Tornado on the Map Opening Reception

Opening September 24, 2022 in the Mardag Gallery at Franconia Commons, Tornado on the Map features bold moves and playful gestures across ceramics, drawing, and painting while pondering landscapes, animals, and the forces of nature that shape the Earth.

Matt Zimdars’ “WCCO” series explores weather systems in the Midwest and the station whose reports he recorded diligently for years. With a special interest in severe weather, Zimdars’ patchwork drawings overlay text from the weather channel with satellite images of Minneapolis, Stillwater, and beyond. David Wright’s paintings and drawings of destination spots are inspired by personal travel experiences, referencing images from books and the internet. Many of his works spring from trips he took with family and friends. Daniel Metchnek’s small, ceramic sculptures are intimate studies of animals from across the globe. Small enough to hold, and at times smiling, lounging, or on the prowl, Metchnek’s eagles, tigers, and lions represent a human relationship to nature. While humans are noticeably absent in Tornado on the Map, our role as witnesses and stewards, both subject to nature and actively shaping it, is felt throughout. Tornado on the Map opens at Franconia Commons on Saturday, September 24, 2022 with a public reception with the artists from 3pm-5pm, concurrent with Franconia’s 26th Annual Art & Artists Celebration. The exhibition will run through December 31, 2022.