March 4, 2024 When our family was invited to be a part of Together, I knew it HAD TO BE FUN or my boys would disengage like they do when I ask them to pick-up their toys. So, we focused on two activities that we already do, painting and building. Our subject was already fully formed by my son Elvis, who has created his own alter-ego, “Dogman Badguy”, a supervillain that combines the pulpy noir allure of Batman’s Joker with the cuddliness of our pet dogs. For some time, we have been making drawings, paintings, comics, LEGO sculptures and pretend plays as a family about Dogman and his cohorts, Catman and Hatman. So, we decided to take it a step further and build the ultimate headquarters for the team. Like many of my art projects, ambitions outweighed our capacities, so we had some stressful days managing potty breaks and snacks in-between construction phases. And though their engagement waxed and waned, Elvis and Leroy were a part of the entire process from sketching designs to picking out paint colors at the hardware store and delivering the sculpture to the museum. Along the way they learned how to use a tape measure, make miter cuts on the chop saw (under strict parental supervision), and most importantly how to drill pilot holes so you don’t split the wood. It wasn’t easy because I had to prepare tasks for us to do together and after about an hour they would get bored and ask to watch videos on my phone. It’s ok, because they stuck it out in the studio playing inside the sculpture’s caverns while I kept the project moving forward. Much like doing laundry or “running” to the grocery store, making art with my kids is far more complicated and time consuming than it should be. It is not what I expected but occasionally it is far better. We invite you to climb inside the sculpture, play and have fun like we did!
-Preston AKA Papa Drum AKA Dad
March 28–October 13, 2024
Together is a mixed media art exhibition featuring artwork from ten Minnesota artist families of diverse ages and family structures who have created individual and communal work for the exhibition. Artists Emmett and Kit Ramstad conceived this project to elevate children’s artwork and provide a space for parent artists to support each other as they fulfill the roles of parents and artists while raising a new generation of makers. Together uplifts mixed generational creativity by showcasing artists who have contributed hugely to Minnesota’s artistic community and their children who are integral influences to their practice.
PARTICIPATING ARTISTS:
Sayge Carroll, Morgan Laramy; Preston Drum, Elvis and Leroy Drum; Isa Gagarin, Rae Gordon; Pao Her, Vince and Kailee Yang; Amanda Lovelee, Walden Waites; Avigail Manneberg, Kaiah and Micah Manneberg-Tompkins; Emmett Ramstad, Kit Aizura Ramstad; Anna Marie Shogren, Wally Glenn-Shogren; Aki Shibata, Atom Shibata Pliner and Yukiko Shibata Colburn; Jonathan Thunder, Mino Hart Thunder