Imminent Change | Rising Potential by Annie Hejny Opens September 14 at Kolman & Reeb Gallery

Desire to Escape by Annie Hejny

Exhibition opens September 14 and runs through October 26. The gallery will host an artist reception on Saturday, September 21, 7:00-9:00p.

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.

Soft and Dangerous by Annie Hejny

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 and sediment samples collected from Lake Superior but they are also an exciting departure from her previous work. Including acrylic paintings, mixed media wall sculpture, watercolor, and video installations, this exhibition offers a look at a completely new style for Annie.

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.

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.

Kolman & Reeb Gallery is in Studio 395, Northrup King Building, 1500 Jackson Street NE.

612-385-4239 kolmanreebgallery.com