MSSU Cragin Gallery invites you to attend “On the Run”, a group exhibition by artists Amber Hansen and Reyna Hernandez from November 4- November 21, 2024. There will be an artist talk in Corley Auditorium (and on Zoom) on November 21 @ 6 pm with a reception to follow.
Zoom Link for Artist Talk- https://mssu-edu.zoom.us/j/83959458752
This exhibition is a collaboration between both artists, while also featuring their individual styles, it highlights On the Run’s collective mission related to connection and community.
Mural OTW’s Mission | OTW’s core mission is to work with community members to create murals that capture the collective imagination of the place in which the mural will be located and to represent underrepresented histories and stories. OTW encourages community participation, collaboration and mentorship. Design workshops are open to the public, providing opportunities for members of the local communities to imagine what goes on the wall and take part in discussions about the things that matter the most to them. As a collaborative team, Reyna Hernandez and Amber Hansen, alongside research consultant Sonia Hernandez, are interested in designing and creating a unique mural with people living in the place where the mural will be located.
Reyna Hernandez is a painter and muralist who feels a deep connection to her homelands and indigenous roots - Reyna grew up in southeast South Dakota and is Ihaŋktoŋwaŋ Nakota (Yankton Sioux Tribal Member). Throughout her work, Reyna utilizes mixed media to investigate cultural/identity hybridity in relation to her Indigenous bloodlines and western influences. Reyna’s work examines the complexities of her relationship to culture and place and is heavily inspired by the many star quilters in her family history. Her work is an exploration of Lakota, Nakota & Dakota traditions and symbolism, and the many ways that western civilization has impacted indigenous expression.
Reyna received her B.A in English and B.F.A in Studio Arts at the University of South Dakota in 2016. She was recently awarded the 2021 Northern Plains Indian Artist in Residence at The University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD where she also lives and works.
Amber Hansen is a muralist and visual artist who values socially engaged and community-based artwork, as evidenced in her work throughout the middle of the United States and her promotion of creative engagement for all ages. Hansen’s studio work is a dialogue between her formal education and her rural upbringing, which informs her projects as a community facilitator. She is the co-director & co-editor of the feature documentary Called to Walls, a film highlighting the importance of community-based murals in the middle of the U.S. Additionally, Hansen is an Assistant Professor at the University of South Dakota where she teaches painting and community-based art.
Website: amberhansenart.com
