I'm thrilled to share that American Mink, one of my most detailed and colorful fabric collages, won the People’s Choice Award at the Duluth Art Institute’s Annual Member Show!
This piece holds a special place in my heart. Inspired by a glimpse of a mink slipping through the reeds at the water’s edge, I wanted to capture that moment of wild energy and motion. It’s a scene many of us might miss—a creature that moves so quickly and quietly—but it’s part of the everyday magic of living near Lake Superior and the wetlands around it.
Creating this collage was a true labor of love. I used hand-dyed fabrics to build up the lush environment—lily pads, fallen logs, sparkling water—and spent many late nights layering and stitching until the mink felt alive on the surface. The reflections and tangled vegetation took just as much time as the animal itself, but I think that's what drew people in: the feeling that you could step into that hidden corner of the marsh and witness something rare.
To receive the People’s Choice Award—chosen by viewers who walked through the gallery and took the time to vote—feels incredibly meaningful. It tells me that the quiet, wild spaces I’m drawn to are resonating with others too.
Thank you to everyone who came out to see the show, voted, and supported local art. And thank you to the Duluth Art Institute for continuing to offer a place where artists and community can meet.
