Art attacks local establishments of higher learning

-- Amanda Edstrom

On Oct. 7, seven college campuses showcased the work of many local artists and current students as part of Art Attack: A Multi-Campus Gallery Crawl. This was the third annual Art Attack event, which is a collaborative effort between Augsburg College, Bethel College, College of St. Catherine, College of Visual Arts, Concordia University, Macalester College and the University of St. Thomas.

The event began with the help of Art on the Town, another gathering of galleries. The idea behind the exhibit is to encourage students, families, and community members to take advantage of the variety of talent and artistry happening right in their own backyard.

St. Paul has many colleges and universities located within close vicinity to one another. Because of this, gallery directors were able to provide free shuttle buses between the schools for the event.

Augsburg College featured the work of Minneapolis-based artist and Augsburg alum Amy Rice at the Christensen Center Art Gallery. At first glance, the materials she works with are unnoticeable - items one might find on a farm.

Rice grew up on a farm in the Midwest and uses remnants like roofing shingles, chicken coop wire, old barn boards and feed sacks to create her masterpieces.

Another local artist featured is Minneapolis-based Nicholas Legeros, whose medium of choice is lost-wax bronze sculpture. Legeros’ work is on display at the O’Shaughnessy Educational Center on the University of St. Thomas’ St. Paul Campus.

Legeros attended Gustavus Adolphus in St. Peter, Minn., and then earned a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Minnesota. He has produced many commissioned works for local businesses and religious organizations. One such work is the Father Murphy statue outside the St. Thomas University – McNeely School of Business.

Art Attack will feature many of these works through October at the galleries of collaborating colleges and university.

For more information, visit http://www.stkate.edu/artattack/college/au.html.