This week’s column guest written by Kelsey Ritchie.

The ArtWorks Center holds gallery space on its second floor that highlights up to two artist’s work from all over the United States.

The upcoming gallery show will be held for two women from the Twin Cities: Renee Sonka and Lori Tapani. We invite you to read about the artists and come view the show from Oct. 6 to Nov. 18.

Artwork by Renee Olson Sonka.

Meet the artists at the free opening reception from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 6. Light refreshments provided along with a live music performance from Reminisce.

Renee Olson Sonka: Renee attended Owatonna High School and recieved her BFA from Iowa State University, majoring in Art Education with a studio emphasis in calligraphy. Her medium of choice is Sumi-e. “Sumi-e” is a Japanese word meaning “ink painting,” and the term encompasses many types of East Asian painting.)

She learned this medium under guidance from many artists including Dee Teller, Yuming Zhu, and Yudong Shen. Her work was displayed at the Fine Arts Exhibition at the Minnesota State Fair (2015) and won a fourth-place ribbon in the watercolor category, and acceptance into the Sumi-e Society of America Annual Juried Exhibition in 2008, 2012, 2014, and 2016.

Her exhibit on display at the ArtWorks Center is titled “Fortune Within,” a title based on the Chinese meaning of her name, Renee, translated as Rei (prosperity/fortune) Nei (inside/within).

Renee currently teaches at Mounds Park Academy in St. Paul and enjoys teaching students to brainstorm, problem-solve, think visually, express their individuality, act on their ideas, contribute to our community, and more.

Art by Lori Tapani

Lori Tapani: Lori Tapani has been coined a “renaissance woman” because of her unique mix of interests and talents.  She is co-president of Wyoming Machine, Inc., a precision metal fabrication company in Stacy, Minnesota.

She has a 20 year- old daughter, Emilee, and two (very spoiled) miniature Holland Lop bunnies named Rosie & LunaBlue.  Lori’s passions include painting, flower gardening, motorcycling, learning new things, and people!

“There’s something very exciting and magical about beginning a painting with colors I love, marks I enjoy making, and few restrictions … and gradually discovering what the painting wants to become,” she said. “I am a life-long lover of creating artwork in many different mediums, and in 2013 was introduced to an intuitive process for painting.  My acrylic and mixed media paintings are sparkling with color, texture, and imagery from nature.  I hope that people who see my work experience the same joy I felt in creating it.”