Where there is Water
A project of the Art & Water Curatorial Incubator Program supported by A House Unbuilt
Lead Artist/Curator
Amanda Hanlon
Dates
February 13 – March 15, 2026
Statement
Where There Is Water showcases paintings, prints, and drawings developed through repeated travel to Duluth, Red Wing, and Banning State Park near Sandstone. These locations—each shaped by different moments in Minnesota’s industrial history—are connected by rivers and lakes whose presence enabled movement, industry, and settlement while leaving lasting marks on the surrounding landscape.
Across seasons and multiple visits, Hanlon observed, photographed, and created work on site. The resulting pieces reflect both the layered timelines of these places and her embodied experience of encountering them in the present moment. Familiar structures reappear throughout the exhibition: the historic lighthouse along the Lake Superior shipping canal, boathouses along the Mississippi River in Red Wing, and the remains of a Power House in a former sandstone quarry on the Kettle River.
The exhibition includes large- and medium-scale oil paintings on canvas and wood, oil studies on Arches paper, linocut and collagraph prints, and a collection of colored pencil studies. Rather than document a single view, the works speak together—holding multiple moments at once and mirroring the way places are understood through memory, repetition, and attentive noticing. As the pilot project for the Curatorial Incubator, Hanlon’s exhibition also includes public programs intended to bring community members into dialogue with the work and with the landscapes that shape our region.
Events
Opening Reception: Friday, February 13, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Artist Talk: Sunday, March 1, 2:00 – 3:00 pm
Closing Reception: Saturday, March 14, 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Gallery Hours
Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Acknowledgments
Amanda Hanlon is a fiscal year 2025 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
