Kristin Quinn & Megan Quinn

Art at the Airport

SHOWCASING CULTURAL VIBRANCY OF OUR COMMUNITY
TO THE NEARLY ONE MILLION VISITORS EVERY YEAR

ART AT THE AIRPORT

April 30 - June 30, 2021

Megan Quinn
Ceramics

These forms are the latest in my forty years as a potter/ceramicist which address the possibilities of developing vessels and surfaces in both a sculptural and functional way. I am fascinated by the many options for investigation that functional clay pieces provide.

Many of these pieces represent a new direction in my work using various sorts of handmade molds which often begin with patterns for polyhedra. A sabbatical from my teaching position at Augustana College allowed me to develop this way of working, which was inspired by students in a three-dimensional design class. The pandemic provided me with more studio time to focus on developing painted surfaces. These begin with an articulation of the form and are developed beyond this, based on various prompts from my experience.

A variety of clay was used in the forms included here including earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain. Firing techniques vary from electric fueled kilns to gas and wood fired kilns. Wood firing is my preference because of the spontaneous color and textures the ashy atmosphere provides.

Kristin QUINN
PAINTING

My painting process is energized and transformed by study of the natural world. Exploring new ecosystems in uncommon environments is valuable visual and conceptual research. Living along the Mississippi flyway gives front door access to observe bird migration patterns. I love the puzzle of “finding” a particular species of warbler, such tiny gems of birds. I study their songs, their characteristic behaviors and their distinct coloring and wait for their arrival and sadly, departure. For me the most important aspect of birding is the time spent outside by the river or in a grove of trees. I watch light change, see reflections on water, look for movement in the trees. My work is informed by this exploration of light, reflection, water and patterns.

In the past three years I have had the opportunity to travel north to the Great Lakes of Superior and Michigan, the Upper Peninsula, Northern Wisconsin and the north shore of Minnesota. The exoticness of this landscape full of rivers, bogs, preserves, fens, falls and lakes. These diverse waterways have been a large source of inspiration for my most recent work. The driftless landscapes, endless floating other-worldly spaces, waterfalls with phosphorescent mists have entered my paintings and have become metaphors for our current pandemic era. The knotted, painted combinations force a continual shift of attention among the many levels. I compare this to a single moment in landscape and the competing levels of activity. It's the density of this kind of experience that continues to raise questions and excite me as a painter.

BROWSE & SHOP THE GALLERY

We offer curbside pick-up or shipping. For more information contact Visual Arts Director Dawn Wohlford-Metallo.

Art at the Airport

SHOWCASING CULTURAL VIBRANCY OF OUR COMMUNITY​TO THE NEARLY ONE MILLION VISITORS EVERY YEAR