Calling All Crawlers

Banner image: Art by Anna Gambucci, courtesy of the artist. 

 

The biannual St. Paul Art Crawl is already upon us — springing ahead right as the birds start chirping and the tulips and lilacs start budding. Not to be outdone by nature, artists across St. Paul are gearing up to show off their spring colors for a three-weekend run by location (Lowertown, West 7th and West Side runs April 25-27; Como and Payne-Phalen May 2-4; and Cathedral Hill, Little Mekong, Summit-Grand, Merriam Park, and Creative Enterprise Zone May 9-11). 

MPLSART talked to four artists about what they are most looking forward to showing off, and who else they're looking forward to showing out. 

 

Anna Gambucci

MPLSART: Where can people find you during the Crawl, and which weekend will you be showing?

Anna Gambucci: For the opening weekend of Spring 2025 St. Paul Art Crawl — Friday, April 25, through Sunday, April 27 — I’ll share a large collection of my artwork at Schmidt Artist Lofts’ Landmark Gallery, with an exhibit titled “HUMAN / NATURE COLOR BATH" which features both my human representational paintings juxtaposed against my large body of abstract, nature-inspired paintings—ALL of which bathe the viewer in color.

 

 What kind of work do you do, and what are you excited to show at St. Paul Art Crawl this year?

AG: This spring, I’m especially excited to show my feminist/abstract oil painting titled Can’t Burn Us Down, plus three small but intensely colorful series of watercolor theme and variations on the GREEN OLIVE with RED PIMENTO; concentric, abstracted drawings in chalk pastel; and paper cuts (late-stage Matisse–style)!

That said, I primarily paint abstract watercolors that are modern, lyrical, curvy, energetic, wildly colorful, concentric-shaped, and nature-inspired. I also paint oil portraits and figures using minimal brushstrokes to create honest, beautiful, high-intensity subjects. I occasionally paint oil abstractly and figures in watercolor. I also sculpt — often lyrical animal forms. My most recent sculpture is a seven-foot-tall, metal fabricated, topiary-style Trojan Horse self portrait. It’s made of thick aluminum rod, braised and bent via welding torch, into its animal form, with an oval, oil-painted, self-portrait “mask” cut out and folded down the horse’s nose. This is one example of how I also infuse my social/political beliefs and symbolic identity into my body of artwork. At SPAC, I’ll show two smaller sculptures with similar identity expression. (The Trojan horse is too large for me to transport to Schmidt without a horse trailer!) 

 

Your work is an interesting mix of saturated, fluid abstraction in some pieces and figurative (often figure studies) in others. How do you switch gears between those works, and how do both fit into your interest in issues of social justice?

AG: I’ve favored abstract watercolor painting over oil-painted figures since finishing art school — at age 50 — just two years ago! I’ve done this because: 1. They’re way more quick and instinctual for me to create and complete. 2. Unlike oil portrait realism, they distinctly exhibit my own authentic, mark-making language. 3. Making them soothes my nervous system and helps me stay grounded. 4. Watercolor painting sessions are much easy to pepper into a financially hard/side-hustle-intensive, artist launch life! The reason I continue to work in both paint mediums, though, is because each one is so lusciously and uniquely organic. Painting with oils feels like painting with butter — so creamy and luxurious — and it allows for thick, textural, almost sculptural application and expression.  Watercolor paint, on the other hand, has its own, gorgeous, primal behavioral instincts…so to paint with watercolors is to co-create with them. When applied loosely, intensely, and with ample water, they exhibit juicy, exquisite color-bleeds into each other, and they also demonstrate a phenomenon where colors applied simultaneously together on paper occasionally separate back into their individual color pockets, in a gorgeous, “chemistry experiment,” combining pigment, water, and paper! It’s not too complicated a shift between these disparate mediums and styles, because the through-line of all my work—both painted and sculptural—is my signature color palette: sap green, yellow, and reds; an economy of detail; natural co-creation with organic materials; long, broad, curving lines; and a lean into personal, political, and symbolic expression.

