Nite Lite Opening

The opening of Nite Lite yesterday evening was a wonderful event.
Thank you to all who attended the opening; to the Shoebox Gallery for the opportunity to exhibit in such a unique space; and to Isles Bun & Coffee Co. for providing the warming refreshments.

Camphor Studio members: Helen Franzen, Julia Kouneski, Lindsay Noble, Tonja Torgerson, and Patrick Vincent. Photo by Sean Smuda.

Nite Lite from across the street, at dusk before the opening. Photo by Patrick Vincent.

A video of the opening party, by Shoebox Gallery Director Sean Smuda.

Nite Lite runs from Saturday Nov 8, 2008-Saturday Jan 3, 2009.
The Shoebox Gallery is a display window in the Roberts Shoe Store just to the right of 2948 Chicago Av S, Mpls, MN

Nite Lite at the Shoebox starting November 8th

We are hard at work on our upcoming project, Nite Lite. For Nite Lite we will be transforming the Shoebox Gallery into a giant Lite Brite display!

An opening reception will take place on Saturday, November 8th from 5-7pm and will include an open studio and party afterwards.

Nite Lite runs from Saturday Nov 8, 2008-Saturday Jan 3, 2009.

The Shoebox Gallery is a display window in the Roberts Shoe Store just to the right of 2948 Chicago Avenue S, Mpls, MN
As winter intensifies, the days grow short and darkness plays a greater role in our daily lives. Religious and cultural celebrations such as Winter Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, the Japanese Amatersu celebration and the Scandinavian Beiwe festival use human-created lights as ritual during this season. These manifestations of light are shared across age groups just as they are shared cross-culturally. Focusing on the magic these traditions hold for children, we have created our own illumination for this season. The project emulates the Hasbro© Lite Brite — a once common holiday gift of our generation. In many ways this toy was our first introduction to a canvas, its black surface tilted up towards us to be decorated with glowing plastic pegs. By magnifying this simple toy's scale, the Shoebox Gallery is transformed into a playful celebration of light in these dark days of winter. Camphor Studios is: Helen Franzen, Julia Kouneski, Lindsay Noble, Tonja Torgerson and Patrick Vincent.

More information can be found at:
http://mnartists.org/event.do?rid=209483

Nite Lite in Progress

We have been working hard on our upcoming exhibition with the Shoebox Gallery. Here are some images of our progress today:
Testing the fit. Our holes are two different sizes, so we can use the pegs in two different ways.

We had to drill a couple thousand additional holes...You start to get a sense of how many holes when looking at the backing board we used for most of the sheets.

Finished boards, waiting to be painted.

And a sneak peak of the lighted finished board!

We hope to see you at the opening, when we unveil our giant version of the childhood toy, the Lite Brite!

Nite Lite will be revealed at the exhibition opening, on November 8th from 5-7 pm.
Nite Lite runs from Saturday Nov 8, 2008-Saturday Jan 3, 2009.
The Shoebox Gallery is a display window in the Roberts Shoe Store just to the right of 2948 Chicago Ave S, Mpls, MN

More info at:
http://mnartists.org/event.do?rid=209483

Soaked!

Yesterday's Art Soak Yardsale was quite an event.

Art was sold, free haircuts and lemonade given out. It was nice to have street interaction with the neighborhood in addition to the more sheltered studio space three floors above. That evening Switzerlind played a great set in the middle of a lightning storm. People were kind of enough to solider the weather and arrive at the party dripping wet. The evening finished with DJ'ed a dance party in the studio next door that went into the wee hours of the morning. Thank you to everyone on who came to either the sale or the party, and a special thank you to Switzerlind for hauling an organ up two flights of stairs to play for us!!

Julia took pictures to the event, you will find them below:

Art Soak Yardsale & Opening party June 14th

Camphor Studios hosts The Art Soak Yardsale June 14th, 2008
Featuring the work of local artists in a variety of media
Local music by pop-instrumental band Switzerlind

Camphor Studios will be hosting its first event open to the public on Saturday, June 14th. The afternoon will feature an informal art sale by a variety of local artists, including Helen Franzen, Sam Hoolihan, Julia Kouneski, Ellen Mueller, Tonja Torgerson and Patrick Vincent. The evening will showcase a formal exhibition by the members of Camphor Studios and reception celebrating the founding of the art space. Live music provided by the local band, Switzerlind, will start at 8 pm.

The founding members of Camphor Studio are Helen Franzen, Julia Kouneski, Tonja Torgerson and Patrick Vincent.

Camphor Studios presents The Art Soak Yardsale Date/Times: June 14, 2008 Art Sale: 3-7pm Exhibition/Reception: 8pm - 11pm Featuring music by Switzerlind Location: Camphor Studios 3rd Floor of the Robert Shoes Building 740 E Lake St (corner of Lake and Chicago) Minneapolis MN 55407