Starry Night: Your Vision. Your Style. Your Story.
A curated gallery exhibition and community celebration, presented by Dakota Center for the Arts at the Eagan Art House, where artists answer the question, “What does a starry night mean to you?”.
August 28, 2026
December Nocturne by Kelly Frankenberg
The Inspiration: What is the story behind this piece, and how does it express your personal vision or feeling of a "starry night"?
December can be a hard time for many Minnesotans because the darkness is longer. Cloudy nights you can't see the stars, but December has us seeing Christmas lights in their place. Last December I was inspired by the basic indoor lights coming from the house in my backyard, lighting up the snow in different colors. The contrast of the mundane, every day house lights and street light with the deep blackness of night brought comfort in the dark to me just like stars.
Your Process: What materials, techniques, or moments in your life shaped the creation of this work?
I decided to try painting on a black canvas paper a night scene for the first time and building up color on top of the black. It worked very well for the colors and contrast I was trying to achieve. I worked from a photo but also plein air as I observed directly out my back window how the view felt and looked. There is something about being in the moment and the feeling it brings.
Your Dakota County Connection: How has living or creating in Dakota County influenced your journey as an artist?
The art community has grown and changed since I've lived in Dakota county for the past 16 years. There are reminders to create every day. With so much support for the arts in this county, it makes me feel proud to live in a place where others care about the arts and put in the effort to appreciate and see art and support artists on their creative journey. hope it continues.
Link: www.kellyfrankenberg.com
Across the Universe by Jacqueline Swanson
The Inspiration: What is the story behind this piece, and how does it express your personal vision or feeling of a "starry night"?
In this mixed media piece entitled, "Across the Universe," a found image of Egon Schiele in the act of creation is used as the figurative focus, with the vast expanse of the starry universe as a backdrop. He mixes his palette of paints as they drip red into a basket which overflows, symbolizing infinite possibilities for an artist in the act of creating. The copper wire spiral, in itself, is a symbol of infinity as is outer space; the red, the agony of creation. With “eyes that know the darkness of his soul,” he engages the viewer. The small stones symbolize the heavy weight an artist sometimes carries as they transfer their interpretation of life's meaning to their work.
Your Process: What materials, techniques, or moments in your life shaped the creation of this work?
ARTIST STATEMENT. My mixed media collage style grew out of hand-built collagraphs created as a student at MCAD as a fashion design major and printmaking minor. Several years (post-graduation) I developed a line of colorful art cards using hand-painted papers, embellishments and machine stitching; recognizable forerunners of my present style.
Thought-provoking themes in my work are drawn from imagination and life experiences and the intuitive use of a variety of mixed materials and methods. The continuing evolution of my art is heightened by ongoing experimentation with different mediums, techniques and carefully curated materials. As an intuitive creative I combine a color-rich palette with imagination and metaphor to form a magical world of depth and movement through the intermixing of texture, layers and images.
Materials: Acrylic, found images, found and crafted collage papers, wire spiral, string, Lake Superior stones, thread, plastic screen, metal coin, hand & machine stitching, matting made of silver metallic.
Your Dakota County Connection: How has living or creating in Dakota County influenced your journey as an artist?
August marks 15 years of living in Dakota County. During that time, I became active with the Eagan Art House, an important connection for me, displaying and sharing my artwork with the community. Retirement from the Minnesota Historical Society in 2016, provided me with the longed-for time to devote to my art practice. I live in Eagan between two ponds on a quiet cul-de-sac and it has made all the difference.
Link: https://facebook.com/Jacqueline Swanson "Art by Jacqueofhearts" | Instagram: @jackie.swanson.927
Bared by James D. Autio
The Inspiration: What is the story behind this piece, and how does it express your personal vision or feeling of a "starry night"?
Ojibwe culture embraces fluidity between people and animals, the natural environment, day and night, the corporeal and the spiritual. Like Van Gogh looking at a night sky over a sleepy village and seeing a flow of energy that is as much a part of the vastness of life as it is a channel for the inner turmoil we all feel at times, that reflective look in a human eye and the connection between human and animal spirits speaks volumes about the life energies we all share and the unspoken communications that happen under a starry night.
Your Process: What materials, techniques, or moments in your life shaped the creation of this work?
I mostly draw with charcoal on grocery bags, but a friend gave me an enormous roll of packing paper and I use it for drawings sometimes. As a Finnish/Ojibwe poet, artist and educator I like to mix and layer images and ideas and in doing so allow the audience (and myself!) to ponder the connections and spaces between things.
Your Dakota County Connection: How has living or creating in Dakota County influenced your journey as an artist?
