Minnesota Artists Association Returns to Edina Art Center

’s Foss Gallery is currently home to the Minnesota Artists Association’s Spring Exhibition. Primarily made up of paintings, the show highlights the work of MAA members. 

The show’s opening reception included the distrubition of a number of awards. The judge, retired Hamline professor and full time artist James Conaway, spoke during the reception and offered insight into his reasoning. Conaway also made himself available to artists after the awards were distributed to discuss their work. 

“These decisions are my opinion; they may not agree with you ... but I feel sort of strongly about them,” Conaway said as he spoke about the pieces he chose to honor.

The MAA has two shows a year, a members only show in the fall and an open show in the spring. Past venues for MAA shows have included Augsburg College, Century College and Robbin Gallery. The last MAA show at the Edina Art Center was in 2002, but Marjorie Moody, exhibition chair for Minnesota Artists Association, said there won’t be a nine-year wait for the next one.

“We’re not going to wait that long to come back because it’s a really nice space,” she said.

Unofficial guests of honor at the opening reception were Lois and Harry Heim. Both now 93 years old—and married for 68—the Heims are Minnesota Artists Association members, but did not submit work for this show. The two first met at art school some seven decades ago and both still paint. Harry Heim was also one of the original instructors at the Edina Art Center. The Heims enjoy seeing what new artists have to offer.

“It’s wonderful to see the younger people do things,” Lois said.

There were 51 entries for the show, representing 30 artists in total. Most artists submitted two pieces. The show was open to MAA members and non-members alike, though only one non-member participated.

Celebrating its 75th anniversary next year, the Minnesota Artists Association was founded in 1937 and has one member, Eleanor Conrad, who has been a part of the organization since 1939.

Marjorie Moody said the organization is looking for new artists to join the ranks at MAA.

“We are trying to get new members, particularly some young ones, since our group is aging and many of our members are not able to be as active as they have always been,” Moody said. 

In addition to its spring and fall art shows, the Minnesota Artists Association meets monthly from September to May (usually at the Bloomington Art Center) and has paint-out events in the summer. The MAA welcomes artists from all mediums. To learn more about becoming a member, visit the Minnesota Artists Association website.