May and June 2026:
An exhibit in the gallery at Stillwater Public Library invites visitors to explore storytelling through a contemporary lens. “The First Garden Was Hers: Stories of Women Retold” by Surelle Strike will be on display in May and June, 2026.
Strike, a painter and printmaker, explores the feminine experience by reimagining folklore, fairy tales, and myth through a modern lens. Her work weaves symbolic elements—plants, animals, needlework, and everyday objects—into narratives that reflect motherhood, loss, identity, spirituality, and personal growth. Rooted in storytelling traditions long carried by women, her pieces position their subjects as active storytellers, emphasizing complexity, resilience, and agency while inviting viewers to see their own experiences reflected in the work.
An artist reception will be held on Thursday, May 14, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., offering a unique opportunity to meet Surelle Strike and speak with her about her work.
Strike works primarily in oil paint and also explores acrylic, gouache, watercolor, and block printing. She began painting seriously in 2018 and has since developed a practice centered on rich color and intuitive, narrative-driven imagery. She studied at Minneapolis College of Art and Design and Columbus College of Art and Design in Ohio.
In addition to her studio work, Strike is active in community arts education, serving as an education director and teaching artist at a local community art center. She lives and works in Forest Lake, Minnesota.
The gallery at Stillwater Public Library aims to provide education through exhibits and displays, increase community involvement, and create an enjoyable environment for library visitors. The exhibit is open to the public during regular library hours.