Bannes

Cheryl Bannes

Art has been part of my life since I was young. I drew, used found materials to make something new, and generally enjoyed the creative process of seeing what was possible. It was in high school I discovered metal work and found my medium. Many people see metal as cold, hard, and stiff, but there is so much life in metal.

Each metal is unique and learning to bend, stretch and manipulate it into a new form really captured the side of me that loves creative problem solving. I studied traditional metalsmithing/silversmithing in college and

became intrigued by the intricacies of armour. All the small moving parts and beautiful craftsmanship really shows how malleable and moveable metal can be. When making jewelry, it is important to me that it is light, unique and becomes part of the wearer.

I am inspired by everything and every subject! I love the natural forms and shapes of plants, but also get excited by geometric and architectural shapes. I also am very inspired by art materials themselves. I paint, felt, draw, sculpt, photograph, print, collage, etc as each material inspires new ideas and the desire to see what can happen next.

Bio:

Cheryl Bannes has a BA, and MA in Studio art with an emphasis in metalsmithing, then

continued her education to receive K – 12 art teacher certification, and has been working as an

artist, teaching artist, and arts advocate for over 35 years. Cheryl moved to Minnesota 8 years

ago from Montana.

Cheryl’s art career in Montana included being a working artist represented in galleries in MT,

ID, WY, ND, and MN. She was the Education Director at the Lewistown MT Art Center and a

high school art teacher. Cheryl developed and taught her own outreach program in

partnership with the Montana Arts Council and VSA Montana, to bring quality art experiences

to rural communities and schools. The outreach program expanded to 27 schools and

organizations in 7 counties and included art lessons to groups of disabled adults with VSA MT

and VSA North Dakota. Cheryl was also a regular presenter at the Montana Education

Association’s annual teacher’s conferences, and was an adjunct professor for Montana State

University-Northern, and has written and published many MT state sponsored lesson plans for

schools.

Cheryl was a board member of 5 Wings Art Council for five years and is currently on the board

for Minnesota Citizens for the Arts. Recently Cheryl retired from the Cultural Center in New

York Mills where she expanded art education and outreach as the Artistic Director.

Cheryl continues her passion for art outreach as she received a MN State Arts Board grant to

teach art workshops in New York Mills incorporating art into the science curriculum, is teaching

art workshops at Rising Phoenix in Wadena, at the Armory Arts and Event Center in Park

Rapids, and she is working with local artists to increase art opportunities in Wadena.

She is also spending more time in her studio, creating art for galleries and shows.

Cheryl Bannes / Fifth House Studio: cbannes.arts@gmail.com

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