Past Art Exhibitions

This exhibit brings together two Ojibwe artists who create contemporary work about Native life. "Stratigraphy" (/strəˈtiɡrəfē/) spirals through the cyclical nature of generations, land and time. The word stratigraphy refers to the structure and order of a particular set of strata, or layers of earth. Geologists and archaeologists alike use stratigraphy to understand the passage of time. The exhibit showcases the way that these three artists conceptualize time: through generations. This exhibit complements artist Maggie Thompson’s intergenerational collaboration, Inherited Ground. 

This project is an intergenerational collaboration between Maggie Thompson (Fond du Lac Ojibwe) and her mother, Peggy Thompson. Their work brings together weaving, painting and shared observation of land. Using the grounds of the Arboretum as their common point of reference, they explore how two distinct visual languages – Ojibwe floral design and painterly depictions of ground – interpret the same environment.

Maggie created woven textile works using ribbon and beads to create Ojibwe florals, inspired by flowers growing in and around the Arboretum, while her mother painted a series focused on the ground, dirt and earth found at the Arboretum. Rather than depicting flowers directly, her work centers the soil that sustains them, emphasizing texture and a mother’s role as nurturer. Her paintings function as both physical and conceptual foundations for Maggie’s woven and beaded pieces. 

Each artwork by Mark Sifferlin and Kevan Willington is a "splash" — a moment where artist interpretation meets nature, resulting in works of art that challenge the objective view of the environment. Rather than nature observed from a distance, these works present nature felt. Executed in rich oil on panel, the paintings utilize the rigidity of the wood to support bold, gestural strokes and deep, singing harmonies of color. These are not mere documentations of scenery; they are colorful landscapes that invite you to step inside the vibration of the earth and breathe it all in.

Bringing together three distinct voices, “Radiant Flow: An exploration of light, texture and form” celebrates the movement between nature, tradition, and modern expression. This exhibition explores how light and energy transition across different surfaces. 

Patty MacHalec’s plein-air style multimedia canvases display a classic depth. The organic, three-dimensional curves of Kristen Treuting’s gourds are stained with ornamental motifs. Jane Johnson's contemporary paintings vibrantly capture the fluid, ever-changing nature of the world around us. 

Together, these artists invite you to witness the "flow" that connects the tactile world with the human spirit.

“Viewpoint” brings together the distinct artistic lenses of Brian Jensen and Mary Meuwissen to explore how we perceive our surroundings. 

Jensen offers a viewpoint rooted in clarity and memory—his precision-based acrylics on wood capture the iconic beauty of Minnesota’s landscapes and lakes with a storyteller’s eye. 

In contrast, Meuwissen offers a viewpoint from within. Her abstract, luminous layers of oil and wax paintings strip away the literal to reveal the emotional essence of a place. When looking at her pieces, you witness the joyful shifting of energy in nature.  

This exhibition invites you to shift your own perspective and find beauty in it all.