Give it a punch! Christopher Rowley’s Technique The Regrettable Truth of the Cliché by Christopher Rowley opened on Artsy.net today! What amazing work. Four of his pieces are in the Windows on Cedar Project at Susan Hensel Gallery as well, so people who are local or travel to Minneapolis can see them in person. […]
COVID-19 And Art, Time-No-Time My friends and I named the epidemic the “TIME-NO-TIME”. But, the interaction of COVID-19 and art, the epidemic cancelled my exhibition schedule in one fell swoop. After 50 years of making and exhibiting artwork at almost all times…the work had nowhere to go. Of course, the first response was panic. In order to assert a little control over the TIME-NO-TIME, I decided to study and learn more about the trends in the global art market. I enrolled in an intensive class on artwork economics with Christie’s Auction House, studying under Dr. Clare McAndrew, a world-renowned analyst of global art business. I had been observing the changes happening re: online sales. All indications were that this segment would grow during the pandemic, reduce somewhat as it died down, but remain at 15-25% of sales going forward. Moving Online: COVID-19 And Art Subsequently, several things intersected. I had hired Faceless Marketing, a full-service marketing agency prior to COVID-19, to re-brand me, polish up my personal website as well as my gallery website, and create a real presence on the internet. I was looking for more ways to exhibit even though galleries and museums were shut down. The first thing [...]
Fine Embroidered Art, Fiber Art, & Textile Is For Sale View the fine embroidered art created by Minneapolis’ one and only Susan Hensel. Susan has a wide range of artistic abilities and is a gifted and innovative creator. In Susan’s more than fifty years showing her work, she has fused embroidery, digital, and manual mixed media practices to combine stunning pieces, shown around the globe. […]
Robyn Hendrix Contraption in the Windows on Cedar Project Robyn Hendrix Contraption in the Windows on Cedar Project. What a pleasure it is to present Robyn Hendrix quirky watercolors in the windows! She first showed with Susan Hensel Gallery in 2009. ( The Leap of Faith 5) This suite, playing with transparency and light is entitled CONTRAPTIONS. […]
Gallery Musings Today was spent on promo for the Wool Market yawning from lack of sleep. Evaluating the results of the current show in the gallery updating the website. Interviewing several people for the potential new position of gallery associate in January, photographing fiber and recording dye results. The work day flew by, with both Zach and I smiling as we we realized our work responsibilities were waning. He has finished 2 of his three jobs before grad school and I am almost to the sabbatical date! We are both waxing philosophical/nostalgic. Even though we will be working together another 2 months! Leslie Sobels' show comes down after Memorial Day. But we will maintain our Monday hours, getting caught up on gallery admin and planning. Web restructure and repair, generalized computer stuff! Our Fridays, which may occasionally become Thursdays or Wednesdays (call before you come). Will be spent dying and cleaning out the basement cracks, crannies and crevices to make a fuller functioning lower studio. Susan Hensel Gallery Opened September 10th, 2004 Susan Hensel Gallery was a gallery/ workspace presenting 5-6 shows per year devoted to the concept of narrative in [...]
Sydney Aquarium after hours I was not particularly looking forward to the Sydney Aquarium...You know, seen one seen them all. And I suppose it was not that unusual as aquariums go. BUT we got to see it with no strollers, no screaming kids, no cranky parents! The most exciting thing was seeing 2 real platypus! The were quite small, swimming far to quickly for my camera to catch them in the dark water. Holly is a woman from Florida who wears fine jewelry and always arrives fashionably and creatively dressed. Except for the Florida connection, I would never have dreamed of her special talent. Holly can talk to the sea creatures, even through the glass, and they appear to listen. Holly's normal voice is quite loud, brash, carrying far. When she talks to the sea creatures, she speaks with the tone of a new lover, sweet & inviting. The leopard ray came right to the glass and seemed to reach out to her. The dugong stopped sleeping, and swam to her. About Susan Hensel Gallery Opened September 10th, 2004 Susan Hensel Gallery was a gallery/ workspace presenting 5-6 shows per [...]
The Gallery is pregnant? Things are brewing, even as sabbatical continues. It is an exciting time in the quiet gallery. Nothing is hanging on the wall. Everything is pregnant with potential! The windows are growing and blooming with the art by Debora Miller. Drive by, especially after dark to see them at their best! Soon we will have another South Minneapolis Wild Wool Market: October 23. In December a new show will open...its title is unknown...but it is a collaboration between Susan Hensel and her son John Hensel. John is a fine photographer who is able to take an idea, a glimmer, really, and make it sing. I had a weird idea that involved yarn that told a story. His photography makes that potential story real. Stay tuned for dates! The party will be sometime over the Christmas holidays, since that is when he visits Minneapolis. And then, Dean Ebben's show will open in January. Dean is a local guy who moved on to New York. He comes back every year to see family and to teach at Minnesota Center for Book Arts. On January 14 he will open IN THE HOUSE OF THE MINERAL SPIRITS at Susan [...]
As summer slowly arrives... The coming months at Susan Hensel Gallery will be pretty quiet... Well, not exactly quiet. A lot will be going on, but there will be no exhibitions scheduled for a couple of months. My summer exhibitor had to cancel for various reasons, leaving a hole in the schedule. Rather than fill the hole, I will be using the time and space to rest and spend time making my own art. I'm thinking of it as a trial run for my retirement! There will also be workmen around replacing windows! What will I be doing? Well, any number of things. First I will be filling the empty walls ( No, they are not empty yet! Carolyn Halliday's show continues until July 12) with huge sheets of paper so I can make really BIG drawings! But mostly I will be working on a couple of sculptures and installations. I will continue to dye and spin wool...Some will be for sale here and in my ETSY shop. Some will be used in my artwork. I will still keep Monday hours. The wool shop will be more open. It won't have to hide to prevent competition with the exhibitions. Textile [...]
Hands at Work at the Mending Soiree Friday evening, the Mending Soiree met as the spring rain pelted the windows. Libbie shared her stories, people knit, sewed, operated cameras…hands always at work. […]
Reader's Art opening The opening was wonderful tonight! There was such a crush of people that I could not take pictures after the first half-hour or so. In these pictures, you see the first little bit, when Mary Tasillo arrived for Book Bombing, and old friends met up and caught up. Then I was off, welcoming people, giving them gloves, writing up sales, and keeping an eye on refreshments, etc. Now to settle down and rest for a day or two. Susan Hensel Gallery The focus of Susan Hensel Gallery is on compelling objects, meaningful use of materials, and engaging sculpture. It is a gallery where experimental ideas and works of the hand join to create unique sensory experiences. Opened September 10th, 2004 Susan Hensel Gallery is a gallery/ workspace presenting 5-6 shows per year in an intimate space. with hardwood floors and high tin ceilings. In 2013 the interior space reverted to a working studio for Susan Hensel where she continues to work on small and largescale artwork that engages. Both sculptural and cultural space. You can find Susan Hensel’s current work at www.SusanHenselProjects.com. The Susan Hensel Gallery is now a large window gallery on Cedar Avenue. The main [...]
