May 16 | 10:30a - 12p
Included with gallery admission
Join Minnesota Marine Art Museum exhibiting artist, Gordon Coons, for drop-in printmaking on Saturday, May 16 from 10:30a - 12p. This lively, all-ages drop-in printmaking experience is inspired by the imagery in his exhibition Gordon Coons: Gidibaajimomin / We Tell Stories, on view at MMAM May 9 - August 30, 2026. This fast-paced, hands-on activity invites participants to experiment with pre-made animal shapes drawn from Coons’ work with no carving required. Simply choose your favorite animal forms, select from a variety of colorful papers, and bring your composition to life through ink and print.
As you create, discover how different animal combinations carry unique meanings, with handouts provided by Coons to deepen your understanding of the stories and symbolism behind each image. Rooted in the Woodland Style and influenced by Ojibwa storytelling traditions, Coons’ work emphasizes connection, communication, and cultural knowledge, making this creative activity not just fun, but meaningful.
Perfect for all skill levels, this quick and engaging experience offers a welcoming way to explore art, storytelling, and self-expression. No registration is required, and this program is included with MMAM gallery admission. This program is also part of the May New Look Weekend!
About the artist
Gordon Coons is an enrolled member of Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Band of Lake Superior Indians of Wisconsin and Ottawa/Potawatomi from his mother from Michigan. Gordon is a painter, printmaker, and fumage artist. Largely self-taught, he paints in the Ojibwa Woodland style and creates fumage, smoke art, by burning cedar. He embellishes his fumage pieces with 24-karat gold leaf to represent the grandfather the sun. He also prints with linoleum blocks. Coons draws inspiration from his Anishinaabe heritage, and his bright color palette comes from his natural surrounds in the Great Lakes region. “I also enjoy incorporating playfulness in my images, telling stories of relationships between Western and Native cultures, and the connection we have to our shared historical events,” he says in his artist statement. Gordon Coons exhibits nationally, and his work is in permanent collections across the country. More of his artwork can be seen online at gordoncoons.com.
New Look Weekend
This event is part of the May New Look Weekend, celebrating the opening of two new exhibitions, Gordon Coons: Gidibaajimomin / We Tell Stories and Myths & Legends of Minnesota: An Exhibition of the Minnesota Plein Air Collective. Stop by to see the new exhibitions, or join the programming on Saturday, May 16 with unique opportunities to meet the artists, see demonstrations, and take a deeper dive into the exhibitions.
