Keeling Group

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CO is a new exhibition space located on the corner of Stinson and Broadway in Northeast Minneapolis, above the former First Amendment Arts gallery. Owned and operated as a partnership between Burlesque of North America and Permanent (an art and design group formed by Joseph Belk launching Mid June), CO presents thematic multimedia exhibitions in collaboration with artists, designers and curators. The space includes over 2000 sq. feet, 20+ ft. high walls, mobile walls, and suspendible ceilings. Other resources for exhibitions include screen printing facilities, artist residences, and media outreach campaigns. CO’s inaugural year will feature a range of exhibitions, including: the art of Doomtree, a Michael Gaughan - curated celebration of Spinal Tap entitled “Smell the Glove,” work from the Draplin Design Co. featuring acclaimed graphic designer Aaron James Draplin, an installation and series of paintings from Bush Foundation Artist Fellowship recipient Mali Kouanchao, and a mammoth retrospective of '70s-era blaxploitation film posters. ABOUT CO   The name CO was decided with our principles in mind. As a prefix, CO - modifies base words to mean together with, or associated with, and we approach projects in the same fashion. For each artist, designer, or curator who works with us, we are a resource for development, fabrication and talent, a dedicated partner in executing their vision. For us, the excitement is in expanding exhibitions so they transform the gallery into an ambitious multimedia spectacle.   ABOUT FIRST AMENDMENT ARTS In the summer of 2006, graphic design and screenprinting studio Burlesque of North America moved their operation into a 3000 square foot warehouse space at the corner of Broadway and Stinson in Northeast Minneapolis. The front room of the space housed First Amendment Arts, an award-winning gallery which held monthly exhibits of painting, prints, and photography. Over the course of their four year run, First Amendment featured the artwork of local artists Eric Inkala, Broken Crow, Jennifer Davis and Jenny Schmid, internationally recognized artists Shepard Fairey, Gary Baseman, and Jay Ryan, and musical performances from P.O.S, Chooglin', Calvin Johnson, Birthday Suits, and Cecil Otter. With plans of organizing even larger and grander art exhibitions, the First Amendment crew has closed its doors and teamed up with Permanent to open up this larger space with the flexibility to allow our artists to create just about anything they can imagine.   ABOUT PERMANENT AND JOSEPH BELK Joseph Belk for the past year and a half has produced, created, and curated some of the most highly acclaimed conceptual art exhibits in the great city of Minneapolis. Starting at age 26, he has developed installations such as a block long public art project Save Canvas, the follicle-themed screenprinted poster show turned Locks of Love fundraiser Sweet Hair, an exhibit of paintings and multimedia art from Keegan Wenkman and Aaron Bickner about foreclosure and vacancy entitled Final Notice, Keegan Wenkman's solo art show My Life as a Number, a floating circus of art installations, video projections, and live rock bands all aboard barges set assail on the Mississippi River entitled The Slow Mirror and the Metronome, Tribute to Radio Raheem - the annual hip hop dance party and boombox broadcast celebration with live cassette jockeys, and has continued to be a part of a variety of events like the fine food meets live rock music Gastro Non Grata and Bedlam Theatre art dance party Bomp! His large scale productions incorporating art, design, music, and interactive elements set all over the Twin Cities have now found a new home and a partner. With Burlesque's talents and experience in design, publishing, art and gallery success with First Amendment, it seems like a perfect mold for something different - a collaboration full of innovative and progressively approached projects and shows on a local and national level. Now with Joseph's new young team of collaborators including Edward Quinn and Adam Burchard, Permanent has formed. Utilizing artists, designers, writers, and developers in a malleable process while focusing on the concepts and synergy of both art and design, this versatility not only makes them capable of working in many different arenas at the same time, but is also a source of inspiration.  Follow CO on Twitter: @COexhibitions