Mni Art Wall: Artist Spotlight: Carrie Katzenmeyer

Our Mni Art Wall is located in the Pow Wow Grounds coffee shop and operates as a community space for emerging and seasoned artists to showcase their work in an accessible environment. Currently on view is work by Carrie Katzenmeyer. Carrie’s paintings are whimsical and inspired by nature with influences from her Indigenous and Scandinavian heritages.

Read her full bio below.  

AMRA: What is your arts background and how did you fall into your current medium? 

Carrie Katzenmeyer: I studied at the University of Minnesota for Art, with a focus in painting. I’ve always loved painting but I think what surprised me with coming back to painting after having kids was getting more into doing mural work, which happened after I started to paint on my own walls and showing them to other people who liked it so much they wanted me to paint on their wall spaces too! 

AMRA: What inspires you in your practice?  

CK: Number one is our incredible outdoor relatives and being outside-spending time with them. Anishinaabe beadwork and design, Scandinavian colors, life stories. Mental health and my children. 

AMRA: There are some beautiful back stories to the pieces in this collection. Can you walk us through each one and the meaning behind them? 

CK: Yes! While it would take me quite a bit of time to walk through all of the pieces, I can talk about a few. The first one is “Favorite Day,” acyclic on recycled wood. This piece was an ode to a beautiful summer day I had with my daughter where we drew beautiful wild flowers, healers, mashkiki, like purple clover, saint johns wort, daisies to name a few in a field and went swimming in a waterfall. We are often looking for things that make us feel good, happy and there are so many plants that are willing to help take care of us if we are also willing to do our part in helping take care of them. There is so much love out there for us, we don’t have to do this alone. More than ever we are currently in a situation in which we have to take care of our earth, animals, insects, all of those who do so much for us because we are all relatives, connected and need each other. 

“Turkey Vulture, Perrot State Park” is an acrylic painting on recycled canvas. It is about stereo types and how turkey vultures are often seen as ugly and scary birds when in reality they are really beautiful up close and do so much for us and our environments. Plus they have amazing facts such as despite their huge size most turkey vultures weigh about 3 lbs and they can travel up to 200 miles a day in search of food. This painting asks the viewer to not only see the turkey vulture in a new light but also look into your own life and see how you can look at things differently. Are you carrying your own stereotypes and what are they? Why do you have them and how can you open your heart to see things differently? 

AMRA: What should people know about you and your work? 

CK: All of my work is created on recycled pieces and its hope is to connect you in some way to our outside world. Hoping to bridge the gap so that we are all more connected, wanting to protect our beautiful world and all that is in it. 

AMRA: What does it mean to you to showcase your work on the Mni Art Wall? 

CK: I’m so honored to be a part of the Mni Art Wall and I’m grateful that my work is able to be here! How lucky are we to have such a beautiful indigenous Art Gallery here in the twin cities and I’m so lucky to be able to voice my own point of view within my community- Miigwech! 

AMRA: Where can people see your work next? 

CK: After this show I’ll have a break while I build up some new work but I look forward to sharing new pieces soon! 

Carrie’s art will be displayed on the Mni Art Wall through September. Stop by Pow Wow Grounds coffee shop to view the work. For artwork inquiries or to purchase a piece by the artist, email [email protected]. 

About the artist: 

Carrie’s paintings are whimsical and inspired by nature with influences from her Indigenous and Scandinavian heritages. She draws on themes of connections, not only to each other but to animals and nature. Her art is a safe space for viewers to begin their own story and interpretation. In a deeper context she focuses on color theories , stories and myths passed down through her cultural ties, along with her own personal stories and memories. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with an Art Degree. She currently resides in Marine on Saint Croix Minnesota.

Learn more about the artist by visiting her website HERE

About the Mni Art Wall: 

Located in the Pow Wow Grounds coffee shop the Mni Art Wall is connected to All My Relations Arts Gallery. This exhibit space connects and supports local and emerging artists in our community. The Mni Art Wall was created to provide an opportunity for all artists from our diverse community. On this wall, gallery staff curate visual art with positive and educational principles. It is our hope that this mini art gallery will encourage artists to engage our community through art.