worlds/spaces that look familiar but have been
severely affected.
Faye Passow
I love a good story, particularly with a little twist to it. I also love word play for it’s own
sake and language, even though, as you can tell from this piece, I am at best an average
writer. My work is often storytelling, sometimes overtly and sometimes as a means for
the viewer to wonder what reality they are currently inhabiting. I create particularly well
on a two dimensional landscape. That third dimension makes me dizzy and ill at ease. For
all these reasons, maps and mapping appeal to me. Maps have their own language and
symbology and they tell a pretty good story, although not generally with a twist. That is
where I come in. I create maps, not to be used in a traditional sense, to get to the mall, for
instance, but of realities that Alice and the rabbit would like if they, themselves, weren’t
quiet so surrealistic. I have a map of cheap candy, a map of hot dishes of Minnesota and a
map of nothing called Nothing But Nothing that is really something. One map begets
another and so it will continue.
Minnesota Funk 4