I don’t want to lose realistic figure painting from my artistic practice because I want to create socially impactful public art — à la Diego Rivera— and also poignantly personal and political self-portraits — à la Frida Kahlo. My self portrait, Trojan Horse, is already an example of my Frida–style inspiration. This horse wears a realistic “mask” of ME — a friendly, middle class-looking, older white lady — who’s actually a surprise activist (racial justice/anti-Imperialism/anti-political-status-quo), who innocently comes through the doors of institutions, then when necessary —BAM— lowers the gate and lets her institutional accountability/truth-telling warrior out when you least expect her!

Most of my abstract paintings are pure play for me, in the realms of color, form, and an eruption of Mother Nature’s creative life force. These works keep me grounded in some level of joy and emotional regulation even as I’m incredibly worried and enraged about current U.S. and global scales of violence, injustice, and catastrophic human rights violations. Some of my abstract paintings are also political. My large primary color and black abstract expressionist “Can’t Burn Us Down” oil painting I’ll show at SPAC speaks to my feminist rage and determination in response to the 2022 Supreme Court reversal of Roe v. Wade, with symbolic women’s profiles set in a burning building and American flag stripes painted in an upper corner.

 

Are there any other artists you're excited to see or that people should seek out during the Crawl?

AG: YES! Artists whose work excites me who are co-showing at Schmidt are painters: MaryBeth Garrigan, D.C. Ice, Erik Pearson, Chelsea Pedersen, Stephen Poling, Briauna Williams, and so many gifted ceramic artists and more! Outside of Schmidt, I’m a massive fan of Caroline Mecklin, who shows at Lowertown Underground Artists Gallery.

 

Barret Lee

MPLSART: Where can people find you during the Crawl, and which weekend will you be showing?

Barret Lee: You can find me at the Schmidt Artist lofts April 25-27. Schmidt is my favorite place to be for the weekend. It's been really growing in quality and popularity these last few years becoming a can't-miss event for artists and patrons alike. For a lot of us this is our first big show of the year, so we have new work to show off for the first time.

What kind of work do you do, and what are you excited to show at St. Paul Art Crawl this year?

BL: With acrylic paint and collage materials I create whimsical characters and surreal worlds. For the crawl this year, I'm using a bunch of old newspapers and magazines I found over the winter. I try to find humor by using old headlines or photos to juxtapose with my painted characters. It's fun to bring these old, discarded print materials back to life.  

 

The Art Crawl kicks off a busy spring and summer season of art festivals, and I imagine you'll be busy showing at lots of them. What do you enjoy most about showing at events like this?

BL: It's one of the best ways to help your work find an audience. I'm going into my 9th season of art fairs, and without these events, I wouldn't be able to do art full time. I make art that's very approachable with a wide range of price ranges so anyone can become an art collector. It's a joyful experience to do these events and have your work connect with people and end up in their home for years to come. 

 

Are there any other artists you're excited to see or that people should seek out during the Crawl?

BL: Yes! Heather Renaux, another fellow surrealist whimsical creator like myself. DC Ice — a staple of the building — making amazing modern folk art pieces. For clothing, go see some of Mason Jones’ nationally renowned tie-dye shirts. These are just some I know for sure will be there but the fun is to go and discover new artists you may not have seen before. 

 

Sean Lim

MPLSART: Where can people find you during the Crawl, and which weekend will you be showing?

Sean Lim: You can expect to find me and my artwork Saturday, May 3, from 1-5 PM at Urban Roots, 1110 Payne Ave., St. Paul. You can expect community and youth intern art, a free nature coloring book, a bake sale and refreshments, and DIY art.

 

What kind of work do you do, and what are you excited to show at St. Paul Art Crawl this year?

SL: I’m a local St. Paul based community organizer, artist, and mutual aid practitioner who has spent the past decade building community power. My advocacy is centered on youth organizing, education, housing and environmental / climate justice. I use artwork to show solidarity with on-the-ground movements and assist with the rapid response narrative messaging needs of local organizing efforts, in real time.

At this year's spring St. Paul Art Crawl, I am excited to offer some new screen-printed posters that were co-created through ideation with local community members. These poster designs were made to show solidarity with the most marginalized and vulnerable members of our communities: new-to-country families and immigrant neighbors, Transgender neighbors, and unhoused neighbors.   

