Slideshow: 'Geographies' Exhibit Opens at Banfill-Locke Center for Arts

Where Rice Creek meets the Mississippi River, an art exhibit called Geographies opens Saturday at 10 a.m. at Fridley's , with a reception from 5–8 p.m.

The confluence of Fridley's two major waterways is the setting for artist-in-residence Curt Lund's exploration of the sense of place through art.

Geographies combines the results of Lund's 18-month residency—including screenprints of Las Vegas streetscape scenes—with work by four other artists who Lund invited to participate: Pritika Chowdhry, Andrew Huot, Marnie Karger and Ginny Maki. 

One of the highlights is Lund's mosaic map of the United States, made from shards of collectible plates honoring individual states. Lund had to smash 49 state plates he said he began "hoarding" in 2005 to create the map.

Why only 49? "Rhode Island is not actually from a Rhode Island plate," Lund admitted. "It's a stub of green from some other state."

As for local geography, Lund said he'd been to Manomin County Park where the arts center is located before his residency there, without really knowing where he was—while .

Geographies is on exhibit through April 30. With support from Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Funds, the Banfill-Locke center will present three associated events: a gallery talk and demonstration on March 20, 2 p.m.; a paper-cutting and binding workshop on March 26, 10–5 p.m.; and a tour of the Minnesota Center for Book Arts (where Lund works) on April 16, 10 a.m.