he ArtWise mission is to enhance the Greater Grand Forks community through educational visual arts programs and exhibition space for youth, families, and artists.

The ArtWise Gallery and Creation Space welcomes Kristen Peterson and JuliAnn Lukach with an art opening held August 24 from 5:00-7:00. The two artists will be available to talk about their exhibit, “Bridge to Illusion” with conceptual imagery in 2-d and 3-d artworks.

 Kristen Peterson is celebrating her photography series and book “Mindful Enigmas”. She will have her books for sale at the gallery. “This series embodies the magic, mystery, and spirituality of female characters set in the rural beauty of North Dakota. An interpretation the Major Arcana of the Rider Waite Smith Tarot, the work is rich in color meant to visually depict the female spirit. Each photo is meant to tell a different story, best interpreted by the viewer. First published 113 years ago, the Rider Waite Smith Tarot has long been used as guidance and viewed as an important collection of art. The term ‘mindful’ recognizes items of importance while ‘enigmas’ is thought to be something magical. The charismatic beauty of the rural, often un-noticed areas of North Dakota provides the perfect complement to each photographic story.”

Lukach will show ceramic pieces that are conceptualized vessels that border on illusion in their shapes, glazing, and embellishment.

“Everyone wants to escape from reality every once and a while just to have a break from the everyday. That want to be in another place or time does not diminish as one grows up. The wonder and imagination of childhood never really goes away, it just gets pushed to the back of your mind. The breaks from reality that shows and movies give us allow us to reminisce about the past and feel the emotions that we bottle up day after day. We’re allowed to be a kid again, for a while at least, before returning to our own reality.”

Peterson and Lukach will give a brief introduction to their artwork at the opening. They will have 2 workshops on September 9 for ages elementary-adult. On September 30, from 2:00-3:00 the two artists will have conversation about their art with Nicole Derenne from the University of North Dakota.