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Contemporary Finnish-American
Artist Series 20th
Year Retrospective Exhibition
 December
1, 2011, to January 14, 2012
Opening Reception and Finnish Independence
Day Celebration: Thursday, December 1, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
HANCOCK, MI - The year 2011 marks the 20th anniversary of
the Contemporary Finnish-American Artist Series at the Finlandia University
Gallery.
The only art exhibition of its kind in the U.S.A., the
annual series showcases the work of prominent Finnish-American artists and
designers.
The work of each of the 19 artists featured in the exhibit
series is on display at the Finlandia University Gallery, in the Finnish
American Heritage Center, from December
1, 2011, to January 14, 2012.
A combined opening reception and Finnish Independence Day celebration
will take place at the Finnish American Heritage Center on Thursday, December
1, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
At the event, honored guest Anneli Halonen, cultural counselor
of the Embassy of Finland, Washington D.C., will present a talk titled,
"Cultural Identity and Finnish Art." Several artists whose work is featured in
the Retrospective exhibit will speak about the influence of their Finnish
American heritage on their artwork.
The Independence Day program will also include musical
performances, announcement of the 2012 Hankooki Heikki awardee, followed by a
reception and gallery viewing.
 Artwork by each of the 19 artists featured in the annual
Finlandia University Gallery Finnish-American Artists Series exhibit will be on
display. (A 10 year retrospective exhibit was held in 2002.)
Artists exhibiting work are Tarmo Watia (series artist
in1991), Joyce Koskenmaki (1992), Kathleen Oettinger (1993), Peder Kitti
(1994), Yeshe Linda Helander (1995), Gerald Immonen (1996), Elsa Bekkala
(1997), Marlene Ekola Gerberick (1998),
Rudy Autio (1999), Gladys Koski Holmes (2000), Arno Rafael Minkkinen (2001),
Eric Aho (2003), Petri Flint (2004), Vaino Kola (2005), David Salmela (2006),
John Lundeen (2007), Desiree Koslin (2008), Bruce A. Niemi (2009), Dina Kantor
(2010).
"Inspiration found in their ancestry often plays a strong
role in the work of these Finnish-American artists," says Carrie Flaspohler,
director of the Finlandia University Gallery. "Some draw from stories of
Finland heard in their youth, while others incorporate life lessons from their
immigrant grandparents. Some summon the strong connection to nature so
prominent in Finland, and others are influenced by the strength of contemporary
Finnish art and culture."
 In turn, these talented artists have inspired Finlandia
University students and faculty. Early in his tenure as university president
(1991-2007), Dr. Robert Ubbelohde envisioned the annual exhibition. He saw it
as both an occasion to highlight the work of contemporary Finnish-American
artists and an opportunity to enhance student learning, particularly for
students in the university's International School of Art & Design.
"I think that having these artists and their work on campus
provided role models for younger Finnish Americans, both Finlandia students and
area young people," Ubbelohde explains. "Their visits also became important
sources for student inspiration and encouragement, which gave me great joy.
While I did not think in terms of how long into the future the shows would
continue, it was one of my favorite projects while at Finlandia. I am so
pleased that 20 years later it still continues at the institution."
Finlandia University Gallery has published a 48-page
exhibition catalog that includes full-color reproductions of each of the
artworks included in the Retrospective exhibit, along with biographical
information about each artist. The catalog will be available for purchase at
the reception/Independence Day Celebration and at North Winds Books.
In his introductory essay to the exhibit catalog, Chicago-based
art writer and journalist Jeff Huebner writes, that the exhibit series
"embraces a group of people whose work represents not only the range and
diversity of Finnish-American cultural expression-from abstracted landscapes to
ceramic vessels, from realistic paintings to photographic portraits, from
stainless-steel sculptures to fiber art-but also the wide-ranging heterogeneity
of the American art experience itself."
Huebner stresses, however, that, "While these artists and
their appealing works are part of our American heritage, they also reveal
varying levels of engagement with their ethnic identity, or nationality. Some
directly explore themes and images related to their Finnish-ness
(suomalaisuus), Finnish-American-ness, or Sámi heritage ... other artists show a
more tenuous connection to their ancestry, their work more concerned with
formal issues ... [and] some of these artists mine veins of magical realism,
psychological realism, or surrealism."
"Though justly proud of their heritage, I'd venture to say
that most of the artists in this exhibition would prefer not to be classified
by such limiting, hyphenated labels. They are all exceptional American artists,
period." Huebner concludes, adding that, "Except sometimes through the surname,
you wouldn't necessarily know these folks were Finns."
"The Finlandia University Gallery gratefully acknowledges
each of the 19 artists who have been part of the Finnish-American Artists
Series," says gallery director Carrie Flaspohler. "It is their commitment that
has made it a success. They are an inspiring, professional, and generous group
of artists."
The exhibition and exhibition catalog are supported in part
by Finlandia Foundation® National, Finn Spark, Inc., Patricia Van Pelt, and a
gift in memory of The Hon. Dr. Gloria Jackson.
"20 years of Contemporary Finnish-American Art" is on
display at the Finlandia University Gallery through January 14th, 2012. Gallery
hours are Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00
p.m., Saturday 12:00 to 4:00 p.m., or by appointment.
The Finlandia University Gallery is in the Finnish American
Heritage Center, 435 Quincy Street, Hancock. Please call 906-487-7500 for more
information.
Photo cutlines:
Eric Aho, First
February Night, 2009. Oil on linen, 24 x 22 inches
Bruce Niemi,
Protected, Bronze, 2005, 15" x 21" x
12"
Rudy Autio, Twisted
Tree, Digital Print of Acrylic Painting,
1997, Collection of Finlandia University
@3748
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