Ardent Mills is seeking new submissions for their second year of custom designed window well artworks

Deadline for proposals is July 1, 2021. Application linked below.

Ardent Mills Window Well: Call for Artists

2019 Artists

JOSH WINKLER

Josh is a Minnesota Artist and educator. Since receiving his MFA in 2010, he has worked for a non-profit printmaking center, taught printmaking, and consistently exhibited work nationally and internationally. Winkler is currently an Associate Professor of printmaking at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

BEHIND THE ART: “BIG WOODS BUR OAK”

As an artist, Winkler is most concerned with the environment and a common disregard for the history of place as humanity grows in population and consumes energy. By combining personal experience with historic investigation, he builds layered landscape narratives that ask viewers to consider social, political and environmental context to their surroundings.

joshkwinkler.com
Instagram: @winkjosh

GENO OKOK

Okok developed his passion for art at the age of 7 when his family moved to America. Using unique colors and textures, he strives to influence creativity in modern pop art. His style is “Realistic Expressionism.” By creating paintings of everyday people, his art is an artistic illustration of the joyful moments in life. He studied at Mankato State University and then the Art Institute. His collection of artworks capture various elements of the African spirit; beauty, music, fashion, femininity, and grace.

BEHIND THE ART: "GODFATHERS OF MANKATO OR PIONEERS”

It is said that in 1852 Parson King Johnson was the first man to settle in Mankato. Years later in 1868 the first train arrived in Mankato by the Minnesota Valley Railroad. The city which once had a population of about 5,500 now has over 50,000 people residing in it. For the purpose of celebrating the spirit of Mankato’s culture and its community in this art piece, Geno created a depiction of the journey of Mankato from its beginning to what it is now. His creation merges one important component of Mankato’s culture and its school spirit with those earlier landmarks.

https://www.facebook.com/geno4art/
Instagram: @geno4art

Amber rahe

Amber Rahe is an artist that lives and works in the Mankato area. She received a Bachelors of Fine Arts and a Master of Arts Degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of North Dakota. Her work is mostly traditional oil paintings, and ink paintings inspired by the Romantic period and nature. She also teaches occasionally as an adjunct instructor at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

BEHIND THE ART: “RUBY FLOCK”

The bison represents the history of Mankato both in the introduction of the bison at Minneopa Falls and the statue that is a tribute to the Dakota people in our area. The bison melts into the water of our Minnesota River and grows native trees and our skyline on it’s back. The red sparrows stand out against the natural colors to represent the vibrancy of the people in our community.

amberrahe.com
Instagram: @a.rahe

HOLLY DODGE

In addition to mural arts, Holly is also a graphic designer, illustrator and writer. Holly works as a Marketing Manager for local nonprofit, Feeding Our Communities Partners, which provides food to elementary and middle school students on weekends and school breaks when access to food may be limited.

BEHIND THE ART: HOLD TO HOPE

Rabbits and snakes represent rebirth and transformation, while the bee traditionally symbolizes luck and power. This piece is a reminder that even in the most seemingly dire circumstances, there is always hope to be found.

https://www.facebook.com/blacksquirrel56003/

RACHEL cOMPART Gemlo

Rachel is a Mankato based artist who works mainly in acrylic paints and is inspired by nature and the everyday life. She graduated with a Masters in Art in 2013 and has since been teaching art and currently works as a preschool teacher.

BEHIND THE ART: PSITHURISM

This mural is a tribute to the natural beauty that surrounds us in Mankato. The leaves in this mural are collected from the Sakatah Trail, Sibley Park, Tourtellotte Park, the woods near Rachel’s house and her neighbors yard. Life in Mankato tends to keep us all very busy but she believes it is very important to slow down, go out in nature and truly appreciate how beautiful and miraculous it all really is.

https://www.facebook.com/rachelcompart.art/