Join us for our monthly Twin Cities Maker Community Night—an evening of free food, conversation, and connection! We’ll be firing up the grill (with vegetarian options available), so come stop by for some tasty dinner. Please bring a potluck side dish or dessert to share! (No sign-up necessary this month!)
Come spend time with your fellow makers at 6:30. At 7 - 7:15, we will have a special presentation from guest mixed media artist Betsy Skagen, who will share about her practice and method.
Bio:
"Betsy Skagen (rhymes with toboggan) is a native Minnesotan and graduate of Macalester College. In 2020, she and her family moved from the heart of Saint Paul to the tiny rural town of Outing. This cultural shift from urban to rural life deeply informs her mixed-media and laser work. A former writer, editor and graphic designer, Betsy’s art represents her role as “teller of stories”. The stories she tells often focus on diversity, resilience, inclusion and Minnesota’s woods, prairies and lakes.
Working in greater Minnesota has strengthened her connection to place and to the materials she uses. Her work often incorporates birch plywood, reclaimed wood, eco-wood, driftwood, lake glass, birch bark, collage papers collected over many years, hand-crafted prints, translucent acrylic and found objects gathered from both urban and rural locations. She combines these with paints, substrates, adhesives and eco-friendly stains to create layered mixed-media compositions.
Betsy’s techniques vary widely from project to project, and she uses an equally varied set of tools including sandpaper, saws, paintbrushes, gel plates and a laser cutter. She shares her work with the public through social media, local markets and community events.
When she is not working in her studio, Betsy and her husband Cliff split their time between Outing, Mille Lacs Lake and visiting their kids in Minneapolis. No matter where they go, Beauregard the Golden Retriever is sure to be relentlessly shadowing Betsy."
Whether you’re a longtime member or visiting for the first time, community night is a great chance to connect, learn more about TCM, and be part of the maker community.
