Mobile Art Gallery at Willow River State Park

“Awakening: Inspired by Interconnections,” explores the close relationship between humans and the natural world, and suggests a new understanding of their interdependence. “Awakening” features new work by artists who participated in the What We Need is Here 2021-2022 seminar series, exploring the role of art and sustainability to create thriving communities.
The Mobile Art Gallery, a program of ArtReach St. Croix, will travel throughout the St. Croix Valley this summer and into the autumn, bringing the arts into the landscape.
“Awakening” is a complex and harmonized group project inspired by the participating artists’ individual responses to their experiences throughout the What We Need is Here seminar meetings and a two-day summer retreat in the Barrens Wildlife Area in the extreme northeast part of the St. Croix River watershed, near the headwaters of the Namekagon River.
Through these experiences, the artists have begun to understand more deeply the significance of the interdependence of species throughout the natural world, even those we cannot see and which may be deep underground.
Participating What We Need is Here artists are Gloria Adrian, Barb Bend, Stephen J. Gates, Deanna Grigus, Theresa Harsma, Patty Kuebker Johnson, Cheryl Maplethorpe, Lynn Pagliarini, Bonnie Ploger, Teri Power, Sue Rowe, Judy Smith, Krista Spieler, Laura Tiede, Jill Waterhouse, and Linda Webster. Guest curator, Anastasia Shartin.
“Awakening” and the 2022 season of the Mobile Art Gallery is supported by: the National Endowment for the Arts, Xcel Energy Foundation, St. Croix Valley Foundation, and the RBC Foundation.