Freeborn Co. Arts Initiative

“The Solitude Series,” featuring work of artist Susanne Crane, is open through June

26. Provided Exhibitions, other activities planned at Freeborn County Arts Initiative

By albert Lea Tribune

The Freeborn County Arts Initiative has three exhibitions planned for the summer, along with an ongoing podcast and the album release of a local musician.

The Arts Initiative gallery is at 224 S. Broadway Ave. in Albert Lea.

“The Solitude Series” — a solo exhibition of paintings by Susanne Crane

Artist Susanne Crane opened a solo exhibition of paintings titled “The Solitude Series” in the Arts Initiative gallery in May and will continue through June 26.

The exhibition, made possible by a Minnesota State Arts Board grant, features 21 paintings that explore the concepts of safe space, mental illness, incarceration, hospice and social alienation, as Crane reflected on the challenges 2020 brought.

Kathy Weed — solo fiber artist exhibition

Starting July 8 and continuing through Aug. 28, the work of fiber artist Kathy Weed of the Northfield area will be on display in the gallery.

Weed’s textural, multi-layered approach to quilting transports viewers into a fascinating world of color and detail, according to information provided by the Arts Initiative.

The work of fiber artist Kathy Weed will be on display from July 8 through Aug. 28.

The exhibit featuring the work of Marlena Myles will be open from Sept. 2 through Oct. 30.

Marlena Myles — solo digital artist exhibition

From Sept. 2 through Oct. 30, selftaught Native American (Spirit Lake Dakota) artist Marlena Myles from St. Paul will display her work in the gallery. Her work includes children’s books, fabrics, animations and fine art in galleries such as the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Museum of Russian Art, Red Cloud Heritage Center and the Minnesota Museum of American Art, among others.

Myles also owns a Dakota publishing company called Wiyounkihipi (We Are Capable) Productions to create a platform that educates and honors the culture, language and history of the Dakota people.

aRTWaTCH podcast

ARTWATCH is an enlightening foray into the lives of working artists with host Elisha Marin.

The podcast features interviews with artists from across the country, including Tom Butsch, former senior art director at Disneyland, Andrea Blackman, a Washington, D.C.,-based fiber artist, and Olivia Blinn, a globetrotting humanitarian photographer.

The podcast is produced in Albert Lea by the Freeborn County Arts Initiative and broadcasts in both audio and video formats. New episodes air at 7 p.m. on the last Wednesday of each month.

The following is the summer schedule: • Elisha Marin, musician, June 30 • Kathy Weed, fiber artist, July 28 • Michelle Kaisersatt, ceramic artist, Aug. 25 • Marlena Myles, digital artist, Sept. 29

More information can be found at www. artwatch.us.

“Shining Out” album release

The debut album of Albert Lea native Elisha Marin, “Shining Out,” will debut June 18. Produced by Matt Patrick of the Library Recording Studio in Minneapolis, the collection of 12 original songs features Marin’s songwriting in the folkAmericana genre. “Shining Out” also features the talents of Aaron Fabbrini on bass and pedal steel guitar, Zach Miller on percussion, Alissa Klein on vocals and the voices of over 100 students and friends.

The album will be available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify on June 18.

For more information, visit www.shiningout.net or www.ElishaMarin.com.