January – February 2025:
In January and February 2025, Stillwater Public Library’s gallery will feature the work of three local artists in the exhibit Bound by Nature: Antlers, Clay, Stones, Sticks. The show explores the artists’ deep connection to the natural world and will be on display throughout both months.
Celebrate the work of artists Laura Albertson, Cathryn Peters, and Kay Hoskins at a reception on Thursday, January 16, from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. Come meet the artists and learn more about the inspiration behind their nature-infused creations.
Laura Albertson Artist Statement:
“In the quietude of nature, I find solace and inspiration. I watch the waves of Lake Superior slowly shaping the rocks. I receive sensory gifts on my face. The sun, the mist, the breeze – ever changing with the moods of the lake. I feel at peace near the water. My art is a reflection of this connection. I gather stones, weathered by time and touched by the elements, each a piece of resilience that serves to ground me. I weave strings of varying textures and colors, their delicate lines echoing the interconnectedness of all things. Graceful and strong, sticks stand as reminders of growth and transformation. In this interplay of materials, I invite the viewer to pause, to contemplate, and to find the tranquility within my work.”
Kay Hoskins Artist Statement:
“I meditate through clay. It’s a singular process to focus on the rotating earth, stoneware; the turning of the potter’s wheel. After a lifetime of teaching art, now I focus on teaching myself. I concentrate on making utilitarian pieces, especially ones that help you enjoy your morning oatmeal and coffee, or perhaps your favorite hotdish. Pottery is to be used, gifted, occasionally broken and replaced by more pottery!”
Cathryn Peters Artist Statement:
“I am a maker and gatherer, creating one-of-a-kind antler basket sculptures, blending the natural beauty of deer, elk, fallow, or moose antlers with hand-gathered natural materials and commercially sourced rattan reed. My work draws on the traditional rib-style weaving technique, with the antler as an integral part of the basket, acting as the foundation or starting point of each piece. The spirit of the antler leads me to the form I am to explore. It guides me, shaping the form and direction of the piece, from the raw antler to the finished asymmetrical, freeform sculpture. Since designing and weaving my first antler basket in 1990, this process has been a grounding and spiritual journey for me.”