KNZ. at CWA: CITY SPIT

Now through April 29th, City Wide Artists is celebrating their first year of existence with CWA: CITY SPIT, a diverse salon-style group exhibition including 40+ local artists, offering a  ‘picture of the state of art today in the Twin Cities.’ With a wide variety of mediums represented, and featuring artists such as Bobby Rogers, the NSRGNTS CREW, Fabrik Marge, Luis Fitch, Ifrah Mansour, and Ryan Coit, this show offers viewers a rare look at both well-known and up-and-coming denizens of our local art scene.

 

IC: Derrick Koch

 

FOCUS: KNZ (Mackenzie Owens)

KNZ has three pieces showing at CWA: CITY SPIT, now through March 25th. The works are part of a mini-series called “On the Shoulders of Giants”—the giants here, she explains, are ancestors. See her work and those of many more Twin Cities artists at City Wide Artists, 1506 Nicollet Ave., Mpls.

I reached out to ask about her involvement with CWA:CITY SPIT. You may have already seen her work online, at one of the trunk shows she’s held at b.Resale, at the Twin Cities PRIDE festival, at MXDWELL’s Loving Day Celebration (which KNZ & co. organized), or maybe you’re wearing her art right now.

 

Jewelry by KNZ. fluorite stone necklaces featuring brass beads from India and Ethiopia. image courtesy KNZ (Mackenzie Owens)

Wahida Omar: Can you talk a little about City Wide Artists in general and the CWA: CITY SPIT show in particular? How do you see your place in this show? How do you feel about the other artists? Is there anyone you're particularly interested in?

KNZ: “City Wide Artists is a relatively new gallery in the Twin Cities (the CITY SPIT show is also their one year anniversary) and so far I love what they're doing! The CITY SPIT show is shaping up to be majorly diverse from race, to culture, to mediums used, to how well each artist is known. I've only been creating art for about four years now, so I was honored to be invited. I'm very excited to check out what Fabrik Marge and Junada [Petrus] will be entering! Also looking forward to connecting with other artists I've not met in the Twin Cities.”

 

Mackenzie Owens, 'KNZ' (pronounced Kenz), working on the series. image courtesy KNZ (Mackenzie Owens)

WO: Can you talk a bit about your vision as an artist? What are your influences, what drives you? Where have you been and where are you going?

KNZ: “My work is largely influenced by Black American history, brown skin, and cosmic vibrations. The standard of beauty in our society rests largely on European features and so much of what I create is to honor Black and brown beauty, because there's such an abundance of it that gets overlooked. I want to create those images and push them out there to honor our ancestors and anyone who can appreciate that shade of beauty.”

 

Saint Harriet, by KNZ. Mixed media piece from 'On the Shoulders of Giants' mini-series, now showing in the CWA: CITY SPIT exhibition at City Wide Artists. image courtesy KNZ (Mackenzie Owens)

WO: How do you place yourself in context with viewers and other artists? Do you feel a sense of community, and if so, who is that community?

KNZ: “I would say that I am a part of the Twin Cities artists of color community, for sure. At least the South Minneapolis artists of color community, I feel very at home.”

Cosmic Frederick Douglas, by KNZ. Mixed media piece from mini-series 'On the Shoulders of Giants.’ image courtesy KNZ (Mackenzie Owens)