A captivating new exhibition at St. Paul's recently opened Interact Gallery invites visitors into a world where reality and imagination intertwine through landscapes and otherworldly creatures. 'Something There in the Woods' showcases nearly three decades of artwork from Interact artists, demonstrating the remarkable breadth and evolution of this unique artistic community that supports artists with disabilities.
The exhibition fills the gallery space with colorful, mischievous energy as curator Bob Cozzolino and featured artists Carl Clark, Jill Reedy, and Jesse Ferdinand present their newly hung pieces. Clark's painted landscapes feature striking blue skies and roiling clouds, while Reedy contributes a felted perched owl, and Ferdinand displays psychedelic canvases depicting alien rituals and animal bridegrooms. The diverse collection represents the fantastical and intangible made tangible through artistic expression.
'When I'm making the art, images come from like a subconscious place, it's almost more like channeling,' Ferdinand explains about his creative process. 'I'm usually almost as surprised about it as anyone else is.' This intuitive approach to artmaking reflects the authentic and unfiltered creativity that characterizes much of the work in the exhibition.
Cozzolino, working as part of a guest curator program, was tasked with creating an exhibition from works in Interact's extensive archives dating back to 1996. The Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts moved into its new space just a few blocks from the old gallery in January, effectively doubling the exhibition square footage and providing enhanced opportunities to showcase the organization's rich collection.
'I'm drawn to artists who are trying to imagine the otherworldly, the intangible, things like that, and make it in tangible form,' Cozzolino says about his curatorial approach. 'There's so much in this show that is really about going to other places, going into the landscape, into nature, encountering fairies and hybrid creatures and sometimes scary things in the woods, but really about immersing yourself in another place.'
Running concurrently with 'Something There in the Woods' is another impressive exhibition called 'The Big Winter Show,' which features work from more than 70 artists and will remain on display through December 18. This comprehensive showcase includes paintings, jewelry, wall textiles, clay skulls, and a striking wall of glossy ceramic masks featuring a menagerie of tigers, unicorns, foxes, and other fantastical creatures.
'It's really a chance for people to kind of put their best foot forward and show the things that they're really excited about that they've been doing for the last 12 months,' says Brittany Kieler, gallery director for Interact. The winter exhibition serves as an annual celebration of the artistic achievements and creative growth within the Interact community.
'Something There in the Woods' will remain on view through May 15, 2026, giving visitors an extended opportunity to explore the mystical and imaginative works that blur the boundaries between the real and the fantastical. Both exhibitions will be celebrated with a free public reception on November 22, providing the community with an opportunity to meet the artists and experience these remarkable collections firsthand.
