Mending, a mobile art exhibit and conversation of a world in crisis, will be on view in the ArtReach St. Croix Mobile Art Gallery this summer. If you can’t make it to Afton, it will also be located along the Brown’s Creek Trail near the Zephyr Theatre in Stillwater on July 31-August 2, and at Lake Elmo Regional Park Preserve on September 5-7. Due to frequent changes due to health protocols, people are encouraged to check online at www.artreachstcroix.org for specific gallery hours and location details.

The exhibit, organized with guest curator William G. Franklin, features a selection of damaged objects from local and regional artists that will serve as a catalyst for a conversation on personal histories, human fragility, anxiety and hopes for the future.

“One could say that the works in this exhibit have been rescued by the artists from an otherwise abandoned existence and granted a new timely mission, to facilitate a needed reflection on our human condition, vulnerabilities, and hopes in this time of crisis,” says Franklin. “Bringing together histories from a diverse group of participants, the exhibit aims at conjuring a unique total experience for the visitors. ArtReach’s mobile gallery is literally the vehicle to make this possibility a reality.”

Artists featured in Mending are: Kelly Anderson, Lauren Bina, Elizabeth Black, Guillermo Cuellar, Martha Driessen, Preston Drum, Jennifer Frisbie, Roshan Ganu, Alondra Garza, Jacqueline Gran, Christopher Harrison, Jamie Kalvestran, Michael McColl, Natalie McGuire, Celina McManus, Ellen Mueller, Sue Rowe, Chloe Russell, Alonso Sierralta, Susan Strand-Penman, Xavier Tavera, Suyao Tian, Gustavo Torres, Jessica Turtle and Shun Yong.

Virtual artist talks will be moderated by Franklin. Area residents are invited to be part of the exhibition by submitting a question for the artists regarding damaged, broken or perturbed objects and how they relate to the current local, regional and global crises. The talks will be available through Instagram live and a video loop of the conversations will be part of the exhibit installation.

There will be an opening party (mostly outdoors) at ArtReach St. Croix (224 N. 4th Street, Stillwater) on Thursday, July 30 from 6-9pm. Visitors are encouraged to pre-register to spread out arrival times at https://bit.ly/2WoB7Ce