September 14 – October 26, 2024
Kolman & Reeb Gallery is pleased to present Imminent Change | Rising Potential, by Annie Hejny. A Minneapolis-based artist and environmental activist, Annie strives to celebrate nature’s beauty while simultaneously wrestling with humanity’s devastating impact on the environment.
Using resources provided by a Kolman & Reeb Project Space Grant, Annie continued her investigation of Lake Superior. The first step for her grant exhibition was a 24-day solo journey circumnavigating Lake Superior, a road trip known as The Circle Tour. During her journey, she collected water and sediment samples from the lake, took photos, and shot video footage. Inspired by this journey of discovery, with these water and sediment samples, she explored concepts directly influenced by the lake. Asking more profound questions about painting as a practice, Annie integrated these samples with manufactured pigments to delve into deeper questions about the lake’s landscape and history.
Taking a step away from her familiar water painting style, Annie went in a fresh direction. The pieces created exclusively for this show rely on an acceptance of the unknown to impact the development of the expressions in her work. Using looser gestures and compositions that challenge the space of the canvas, these pieces not only incorporate water samples collected from Lake Superior but are also an exciting departure from her previous work. This exhibition offers a look at a completely new style for Annie that includes acrylic paintings, mixed media wall sculptures, watercolor paintings, and a video installation.
Annie found the history, teachings, and current state of Lake Superior are more vast and powerful than she could ever hope to fully address in this first exhibition solely committed to Lake Superior. Yet, she believes any conversation we can engage in regarding the state of our freshwater sources is part of the progress toward the future health of fresh water for all. She believes this artwork is about being fully present to our personal changes as we witness the impact on our natural landscapes stemming from climate change.
“This unique immersion with the lake will offer gallery visitors a glimpse into the true state of our freshwater supply,” says Anita Sue Kolman, Kolman & Reeb Gallery co-founder and co-partner. “Annie’s work shows she’s deeply concerned and passionate about our environment. Jodi and I are honored to have provided Annie with the support and resources for this inspiring and important work.
Jodi Reeb, gallery curator and co-partner, comments, “Annie’s work for this show explores her personal relationship with fresh water and our connection to water as beings made of water. I am most inspired by her advocacy in helping to raise awareness about environmental factors affecting our water sources. She is newly working from photographs to create her paintings and is using steel and concrete to create wall sculptures inspired by her journey around Lake Superior.”
Annie Irene Hejny is a Minneapolis-based artist and environmental activist. In her art, she explores personal and communal relationships with fresh water, acknowledging that all humans are bodies of water and are connected by water. She believes any conversation regarding the state of our freshwater sources is part of the progress toward the future health of fresh water for all. Annie has exhibited nationally, and her artwork is held in private collections in 30 states and internationally.
