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Apr 20, 2008 10:52 pm US/Central
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Finding Minnesota: Abstract Art Is A Family Affair
PLYMOUTH, Minn. (WCCO) ―
Minnesota was home to one of the great Swedish abstract artists, Elof Wedin. Now his son Gary is taking that style to a new level and winning acclaim.
When you step inside Gary Wedin's townhome, you're eyes are immediately drawn to the walls.
"Mine are up here. This was my father's things here," pointed out Gary.
His father, Swedish-born artist, Elof Wedin spent a lifetime painting portraits and landscapes. However, now it's Gary whose turning heads with his cubist style of abstract.
"It's just rearranging the parts: shapes, forms, colors, shading, trying to get depth," said Gary.
He paints with acrylic and rediscovered a passion for art after a career in construction. In his studio, he brushes onto canvas what his mind sees.
"Everything is related to everything else. Not one thing is important, they're all important," said Gary.
Though driven by his famous artist father, it's a painting of his mother that watches every stroke. Gary likes abstract art because it leaves much to the imagination.
"I tend to leave something in it somebody without a great art background can see what is in there, and then I build from there," he said.
Wedin's greatest honor came just this past year when his painting "Concerto" was chosen for top honors at the National Veteran's Creative Arts Festival. Gary is proud of the medal he received from the Department of Veteran's Affairs, a medal representing all the veterans in the United States.
His paintings range from musicians and instruments to old farms and the Grand Tetons. The paintings are as diverse, as they are curious and colorful.
As for comparison to his father's work, Gary welcomes it.
"I love it. That's like having me being compared to what I thought would be him to Picasso, because he thought he was great. He would have said the same thing if you would have compared him to Picasso, his heart never would have quit," said Gary.
And if his father walked through the door today?
"I think he'd say, 'Not bad kid. I think maybe you ought to change this or move that.' Yeah, OK Pop," he said.
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