FARGO — When designing your dream home, there’s a long laundry list of items to shop for like countertops, cabinets, flooring and furniture. The options can be overwhelming, but every decision made along the way brings you one step closer to creating a home that reflects you as an individual, a couple or a family.

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Thanks to Kayla Cote van Rensburg for this article! 

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This month, I pulled my inspiration from local artist Ashley Kunz. Her work is gestural, organic and highly pigmented. She describes it as “nonrepresentational” as it does not represent anything in the visible world. I found Ashley’s work when strolling through West Acres Mall when she was their Artist in Residence back in March. The compositions of her work attracted me and filled me with a sense of wonder. Her works encourage viewers to create their own visual stories within them.

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When we first started our Artist in Residence program, we had no idea what to expect and what the reaction would be. After hearing amazing feedback from our stores and visitors, we are thrilled to continue the program with our next local artist, Ashley Kunz!

Ashley has created a beautiful and unique space out of what once was Broadway Shoe Company, across from Gap Kids. Learn more about Ashley and her new space in our Q&A below…

Ashley Kunz isn't afraid to be adventurous when creating her vibrant abstract paintings.

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In addition to the standard paintbrush, the Moorhead-based artist experiments with rubber spatulas, pizza cutters, knives, foil, sponges and other fun tools to add dimension and texture to her work.

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"I love going to hardware stores to find new materials to work with," Kunz says. "I pick up whatever I think will work, and if it doesn't, I just try again."

We all have causes we're passionate about, whether it's saving the environment, feeding the hungry, supporting the arts, or providing shelter to women and children.

Usually supporting such causes means donating money to nonprofit organizations working to solve these issues.

Nonprofit organizations certainly need those donations to accomplish their missions, but because so many organizations are underfunded or understaffed, they also need assistance with tasks like building websites or designing brochures....

WHAT IS FM ART DROP?
FM Art Drop is a scavenger hunt for FREE ARTWORK! It was created with funding from The Arts Partnership. I have chosen 4 locations in the Fargo-West Fargo and Moorhead areas and will do one art drop at a time. I will post an image of the artwork you are searching for in the event page so you know what you are looking for. Clues to the location of the artwork will be posted in the event page on the day of the event. The artwork will be clearly marked with #fmartdrop on the front along with other information. 

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
• Click on "Going" on the event page and click on Notification Settings - All Notifications to be notified when the clues are posted. Clues to find the artwork will be posted in the event page. 
• Share, invite and tag your friends in the event page. {Not required, but I would appreciate you helping to spread the word} :-)
• Go out and find the artwork! Whoever finds it first gets to keep it!
• When artwork is found, post an image of it and tag Ashley Kunz, Artist - Autumn in December. You can be in the picture too if you want. :-)
• Make sure to use the hashtag #fmartdrop
• Have FUN!

WHEN: 
Saturday, May 20th at 5:30pm
Monday, May 29th at 7:30pm
Sunday, June 4th at 4:00pm
Tuesday, June 13th at 7:30pm

WHY?
I wanted to do an Art Drop because it's a different way to get the community engaged in the arts. I know many people who appreciate art but can't financially justify purchasing an original piece. FM Art Drop will give those individuals the chance to have an original painting for free. 

This activity is funded in part by an Individual Arts Partnership Grant from The Arts Partnership

Thanks to The Arts Partnership for the nice article on #fmartdrop! 

Ashley Kunz won 1st place in the Professional Artist category for her painting, "Somewhere I Belong" at the 50th Annual Hawley Art Show in Hawley, Minnesota. Artists from all over Minnesota and North Dakota enter the show every year. Kunz also demonstrated her acrylic painting techniques during the event on April 6th, 2017.

Finding a passion and making it into a way of life requires the right mix of spunk, talent and diligence. Fargo-native Ashley Kunz exemplified a love for creative expression at a young age but had no expectations that her talent would take her into a new realm of creative production. Years later, however, her pieces have accumulated into a beautiful collection of abstract representation.

Ashley Kunz isn’t afraid to try new things, especially when it comes to art.

The local artist, who works from her home studio in Moorhead, only began making art four years ago. She first tried painting when she saw a picture on Pinterest and asked herself, “Can I paint?”

The short answer: Absolutely.

FARGO – Ashley Kunz uses Instagram to expose some of the mystery behind her paintings.

Using ink, acrylic paint and other mediums, the 30-year-old abstract artist creates amorphous shapes with hard lines and poured pieces using brushes, palette knives and pouring techniques.

To celebrate our 60th anniversary, Liquitex is selecting a Diamond Artist every month throughout 2015! As well as receiving a Liquitex care package tailored specifically to their artistic style, we’re showcasing their work on our website and Facebook page.

Meet our Liquitex Diamond Artist for June, Minnesota painter Ashley Kunz! Unbridled by the rules of solid formation, she rates Liquitex Professional Pouring Medium for its ability to merge colors for a truly intermixable, natural finish.