Public Art at Lake Superior College
Liz Siverston
Title She Who Must Be Obeyed and Marsh Fellow
Artist Statement
I paint things that strike me in everyday occurrences. The movement, character, and gestures of animals and people are solid food for my gluttonous eyes. I also see a sort of posturing in the trunks of the trees and in the lake, and even the rock cliffs. I stare a lot at these multifaceted moving and ever-changing subjects, trying all the while to imagine how it feels to be them - to have their bodies. Then I paint them from this integrated memory of how they "felt". Trying to grasp the antics of the animal, the mood of the lively landscape, or the character of people is the catalyst for most of my paintings. These grand subjects are the jesters, the comic relief built into an otherwise sobering environment.
Location Floor 2
What is Public Art?
These projects were funded by the Minnesota Percent for Art Program through the Minnesota State Arts Board. This program acquires works of art to be exhibited in and around state buildings in areas regularly accessible to the general public. The program is administered by the Minnesota State Arts Board in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Administration. Percent for Art secures artwork in two ways: by purchasing existing work, or by commissioning artists to create new work especially for the state building or site. In order to reflect the rich diversity of the citizens of Minnesota, the Percent for Art program chooses artwork that represents a wide range of social, cultural, and historical values.
How is Work Selected?
For each site, the Minnesota State Arts Board convenes a site selection committee made up of representatives who are users of the building, the architect in charge of the project, and artists or other arts professionals. The committee examines construction plans and determines possible locations for artwork, and then reviews the images of artwork by artists whose work might be appropriate for the project.
Art Transfer Pathway
The Art Transfer Pathway offers students the opportunity to complete an Associate of Fine Arts degree with course credits that directly transfer to designated art bachelor’s degree programs at Minnesota State universities. The curriculum has been specifically designed so that students completing this pathway degree and transferring to one of the seven Minnesota State universities enter the university with junior-year status.
Kat Ramsland Memorial Art Scholarship
Kat Ramsland was a beloved art instructor, touching the lives of hundreds of students. She taught digital photography, art history, art appreciation, and ceramics among others over her 14 years at Lake Superior College. Her tragic death has prompted friends and family to create the Kat Ramsland Memorial Art Scholarship.
