A Tribute to a Talented Artist

The Suzanne Carnes: A Life Well Spent Retrospective exhibit opened at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts in Orono on May 26. The exhibition celebrates the many artistic talents of a woman who succumbed to cancer in December 2010.

Carnes' love of art as a child was further developed later in her life. After her children were grown, she began taking classes at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts. In 1992, her stone carving of a wolf’s head won the top prize at its juried show.

Later, she earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts and a Masters of Fine Arts from Arizona State University. A working artist for 20 years, Carnes' works span a range of mediums. Not only an accomplished painter (in both oil and acrylic), Carnes also worked in wood, steel, bronze and stone. Many of the pieces on display show her appreciation and love for her family, including a bronze piece about "The Princess and the Pea" fairy tale.

Her passion for art eventually led her to open a studio in Deer Valley, AZ.

At the time of her death, Carnes was working on a 20-piece collection of wood sculptured cylinders entitled “Auto Infatuation.” The cylinders were painted with original car paint. Unfortunately, only 11 pieces were completed before her death, and her goal of a gallery show was not possible.

It was Carnes’ wish to share her artwork with others, and her passion, talent and attention to detail are evident in all items currently on display at The Minnetonka Center for the Arts.

The exhibition ends with a closing reception on Thursday, June 30 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

For more information about the Suzanne Carnes: A Life Well Spent Retrospective exhibit and hours, visit www.minnetonkaarts.org.

Stephanie Larsen grew up in Minnetonka and now lives on Lake Minnetonka with her husband and two children. She loves sharing information about fun places, interesting people, and events in the Lake Minnetonka area with others.