JOHN BARTUNEK
John Bartunek, a retired Grafton, ND teacher, started creating beautiful stained glass artwork about sixteen years ago. When his hobby became more serious, John started selling his pieces at the Grand Forks Farmer’s Market. “Selling my pieces gave me more confidence in my work and allowed me to buy better equipment and pay for glass classes around the country,” noted Bartunek. In addition to his traditional stained glasswork, John has taken up flameworking, where he uses propane and an oxygen torch to create gorgeous beads and other small glass objects.
John has an art studio in Grafton, ND and participated in eleven arts and craft shows last year. He is the proud recipient of the 2012 Grand Cities ArtFest ‘Best in Category’ award.
John has an art studio in Grafton, ND and participated in eleven arts and craft shows last year. He is the proud recipient of the 2012 Grand Cities ArtFest ‘Best in Category’ award.
MICHELLE BRUSEGAARD
Michelle Brusegaard was born and raised in Grand Forks, North Dakota. After attending community college in Eugene, Oregon, Michelle received her BFA at the University of North Dakota in 2005 with concentrations in painting and photography. She has been exhibiting her work locally and nationally for the past eight years. Michelle currently lives in Grand Forks, ND where she works as a full-time artist and craftsperson, selling her work at local fairs and via the internet.
Michelle Brusegaard’s most recent paintings are inspired by other people’s memories. She has been collecting written-in diaries and using them for inspiration in her mixed media works, which include screen-printed diary text along with acrylic illustrations. Michelle likes to work in a sketchy, loose style that she feels captures the fleetingness the diaries convey.
In order to support her passion for creating, Michelle has developed a line of screen-printed textiles, including kitchenware, apparel, scarves, and leather jewelry that incorporate her hand drawn designs. Through these creations, Michelle is able to sustain herself as a full-time artist, while also creating art objects that are more widely accessible at many price points. Michelle also applies her designs to paper goods.
Michelle Brusegaard’s most recent paintings are inspired by other people’s memories. She has been collecting written-in diaries and using them for inspiration in her mixed media works, which include screen-printed diary text along with acrylic illustrations. Michelle likes to work in a sketchy, loose style that she feels captures the fleetingness the diaries convey.
In order to support her passion for creating, Michelle has developed a line of screen-printed textiles, including kitchenware, apparel, scarves, and leather jewelry that incorporate her hand drawn designs. Through these creations, Michelle is able to sustain herself as a full-time artist, while also creating art objects that are more widely accessible at many price points. Michelle also applies her designs to paper goods.
ESCAPE ARTIST COLLECTIVE
The Escape Artist Collective is an association of local and regional artists who manage and maintain the Blue Door Gallery and its artist studio space. The Collective's mission is to provide accessible gallery space to artist members, affordable studio space for studio members, and introduce Grand Forks to a new kind of gallery experience.
ADAM KEMP
From London, England, Adam Kemp earned his MFA degree at the University of North Dakota after studying in England and working in a foundry in Italy. He continues to live in Grand Forks, making art, promoting other artists, and running a community gallery, You are Here, in partnership with Mary Weaver of Browning Arts. Kemp is a brilliant teacher of children.
HILLARY KEMPENICH
Hillary Davis Kempenich relocated to Grand Forks, ND from the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Reservation located in the Rolette County. The many talented artists within the Turtle Mountain community and own family influence Hillary Kempenich. The artist moved to Grand Forks in 1999 to study art at University of North Dakota. Inspiration from her family, cultural impact and environment all can be seen through the creations Hillary provides. Working out of her own studio, Hillary embraces all influences, genres and mediums. Hillary has a wide variety of passions, from dressmaking and beadwork to drawing and painting.
JON OFFUTT
Jon Offutt plays with fire. At his glassblowing studio in Fargo—named after the Roman god of fire Mulciber—he uses roaring, 2,000 degree heat as a tool to transform molten glass into beautiful, award-winning glass vessels and sculptures.
Jon earned an M.F.A. in glass from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and he passes along his knowledge to new students of glass. He also demonstrates his craft for the public and to a new generation as he travels with his Mobile Studio.
Jon’s new series of work is a response to his travels. “The bold horizon line of the prairie provides many nuances of light and perspective,” he says, “and the vastness of the sky demands a sensitive depiction of atmosphere. My “Dakota Horizons” work celebrates the topograpy of our surroundings—the evolving seasons, the subtle movement of sweeping grasslands, the shifting character of our sky.”
