Two complementary art exhibits will be on view in the Social Hall beginning Sunday, Oct. 23, and running through Nov. 27. An Artists Reception will take place in the Social Hall after both services on Sunday, Oct. 23. read more

The posters on display in the social hall this summer (July 10 – Sept. 4, 2016) are from countries all over the world. They speak of peace through a language which we all understand – the language of art.

Wit Ylitalo was a peace activist from Madison, Wisconsin who, with her friends, Mary Cunningham and Donna Fuelleman, had a life-long concern for world peace. These three women for peace collected peace posters over a number of years. Their grass roots effort was a heartfelt and meaningful attempt to further impress upon others that the rest of the world is also concerned for the need of peace on this earth and good will toward all.

The poster exhibit was initially sponsored by the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. The exhibit will be on display at First Universalist through September 4.

“Capturing Moments — My family or friends and their families” is an exhibit of oil paintings by First Universalist member Dakota Hoska that will be on view at church in the Social Hall May 29 – July 3, 2016. The exhibit can be viewed on Sunday mornings or by appointment.

There will be an artist’s reception after worship on Sunday, June 12 (11 a.m.–noon) in the Social Hall.  read more

An exhibit of work by artist Robin Colerin will be on view in the gallery space in the social hall at First Universalist Church April 3 through May 22, 2016. The exhibit can be viewed on Sundays between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

An artist’s reception will be held after services on Sunday, April 10 (10:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.).

About the Artist: Robin Colerin has been creating art since she could hold a pencil and “make stuff” with her artist-mother. Growing up in Minnesota provided many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and appreciate the natural world. Her current work has kept her close to home, focusing on the flora and fauna of her local environment, particularly the creatures that organic home gardening invites. This ever-changing environment brings a constant flux of new material from which to draw – especially chickens.

Robin’s artistic inspiration has also been shaped by travel. From the continental United States to Canada, and tropical locales in the Caribbean, Robin has collected rich and varied perspectives on nature and the environment. A period living in Vancouver, with its endless ocean, famed old-growth trees, and granite mountains, introduced a vastly different experience from life in the upper Midwest. While in British Columbia, Robin studied woodcarving, and later continued developing her skills in Minneapolis. Her artwork has been shown in Canada and Minnesota.

An interesting counterpoint to her abstracted ecological work, Robin’s interest in historical Britain is reflected in a body of contemporary Celtic style prints. It is in printmaking that Robin finds her primary calling – a discipline that requires a way of thinking much different from that of drawing and painting. It is a very technical, layered approach to creating a piece of art, each stage thought out ahead of time. In turn, printmaking is an inherently compelling process: as the work progresses, a kind of metamorphosis unfolds, a layer at a time, until the final image is revealed. Robin carries a screen printer’s signature into her paintings, with flattened space and blocks of color.

Alongside her art career, Robin spent seventeen years in the graphics industry, eleven as the owner of a screen-printing company where she designed a successful line of printed garments and won awards for her designs. Robin earned a B.A. in Studio Arts, with an emphasis in printmaking and drawing, from the University of Minnesota, following study in geology at Iowa State University. Robin is knowledgeable in Pacific Northwest Native Art and in Pre-Christian to Classical Celtic art.

The work of three talented mosaic artists – all of whom have distinctively different styles – is on display in our social hall exhibit space February 21 – March 27. The exhibit is open for viewing on Sunday mornings before and after services, as well as during special events that are held in the Social Hall. Some of the pieces in the exhibit are for sale, and artists Debbie Cash and Cheryl Anderson would consider discussing commissions of their work.

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