My main mediums of choice include silk-screen printing of posters and placards, watercolor painting, large banner painting, and photography.

 

Your work seems to be very community oriented. How do you see the community of artists in Saint Paul fitting into the larger local movements and moments?

SL: As an artist, a community organizer, and a mutual aid organizer, I love it when I get the opportunity to weave all three of these passions together. I believe that artmaking is world-building. For me, art is an invaluable tool in the toolbox of community organizing and has been integral to every single movement for justice in the history of this country and across the globe. This is true for suffrage, LGBTQ+ rights, labor, anti-war, civil rights, and environmental justice movements, among others. 

Through my work with a local Art Collective & studio space which emerged in the resistance against the Line 3 oil pipeline, I am able to create artwork that raises awareness about ongoing struggles and social justice movements. My work ranges from the context of the street to the halls of government, to the homes and porch windows of homes, and clothing of community members. The work takes on various forms intended to shed light on the need for systemic and policy change at various levels of government around the climate, education, housing, and more. 

 

Are there any other artists you're excited to see or that people should seek out during the Crawl?

SL: I am excited to see fellow artist Skyler Hawkins, who is a talented basket weaver! We will both be tabling at Urban Roots together on May 3.

 

Wone Vang, Springboard for the Arts

Wone Vang (left) and Youa Vang of Third Daughter, Restless Daughter. Photo by Sarah Maricha White, courtesy of NEMAA.

MPLSART: What’s the Springboard for the Arts SPAC plan?

Wone Vang: We’re hosting our annual SpringPOP! Pop-up Market and Community Day on Saturday, May 10, from noon to 4 PM. There will be more than 25 print artists and vendors showing work across many mediums, including 2D art, letterpress, relief, photography, zines, and more. Minnesota Center for Book Arts and Amy Jo will be there with a stamp-making activity. We’ll also have Streetcorner Letterpress with the Ready Go Mobile Tool and music from violinist David Gerald Sutton.

 

Which artists will be participating in the SpringPop! Pop-Up Market and Community Day?

WV: Artsyvushop, Malini Basu, Bohemian Press, Boring House, by deesign, Cooler Than The Future, Bennett Christensen, The Collective Noun, Del Aku, Dramastikator Arts LLC, Dtheartista, Lacey Eidem Art, Good Graces, Marlo Graham Art, Gw Artsy, Betsy Hsiao, Stacie Kammerling, Zach Kelz, Maria Ku Illustration, Brooke Jessica Morgan, newtquark, OPTICTUNA, Paranoid Tree Press, PLOT Gallery, Emiko Rainbow, Rubenstein Studio, Sadboi Illustration, SciencePainted, Tin Can Valley Printing Co., tranglyart, vicksz, Sophie Wang Art and Zines, Warrior Printress Letterpress & Design, Lily Wenndt Illustration. 

 

How does SPAC fit into the Springboard mission?

WV: Springboard for the Arts’ mission is to support artists with the tools to make a living and a life, and to build just and equitable communities full of meaning, joy, and connection.

Our pop-up markets and community events foster a vibrant artistic community and inspire artists to dream big. These programs provide a platform for local artists to feature or sell their works while interacting with the community as a creative entrepreneur. This year’s pop-up market highlights print-based artists and the power of their art to tell stories, convey messages, and showcase impactful artwork.

 

Are you showing your art this year, if not at SPAC?

WV: Third Daughter, Restless Daughter will be a guest artist at Solar Arts building during Art-A-Whirl and I am also featured as NEMAA’s 30 artists. My sister, Youa Vang, and I are carrying the tradition of cross stitch passed on from our grandmother. But we create unique cross stitches that depict progressive work not usually seen in traditional embroidery. The unconventional work allows us to speak to all who want artwork that voices their thoughts in pretty "x"es. We use our love of pop culture and imagery to modernize them. ◼︎ 

 

These interviews have been edited for length and clarity. 

For more information on locations, times, artists, and more, check out the St. Paul Art Crawl website. Find artists @AnnaGambucci, @Barret_Lee, @SeanLimMN, and @wonevang78 on Instagram.