By ADAM TURNER
Adam Turner is a Minnesota artist, living in Roseville with his wife, Laura, their daughter, Addison, and a couple of aging pets. Born and raised on the West Coast, he moved to Minnesota to attend college and has lived in Minnesota off and on ever since. Adam is a career illustrator who has recently focused his attention more on fine art and oil painting. His two primary focuses are figure paintings and landscapes.
There is great depth… struggle, vivacity, experience. My work continuously comes back to the Minnesota story.
I remember it pretty clearly. It was 1996, and it was my senior year of high school during football season, in Phoenix, Arizona. My football coach pulled me out of class and said he had someone he wanted me to meet. Already with him was our all-state running back, Jesse. Coach, Jesse and I walked down the stairs and out to the parking lot, where a man with a large presence stood and smiled as we approached. He was the president of a college in Minnesota and wanted the two of us to come play football. He was already familiar with my contribution to football, as well as my art portfolio. The appeal didn’t land with Jesse, but for me, all the right words were spoken: a football program where I could contribute, an amazing art program and four years in the mystical state of Minnesota, a state I had never been to but that sounded to me like a life in the woods for four years, far from the desert of the Southwest.
I remember it pretty clearly. It was 1996, and it was my senior year of high school during football season, in Phoenix, Arizona. My football coach pulled me out of class and said he had someone he wanted me to meet. Already with him was our all-state running back, Jesse. Coach, Jesse and I walked down the stairs and out to the parking lot, where a man with a large presence stood and smiled as we approached. He was the president of a college in Minnesota and wanted the two of us to come play football. He was already familiar with my contribution to football, as well as my art portfolio. The appeal didn’t land with Jesse, but for me, all the right words were spoken: a football program where I could contribute, an amazing art program and four years in the mystical state of Minnesota, a state I had never been to but that sounded to me like a life in the woods for four years, far from the desert of the Southwest.
The college was Bethel College (now Bethel University), in Arden Hills. The next four years would integrate me almost fully into the Minnesota life. Most of my new friends were Minnesotan, our football games took me all around Minnesota to other small colleges, my art experience was influenced by the Minnesota art scene, my summers were spent in the Boundary Waters, and my future wife lived about a mile from Bethel.
It wasn’t long before I fell in love with Minnesota, and knew that I wanted to stay and be a part of this culture. Like many other Minnesotans, I believe we have a great art scene, I love the North Shore and I completely accept the nature of “Minnesota Nice.”
One thing I truly love about Minnesota is how each season brings out a character trait that I’m proud of. Summers here tie me to the natural beauty of this land. Fall… oh, fall… my favorite season. Even though it’s often associated with death, it actually reminds me of life, and change, and the cycle of life. Fall here reminds me of adjusting and accepting change. But, winter… winter is where I thrive. Winter brings out adversity and overcoming adversity. I thrive on the challenge that winter brings. I love shoveling the driveway, I am a competitive snow sculptor (I compete in both local and international events, including the world event held in Stillwater each year), and I simply love the beauty of winter in Minnesota. Spring actually connects me to others. My
wife, Laura, anticipates the flowers every spring, and it’s one of the ways I could really see her and connect with her.
All of this to say … when it comes to my artwork, there is a common theme. People and places have story. There is great depth… struggle, vivacity, experience and more. And I find myself continually coming back to the Minnesota story. "The people of Minnesota are strong. I believe there is something about place that shapes the people.” I believe there is something about place that shapes the people.” But, in turn, the people also shape the place. The North Shore, for example, is a beautiful place, but it’s also held in high regard and pride by the people, and its value is reflected through that. My art won’t necessarily be isolated to the people and places of Minnesota, but you will often see that theme come through my work. The ruggedness, the beauty, the motion, the life, the adversity, the hope. And, at the root of all of my work, Minnesota — its people and places — will always be a source of inspiration. Even as I write this, there are downy woodpeckers at the feeder, geese landing on the slightly iced lake across the street, blue jays calling out, and neighbors out walking on a wintry day. I’m proud to call myself a Minnesotan, and I’m proud to pull that into my artwork.
All of this to say … when it comes to my artwork, there is a common theme. People and places have story. There is great depth… struggle, vivacity, experience and more. And I find myself continually coming back to the Minnesota story. "The people of Minnesota are strong. I believe there is something about place that shapes the people.” I believe there is something about place that shapes the people.” But, in turn, the people also shape the place. The North Shore, for example, is a beautiful place, but it’s also held in high regard and pride by the people, and its value is reflected through that. My art won’t necessarily be isolated to the people and places of Minnesota, but you will often see that theme come through my work. The ruggedness, the beauty, the motion, the life, the adversity, the hope. And, at the root of all of my work, Minnesota — its people and places — will always be a source of inspiration. Even as I write this, there are downy woodpeckers at the feeder, geese landing on the slightly iced lake across the street, blue jays calling out, and neighbors out walking on a wintry day. I’m proud to call myself a Minnesotan, and I’m proud to pull that into my artwork.
Follow Adam @adamturnervisuals
