Participating Artists:

Emily Bauer
Lora Lee Bauer
Terri Bergstrom
David Dammen
Debra DSouza
Jack Faas
Cora Feist
Kandee Feist
Lisa Ganser
Sally Gerhart
Sandra Haff
Kevin Hanson
Laura Helle
Sylvia Hernandez
Margie Kline
Kari Kuehneman
Sonia Larson
Angie Loecke
Caroline Porter
Sara Sayles
Irene Schneider
Tammy Schneider
Sarah Sullivan
Abigail Swigerd
Dayle Wedeking

2026

Amanda Pearson & Halle Rittgers

Jan 16 - March 20

About the Artists:

When Amanda Pearson gets the question of “what kind of art do you do?” her response is “I glue things to boards”. It catches people off-guard and there are always follow up questions, but to her it is the best way to describe how she creates.

There is a phrase that has stuck with me for years – “investment of the hand”. People who look at my pieces are drawn to the meticulous nature and it is common for them to react by reaching out and trying to touch the surface. The materials I use are not commonly seen in galleries, but are typically found shoved towards the back of a junk drawer or a forgotten craft bin. There is value in the mundane that my work elevates. For me, creating each piece is meditative. My work requires time, and it takes a lot of it. One of my favorite aspects of these pieces that I have made over the last few years is that they are like a journal; I can see my moods, experiences, and situations expressed over time as I moved through the creation of the image. My art creates a permanent record – I must continually move forward with confidence, because there is little room for adjusting what was done before.

My pieces capture a moment of time in spaces that I consider sacred. Using nature to represent these important moments is the best way that I have found to honor my experiences in a way that also resonates with the viewer.

Halle Rittgers is an abstract painter living and working in Minnesota. Her abstract paintings explore the dynamic relationships between chance and intention, meditation and play, and color and texture. Rittgers grew up in Cedar Rapids, and attended Kennedy High School. She took an AP Studio Art course which was an integral part in the beginning of her artistic journey. While then going on to study art at Bethel University in St. Paul, MN. she began using natural dyes and second hand textiles, which led her to her unique style of stained washes and a lexicon of marks and shapes on canvas. After moving to Minnesota and receiving her BFA in visual arts in 2021 with honors, she immersed herself within the Minneapolis art community.

Her professional art career has developed steadily since being in Minneapolis, with solo and group showings throughout the Midwest in spaces such as the Minneapolis International Airport, University of Minnesota, Gamut Gallery, Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Competition, Supercharged Printmakers Gallery, On View Gallery (Iowa), and the Kolman and Reeb Gallery. Halle has received distinguished awards such as the Cameron Booth Memorial Painting Award in 2020, the 2021 Raspberry Monday Purchase Award, and has participated in the 2024 mentorship program under multidisciplinary artist Ty Nathan Clark. She is a member of the Northeast Minneapolis Art Association and a former member of the Casket Arts Steering Committee, a testament to her enduring exploration for artistic community and collaboration. Her professional experience includes speaking on the Bethel University Art & Design Alumni Panel, co-curating a 16 person show in Minneapolis, working as a Gallery Sales Associate, and working one-on-one with collectors around the U.S. to create custom work for their spaces. She works out of her art studio in Northeast, Minneapolis and has a passion for connecting with her community and creating custom paintings for her clients' spaces.

The ArtWorks Center is open Tues-Fri 10-5 and Sat 10-3