 There's something special about artists who know this land—who've walked these fields, fished these lakes, and understand the quiet beauty that defines our corner of Minnesota. This September, Kaddatz Galleries celebrates two such artists with concurrent exhibitions opening September 2, 2025, and running through October 18, 2025.
The Charles Beck Gallery will present "Chuck Christianson: Recent Paintings," while Studio K features "Kiley Busko: North Country Trail." Join us for a public opening reception Thursday, September 18, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM—an evening to connect with neighbors, art, and the landscapes we all call home. Chuck Christianson: Recent Paintings Charles Beck Gallery Sometimes the most innovative art comes from the most practical beginnings. Chuck Christianson, born in Fergus Falls in 1958, discovered his artistic voice not in a traditional studio, but through the honest work of construction. What started as a boy selling hand-carved wooden creations to his grandmother for a quarter each has evolved into a sophisticated artistic practice that honors both craft and creativity. After studying at Fergus Falls Community College under Charles Beck—the visionary artist and educator for whom our main gallery is proudly named—Christianson headed to the University of Minnesota, Morris, where he earned his degree in Art History and Studio Art in 1981. But it was in 1982, working construction, that he made a discovery that would define his art: drywall tools could become paintbrushes. Taping knives, knock-down trowels, and darbys became his instruments, creating textures and forms that speak to anyone who's ever worked with their hands. Christianson doesn't just buy his materials off the shelf—he makes his own paints, working with oil, egg tempera, casein, acrylic, and glue size. His recent paintings continue exploring the conversation between what we recognize and what we feel, demonstrating that true artistry lies not just in the final product, but in understanding and respecting the process itself. Kiley Busko: North Country Trail Studio K The best art often comes from paying attention to what's right in front of us. Kiley Busko has spent countless hours walking a single mile of the North Country Trail near her Fergus Falls home, and what she's discovered there forms the heart of her newest watercolor series. This mile of trail—part of the greater pathway stretching from North Dakota to Vermont—contains entire worlds: cool riverside sections where chickadees call from the willows, sun-warmed prairies alive with native pollinators, and peaceful wetlands where painted turtles bask and river otters play. Busko's paintings invite us to slow down and notice the red-winged blackbirds, the yellow warblers, the silent deer at dawn and dusk—the daily miracles happening just outside our doors. A 2018 graduate of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in Furniture Design, Busko found her true calling in watercolor's unique marriage of control and surrender. Her technique combines confident brushstrokes with flowing washes, using negative space and abstraction to let viewers complete the story. Busko shares her knowledge through her book "30-Minute Watercolor Animals; Create Beautiful Beginner-Friendly Paintings in No Time at All" (Page Street Publishing) and teaches online through her studio, Painted Wing, on Patreon. She also leads hands-on workshops throughout Otter Tail County. Exhibition Details Location: Kaddatz Galleries, Fergus Falls, MN Dates: September 2 – October 18, 2025 Opening Reception: Thursday, September 18, 5:00 – 7:00 PM Admission: Free and open to the public
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 The Kaddatz Galleries is thrilled to announce “Heilung Saaám (Healing Medicine)” by Fergus Falls artist Naomi RaMona Schliesman, an engaging exhibition that runs from July 9 to August 16, 2025. This exhibit offers a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in Schliesman’s tactile, mixed-media installation where color, texture, and form become conduits for restoration and connection. The public is invited to an opening reception on Thursday, July 10, 2025 from 5pm - 7pm with artist remarks scheduled for 6pm.
Naomi RaMona Schliesman is an award-winning interdisciplinary artist with over 20 years of experience of exhibiting her work in New York, Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Pittsburgh, Brooklyn, Seattle, and throughout the Midwest. With a deep-rooted passion for sculpture, mixed media, and community engagement, she holds an MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2009) and a BFA with an emphasis in sculpture from Minnesota State University Moorhead. Schliesman has been awarded fellowships from Ragdale Foundation and Kimmel Hardening Nelson Center for the Art. This deeply personal exhibition reflects Schliesman's journey of healing, both as an individual and as a mother, using creative practice as a vital tool for navigating transformation and reconnection. Drawing from both Western and Eastern philosophies of medicine, the work explores how sensory experience—touch, sound, vibration, and spatial awareness—can reawaken our connection to ourselves and the spaces we inhabit. Known for her vibrant use of color and bold material contrasts, Schliesman constructs tactile environments using wood, plaster, fiber, and paint. Her installations blur the line between the domestic and the institutional, the playful and the contemplative. The tension between hard and soft surfaces, between what is comforting and what is challenging, becomes a metaphor for the emotional landscapes we navigate every day. The result is an immersive space that invites viewers to slow down, touch, and feel—both physically and emotionally. Through intentional use of material and form, the installation encourages deep contemplation and curiosity about personal care, healing, and how art can serve as both a mirror and a balm. Also on view this July and August will be “Kaddatz Galleries Regional College Student Exhibition” exhibited in Studio K. This exhibition will feature artwork from an open call that went out to colleges and universities within approximately 100 miles of Fergus Falls. Kaddatz Galleries welcomes visitors from Tuesdays to Saturdays, 12 pm - 5 pm, and extends its hours on Thursdays until 7 pm. There is never a charge to enter Kaddatz Galleries to see the exhibitions on view. To learn more about these exhibitions visit www.kaddatzgalleries.org. |
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