From the Ground Up

A Duo Exhibit featuring the artwork of

Lori Fowler & Jon Kamrath

in the Freemore Gallery

Sponsored by

Jon Kamrath

Jon Kamrath grew up in St. Paul, MN and spent his summers working with his father as a finish carpenter, inheriting his craftsmanship skills, love of tools, and architectural appreciation. He attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, where he met his muse. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Art Education, he married her and taught middle school art in Fergus Falls, MN. He then went on to attain his Masters of Fine Arts from Iowa State University. Moving back to Minnesota, Jon taught art at Eagle Ridge Academy for 5 years. He is currently sculpting out of his studio in Mahtomedi where he lives with his wife and three children who constantly help to give him endless amounts of inspiration. 

The term Structure reflects both the architectural forms and the scaffolding beneath them, representing the societal and personal support systems we often take for granted. We assume relationships, health, the environment and more will all endure, yet various personal or global crises such as the pandemic reveal their extreme fragility. By depicting cycles of damage and repair, my work highlights the evolving, impermanent nature of these foundations. Complexes refers to both communal living spaces and the intricate dynamics of shared environments. Our successes depend on the groundwork laid by others, just as future generations rely on ours. And as more people build upon shared foundations, trust becomes integral to integrity; offering the potential for ever greater achievement while precariously balanced on exponentially increasing risk. 
http://www.kamrathsculpture.com

Lori Fowler

Lori Fowler is a Midwest artist painting in her home studio located in Edina, Minnesota.  Her art is inspired by the vibrant colors found in the natural world. 

Lori’s art journey began in high school, which fortunately had a stellar art department.  Her four years of high school art honed her drawing skills in realism, thus sparking her love of portraiture.  In college, Lori earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Child Development.  This led her into the field of early childhood education and away from art all together.  It was not until 20+ years and four kids later when she would rekindle her passion for fine arts and begin a consistent creative practice.

As a self-taught artist, Lori spends much of her studio time pushing the boundaries of conventional painting techniques.  She likens her creative space to a scientific laboratory, answering the “what ifs” that propel her into trial and error mode.  “When I see an effect painted in one media like oils, I immediately think about how I can achieve the same outcome with another media, such as encaustics.”  Having a curious mind results in Lori working on several paintings at one time.  Her studio was featured in the winter 2021 issue of In Her Studio magazine.

Art is the path in which I will become the person I aspire. One who takes risks; no longer concerned with perfection and intense structure that has bound me for most of my life.  I paint intuitively, without pre-conceived notions of my creative practice and its end products.  While I enjoy realistic renderings in my pieces, I inject the unexpected through my color choices, my use of mixed media, and the fusion of abstract elements.
https://www.lorifowlerstudio.com/

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