ART-A-WHIRL 2024

What is Art-A-Whirl?

Art-A-Whirl is the largest open studio tour in the country. Each year, we display art from MN locals that speaks to resiliency, healing and/or domestic violence. Over 1,200 NEMAA member artists, galleries, and businesses participate across all of Northeast Minneapolis at over 80 locations.

Growth, 2023 by Brooklyn Deters [Acrylic on Canvas]: Growth was created as a counterpart to Strength, embodying the perseverance that restored a sense of normalcy to my life. Though I'll never fully be the person I was before the assault, it propelle — Growth, 2023 by Brooklyn Deters [Acrylic on Canvas]: Growth was created as a counterpart to Strength, embodying the perseverance that restored a sense of normalcy to my life. Though I'll never fully be the person I was before the assault, it propelled a profound journey of healing and renewal within me. Growth serves as a testament to my personal evolution, signifying the ongoing process of growth inherent in every individual. It’s a reminder, not only to myself but to others as well, that we are constantly evolving. By prioritizing self-care and fostering genuine connections, we can pursue lives full of happiness and love.

Perfectly Receiving Love, 2023 by Brooklyn Deters [Acrylic on Canvas] : Perfectly Receiving Love was created during my healing journey, a period marked by internal struggles with self-love. Having feelings of self-blame and unworthiness, I found sola — Perfectly Receiving Love, 2023 by Brooklyn Deters [Acrylic on Canvas] : Perfectly Receiving Love was created during my healing journey, a period marked by internal struggles with self-love. Having feelings of self-blame and unworthiness, I found solace unexpectedly in a simple thrift store find. A shirt with the affirming message, “you are worthy of good things.” Every time I wore this shirt, I was met with affirmations from others, reinforcing the fullness of its message. Perfectly Receiving Love serves as a visual manifestation of the inherent worthiness of every individual. As well as a reminder that adversity may strike even the kindest of souls, yet we remain deserving of goodness and happiness.

Plugged In, 2023 by Brooklyn Deters [Acrylic on Canvas]: Plugged In was created a year following my diagnosis of autism. I had a realization that much of my life had been lived according to societal expectations rather than my own. There was a sense — Plugged In, 2023 by Brooklyn Deters [Acrylic on Canvas]: Plugged In was created a year following my diagnosis of autism. I had a realization that much of my life had been lived according to societal expectations rather than my own. There was a sense of disconnection from my own identity, unsure if the choices I made were truly mine or just echoes of external influences. My diagnosis brought both clarity and complexity to my life. It provided answers to long standing questions and validated my experiences of feeling like an outsider. But it also unearthed a profound grief for the years spent masking my true self. Plugged In exists in this nuanced space between happy and sad. With it, I invite viewers to contemplate the intricacies of identity, societal expectations, and the pursuit of authenticity, recognizing that truth often resides in the gray areas of our lived experiences.

I.F.L.I.W.N.A.B.H., 2024 by Allison Witzmann [Mixed Media]: Each one of my paintings is an emotional reaction to something I was truly upset or dealing with. The title of my painting is an abbreviated statement of what caused me to be upset. When I’m — I.F.L.I.W.N.A.B.H., 2024 by Allison Witzmann [Mixed Media]: Each one of my paintings is an emotional reaction to something I was truly upset or dealing with. The title of my painting is an abbreviated statement of what caused me to be upset. When I’m upset or stressed, I turn to “destroying” my canvas. what's left is what you see. To the viewer, it may seem as a chaotic, graffiti mess. To me, it's my brain vomit and a mess of emotions.

In Balance, 2023 by Allison Witzmann [Mixed Media]: Each one of my paintings is an emotional reaction to something I was truly upset or dealing with. The title of my painting is an abbreviated statement of what caused me to be upset. When I’m upset o — In Balance, 2023 by Allison Witzmann [Mixed Media]: Each one of my paintings is an emotional reaction to something I was truly upset or dealing with. The title of my painting is an abbreviated statement of what caused me to be upset. When I’m upset or stressed, I turn to “destroying” my canvas. what's left is what you see. To the viewer, it may seem as a chaotic, graffiti mess. To me, it's my brain vomit and a mess of emotions.

H.D.M.A.H.W.M.A.S, 2024 by Allison Witzmann [Mixed Media]: Each one of my paintings is an emotional reaction to something I was truly upset or dealing with. The title of my painting is an abbreviated statement of what caused me to be upset. When I’m — H.D.M.A.H.W.M.A.S, 2024 by Allison Witzmann [Mixed Media]: Each one of my paintings is an emotional reaction to something I was truly upset or dealing with. The title of my painting is an abbreviated statement of what caused me to be upset. When I’m upset or stressed, I turn to “destroying” my canvas. what's left is what you see. To the viewer, it may seem as a chaotic, graffiti mess. To me, it's my brain vomit and a mess of emotions.

“I.T.I.M.B.A.A., 2024 by Allison Witzmann [Mixed Media]: Each one of my paintings is an emotional reaction to something I was truly upset or dealing with. The title of my painting is an abbreviated statement of what caused me to be upset. When I’m up — “I.T.I.M.B.A.A., 2024 by Allison Witzmann [Mixed Media]: Each one of my paintings is an emotional reaction to something I was truly upset or dealing with. The title of my painting is an abbreviated statement of what caused me to be upset. When I’m upset or stressed, I turn to “destroying” my canvas. what's left is what you see. To the viewer, it may seem as a chaotic, graffiti mess. To me, it's my brain vomit and a mess of emotions.

I.D.L.M.B.H.W.T.M.M., 2024 by Allison Witzmann [Mixed Media]: Each one of my paintings is an emotional reaction to something I was truly upset or dealing with. The title of my painting is an abbreviated statement of what caused me to be upset. When I — I.D.L.M.B.H.W.T.M.M., 2024 by Allison Witzmann [Mixed Media]: Each one of my paintings is an emotional reaction to something I was truly upset or dealing with. The title of my painting is an abbreviated statement of what caused me to be upset. When I’m upset or stressed, I turn to “destroying” my canvas. what's left is what you see. To the viewer, it may seem as a chaotic, graffiti mess. To me, it's my brain vomit and a mess of emotions.

Strength, 2023 by Brooklyn Deters [Acrylic on Canvas] :

Strength was created from my anger and grief after going through one of the hardest seasons of my life. In college, I experien — Strength, 2023 by Brooklyn Deters [Acrylic on Canvas] : Strength was created from my anger and grief after going through one of the hardest seasons of my life. In college, I experienced the trauma of sexual assault by someone I trusted as a friend. Through this experience, I found a community of courageous individuals who helped me gain back my confidence and happiness that was once lost. I still hold a lot of grief in my heart for all the people who have gone and will go through similar seasons in their life. Strength serves as a vessel for my anger, a testament to resilience, and a symbol of solidarity for those who find solace in the imagery of medusa. With it, I hope to convey a message of empowerment and a reminder to others that we are never alone.

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