I've worked in Dakota County for 20 years, and I've lived in Eagan for 6 years. I love the feeling and energy of the city and county, and much of the poetry and art I do happens here.
HERE COMES MY FRIEND, DOUGLASS by Valerie Rose
The Inspiration: What is the story behind this piece, and how does it express your personal vision or feeling of a "starry night"?
While doing some research for a different historic project, I ran across a video about Frederick Douglass. I was nothing less than awestruck to learn that on August 10, 1863, Douglass, a Foundational Black American (FBA), made an unannounced visit to meet with President Abraham Lincoln to demand equal pay and better treatment for Black union soldiers during the Civil War. After sending his card up to the president, Douglass was ushered up to see the President, skipping past a host of people who were waiting to see the president.
Subsequent to this meeting, Lincoln invited Douglass to his second inaugural ball. It was a starry night on March 4, 1865 when Frederick Douglass arrived at the White House in a tuxedo. While initially stopped, Douglass asked a guest to let Lincoln know that he was there. Douglass was admitted immediately. When President Lincoln saw him, he stopped shaking hands with the other guests and said, “Here comes my friend, Douglass!”
When one thinks of an inaugural or any ball, one usually thinks of shimmering dresses that sparkle like stars, bow ties and shiny shoes. This is why I chose to include glitter in Douglass’ hair. Another reason is because Douglass was nothing less than a star. He was the most photographed man in America at that time, according to PBS. Not the most famous FBA man in America, but the most photographed man in America, period. He was a star. A nova is an exploding star. A supernova is also an exploding star, but it dies in the end. “While a nova will typically peak at around 100,000 times the luminosity of the sun, a supernova is typically billions of times brighter than the Sun!” according to Dr. Geza Gyuk of the Adler Planetarium’s Senior Director of Astronomy. To me, Douglass was a superstar, just like a supernova-a one-time cosmic event.
Your Process: What materials, techniques, or moments in your life shaped the creation of this work?
What materials, techniques, or moments in your life shaped the creation of this work?
I was writing a book about another historical character who was virtually forgotten about. My research was such that I read a lot about Frederick Douglass during that timeframe, as he shared the stage with the character that I was writing about. As indicated above, I was really struck by his unannounced visit to the White House to see President Lincoln. That took a lot of moxie.
Your Dakota County Connection: How has living or creating in Dakota County influenced your journey as an artist?
I've won several grants for MRAC. One of which gave me the opportunity to curate an exhibit on the above. However, I only learned about this organization a few days ago via the newsletter that featured the art block.
Link: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009320746325
Meditation by K Flynn
The Inspiration: What is the story behind this piece, and how does it express your personal vision or feeling of a "starry night"?
The idea of Starry night evokes endless possibilities and flashes of brilliance. Meditation is a piece that has movement even within its stillness. The touches silver luster enhance the movement and bring the idea of endless possibilities and brilliance into one’s inner universe.
Your Process: What materials, techniques, or moments in your life shaped the creation of this work?
This sculptural piece was wheel thrown and altered. After the glaze firing, silver luster was added and it was fired again.
Your Dakota County Connection: How has living or creating in Dakota County influenced your journey as an artist?
While I don’t live in Dakota County, the art community has welcomed, supported, and encouraged me as I create.
As Twilight Dawns by Timothy Jacobs
The Inspiration: What is the story behind this piece, and how does it express your personal vision or feeling of a "starry night"?
The transition from dusk to dark is pure magic. I am inspired to create this work as an expression of that pure darkness cut by a full moon on a clear night, but not directly visible in the painting. To me, this brings a sense of celestial mystery.
Your Process: What materials, techniques, or moments in your life shaped the creation of this work?
Utilizing molding paste as an underpainting gives additional texture to the water, creating a glowing shimmer. My memories of being on a dock, watching this happen truly inspired this work.
Your Dakota County Connection: How has living or creating in Dakota County influenced your journey as an artist?
I have lived and worked in Dakota County for 30 years. Each day, week, month, and year brings surprises to my inspired work. I primarily work in expressionistic landscapes, and this variety availed in Dakota County is a great source of life, which is why I paint.
Link: timnfineartanddesign.com
Guide in the Dark by David Johnson
The Inspiration: What is the story behind this piece, and how does it express your personal vision or feeling of a "starry night"?
In the dark more stars are visible. I feel an invitation to be still and pay attention. The longer I look, the more I see.
Your Process: What materials, techniques, or moments in your life shaped the creation of this work?
This tapestry is Harrisville Highland wool weft woven onto cotton seine warp.
Your Dakota County Connection: How has living or creating in Dakota County influenced your journey as an artist?
After living Eagan for 34 years I recently discoverd a passion for tapestry weaving. The natural beauty of the parks inspires me.