Jon earned an M.F.A. in glass from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and he passes along his knowledge to new students of glass. He also demonstrates his craft for the public and to a new generation as he travels with his Mobile Studio.
Jon’s new series of work is a response to his travels. “The bold horizon line of the prairie provides many nuances of light and perspective,” he says, “and the vastness of the sky demands a sensitive depiction of atmosphere. My “Dakota Horizons” work celebrates the topograpy of our surroundings—the evolving seasons, the subtle movement of sweeping grasslands, the shifting character of our sky.”
JESSICA PRIBULA
Originally from Northwest Minnesota Jessica Pribula received her Master of Fine Art in painting from Central Washington University. Her passion for art began at a young age with an interest in fashion design and expanded into the fine arts. Jessica’s early work in painting demonstrates her ability to render form from life. As a ceramic artist she enjoys using hand-building techniques to create containers and tiles. While studying at the University of North Dakota Jessica became captivated with weaving and surface design on fabric. She is an award-winning artist and currently works as a full-time artist investigating the aesthetic and expressive possibilities of weaving and dying paper.
TANNER PRUESS
Tanner Pruess is a 23-year-old abstract artist from Pierre, South Dakota. He has appreciated various forms of art throughout his life, but it wasn’t until late in 2011 when his fiancé (Brittany Morris), who is also a talented artist, encouraged him to do some creating of his own. She inspires a lot of his work and owes all of his success to her wisdom and experience.
Tanner created his first painting in the fall of 2011 and received some great feedback from friends and family. He continued to create a variety of paintings while developing a unique style that can be appreciated by many collectors. Tanner’s first sale came in March 2012 from a friend - in fact, she bought two! The momentum continued and by the end of 2012, he had sold over 50 paintings to collectors across the nation. Tanner also has donated a handful of paintings to various charities and fundraisers.
Tanner is currently finishing his Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND. Each of Tanner’s pieces involves a structured part and a chaotic part. As you can see, the truly amazing things happen during the chaotic part – both the good and the bad.
Tanner created his first painting in the fall of 2011 and received some great feedback from friends and family. He continued to create a variety of paintings while developing a unique style that can be appreciated by many collectors. Tanner’s first sale came in March 2012 from a friend - in fact, she bought two! The momentum continued and by the end of 2012, he had sold over 50 paintings to collectors across the nation. Tanner also has donated a handful of paintings to various charities and fundraisers.
Tanner is currently finishing his Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND. Each of Tanner’s pieces involves a structured part and a chaotic part. As you can see, the truly amazing things happen during the chaotic part – both the good and the bad.
KELSEY RUHLAND
Kelsey Ruhland opened Crabapple Floral in 2008 after recieving a degree in Landscape Architecture from North Dakota State University. Her love of plants and gardening gives her a wealth of floral knowledge, and her degree has given her an eye for design. Originally from the Fargo area, Kelsey moved to Grand Forks a year ago and is excited to continue to get to know and love the city!
Kelsey Ruhland will be supplying a variety of arrangements to offer a colorful and fragrant atmosphere for ArtSee guests. Thank you Crabapple Floral!
Kelsey Ruhland will be supplying a variety of arrangements to offer a colorful and fragrant atmosphere for ArtSee guests. Thank you Crabapple Floral!
KIMBERLY FORNESS WILSON
Kimberly Forness Wilson is an award winning artist, inventor and musician born and raised in North Dakota. She married an “Island Boy” Jib Wilson and lived there for 18 years. Her work is influenced by a rich family history or artist and musicians the beauty of nature and many teachers from a variety of cultures. The images of her work are emotional and spiritual collectives of a life of service to the community and engagement with the arts. Kimberly is the North Valley Arts Councils Artist of the year 2012 and an internationally recognized artist and teacher.
LISA YORK
Lisa York’s artistic career started with her interests in drawing and painting. She started working with clay at Houghton College in New York. During her time there she had the opportunity to study art in London, France, and Tanzania. After completing her Bachelor of Arts in 2008, she spent a year volunteering at an organization called Neema Crafts in Tanzania; helping them to set up a ceramic studio. In 2010, she completed her Certificate of Ceramic Arts at Hood College. After graduating from Hood College she did a year long apprenticeship with Kevin Crowe, a wood fire potter in Virginia. She has had additional opportunities to travel overseas for a residency at Sanboa, China in 2012, and is currently working on her Master of Fine Arts at University of North Dakota.
