Oct. 3-Nov. 23, 2026
By juxtaposing the fluid transparency of watercolor, the rich, worked texture of oil, and the spectral light of photography, this show challenges the viewer to move beyond the literal. “Thin Veils and Fluid Borders” invites us to look past the geography of the land and instead feel its pulse. Together, these works create a collective meditation on how the environment shapes our internal mood, presenting the landscape as a living, breathing entity that shifts with the light and the mind's eye. As you move through the space, you'll see a striking conversation unfold between three distinct media: the fluid, weightless transparency of Nanci Yermakoff’s watercolors; the thick, deeply layered textures of Jamie Lauler’s oil paintings; and the spectral light of Brian Billadeau’s photography.
Cost: Included with general daily admission, which is free for members and ages 15 and younger and $20-25 for non-members ages 16 and older. Indigenous peoples receive waived general daily admission to the Arboretum when making a reservation by calling 612-301-6775.
Artist Meet & Greet
Oct. 4 | 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Step into the artistic vision behind “Thin Veils and Fluid Borders” at a Meet & Greet with photographer Brian Billadeau, oil painter Jamie Lauler and watercolorist Nanci Yermakoff. Learn about their distinct artistic practices and inspiration and view their work now through Nov. 23.
Artist Statements
Brian Billadeau
Mixed Media • Photography • Interdisciplinary
A lifelong artist, designer, and photographer, Brian creates through multiple media. Photography and mixed media are his primary forms of expression. His work ranges from landscapes and nature studies to experimental imagery that blends artistic disciplines and visual perspectives.
His ongoing Lens Painted series transforms nature’s colors, textures, light and shadow into painterly compositions created entirely in-camera. He does this through intentional movement and multiple exposures and without digital effects. Other works reveal the quiet natural beauty and artistry often overlooked.
Brian believes art surrounds us and has the power to inspire, enrich, and deepen our connection to place and moments. He created several pieces of the pieces in this exhibition on the grounds of the Arboretum for this show.
Brian’s work can be found at Gallery Aurora 179 in the Northrup King Building in the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District and online at LensProse.com.
Jamie Lauler
My work is inspired by the Midwest landscape, particularly the expansive skies of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Drawing from memory and emotion rather than direct observation, I explore how weather, color, and atmosphere influence mood and shape our emotional response to place. Through layered veils of color and a continually shifting horizon line, my paintings move between realism, abstraction, and expressionism. I am interested in the sensory memories tied to landscape—the colors of approaching storms, the shifting light, and the quiet emotional weight carried by the sky.
Nanci Yermakoff
A body of water, a strip of land, and lots of sky never cease to fascinate me. My eye is always drawn to the edges where the land meets the sky or is reflected in the water: hard-edged, diffuse, or multi-layered, depending on the light and atmosphere.
My intention is to convey the openness, space, and light of these spaces rather than a literal interpretation of the landscape. The fluidity and transparency of watercolor makes it a perfect medium to explore these qualities. By layering multiple washes of transparent pigments I progressively build the depth, intensity, and gradual transitions of color. The ‘horizon’, in contrast, is looser and more spontaneous. Here I intend to leave evidence of the distinctive blending, back runs and flow of watercolor. Once the paper is wet, decisions must be made quickly and finding the balance between control and the magic of freely flowing pigment is the challenge for me.