Drawn from the River: Charcoal Experiments with Kimberly Wetzel

A House Unbuilt’s Art & Water Micro Residency culminates in public exhibition and River Days of Action events in Stillwater, MN

Stillwater, MN — April 29, 2026 — A House Unbuilt presents Drawn from the River: Charcoal Experiments with Kimberly Wetzel, a month-long micro residency unfolding May 9 through June 7, 2026, at the Art & Water Space in downtown Stillwater. The project culminates in a public exhibition and participatory events during the ArtOpener Studio Tour and One Mississippi’s River Days of Action, aligning artistic practice with river-based advocacy across the Mississippi watershed.

Developed through A House Unbuilt’s Art & Water Micro Residency, Wetzel’s project explores the St. Croix River and its surrounding landscape through an experimental charcoal pouring process. Drawing from time spent walking river trails and ethically foraging materials, her work translates direct encounters with place into abstract compositions that hold the textures, rhythms, and residue of the environment. Rather than depicting the river, these drawings emerge from it—formed through material investigation, observation, and response.

Throughout the residency, the public is invited into Wetzel’s process through weekly open studio hours held Saturdays from noon to 4pm. Visitors can observe the development of the work and engage with the artist as she experiments with charcoal, collage, and landscape-based abstraction.

A two-part Charcoal Pouring Workshop will take place May 23 and 24 from 2–4pm. Participants will learn Wetzel’s charcoal pouring techniques, create textured works on paper, and develop collaged landscapes from their materials. The workshop is limited to 10 participants and requires attendance at both sessions.

The residency culminates June 5–7 with a public exhibition presented as part of the ArtOpener Studio Tour and River Days of Action. The exhibition will feature drawings created during the residency alongside a site-responsive activation inspired by the St. Croix River. Visitors are invited to participate through a hands-on making space, experimenting with charcoal and collage while engaging directly with the materials and processes that shaped the work.

Drawn from the River reflects A House Unbuilt’s ongoing commitment to connecting artistic practice with ecological awareness and community engagement. Through the Art & Water Micro Residency, the organization supports artists in developing work rooted in place while creating opportunities for public exchange, learning, and participation.

Event Details

Drawn from the River: Charcoal Experiments with Kimberly Wetzel
May 9 – June 7, 2026
Art & Water Space
321 Main Street S, Stillwater, MN

Open Studio
Saturdays, Noon – 4pm

Charcoal Pouring Workshop
May 23 & 24, 2026 | 2–4pm
Limited to 10 participants (must attend both sessions)

ArtOpener Studio Tour / River Days of Action Exhibition
June 5: 5–8pm
June 6–7: 10am–5pm

About A House Unbuilt
A House Unbuilt is a community-based archive that performs histories through artist-led observation, embodied fieldwork, and listening practices. Through exhibitions, residencies, performances, and public programs, the organization engages communities in exploring relationships between people, place, and water systems.