Tuuli Koivisto and I were both selected to showcase our artwork at the prestigious “Isaac Walton League National Art Show” in Bloomington, Minnesota. The art show is hosted by the Minnesota Valley Chapter of the Izaak Walton League. The highly competitive, juried exhibition of national talent runs through July 30, 2026. The exhibition is held at the historic Les Kouba Gallery chapter house, located at 6601 Auto Club Road, Bloomington, MN. Art enthusiasts andcommunitymemberstraveling to the Twin Cities area are encouraged to stop by the gallery before the show concludes at the end of the month to support our local Babbitt artists on the national stage.
It is an honor to be selected for the Isaac Walton League National Art Show to be exhibiting with such a diverse group of talented artists. Both of us selected topics that represent Minnesota but are completely different in both medium and subject. I created a cast iron sculpture that is an abstract representation of mining. Tuuli chose to focus on a native brook trout which is one of our family’s favorite fish to catch. For Tuuli the inclusion caps off an extraordinary year. She recently earned a Superior award and Best of Show in crafts at the MSHSL state art competition for her intricate textile work. Being selected for this show together is quite the exciting moment for our family. We entered under completely different categories and got to attend the artist reception together. At the reception, my sculpture was awarded the Curator award.
The 2026 National Art Show will be on display at the Kouba Gallery from July 6 - July 30. Tuuli and I attended the special 3-day pop-up exhibition at the Hilton Minneapolis- St. Paul Airport Hilton in the Riverside Room in conjunction with the 2026 Izaak Walton League National Convention to attend the opening reception last Friday, July 17th. The Curator’s award for my cast iron sculpture was awarded at the reception. Traveling to Minneapolis gave us a nice respite from the wildfire smoke, too!
A little about the Isaac Walton Leagiue that sponsored the art show: The Izaak Walton League of America is a pioneering conservation group that champions sustainable outdoor recreation as the ultimate way to connect people with nature. Founded in 1922, the League firmly believes that those who enjoy outdoor sports like fishing, hunting, boating, and archery are the natural guardians of our wilderness.
By promoting ethical outdoor sportsmanship, the organization ensures that natural habitats are preserved so that outdoor activities can thrive for generations to come. Their community-based chapters, including the Minnesota Valley Chapter that organized this art exhibition, actively maintain local grounds and watersheds, creating a direct link between hands-on environmental stewardship and the vibrant lifestyle of outdoor recreation.
Following is Tuuli’s artist’s statement which can also be found on page 23 of the attached National Art Show Directory that is attached.
Tuuli Koivisto Artist’s Statement: I created this piece with my brother in mind. I wanted to honor our passion for fishing in a physical art form. This piece utilizes color harmony to bring the fish to life. The colors bring your eyes to follow the flux from orange to yellow to green and to the speckle of black and grey, then to the prominent red colored tail fin. When creating this piece, color theory was an important consideration. The process started with making the pattern. I used a digital program to create a pixel art version of the fish. I carefully chose my yarn, opting for acrylic. There were ten different colors, and I specifically chose red for a different type of yarn, intending it to be a focal point. Using a technique called tapestry crochet, utilizing a single crochet stitch throughout, each color would have a specific moment. After finishing the piece, I needed to add white lines to the fins, a distinguishing feature of the Brook Trout. I decided to use surface crochet to emphasize the fin color.
My cast iron sculpture selected was titled “Minnesota Mining” and included copper pennies and nickels representing the important mining elements of which we are all aware of on the Iron Range.
Following is my artist’s statement which can also be found on page 28 of the attached National Art Showe Directory.
Chris Koivisto Artist statement: Cast in iron embedded with copper pennies and nickels, this sculpture reflects the evolving and often contentious history of mining in northern Minnesota. Iron mining has long been a foundation of the region’s economy and identity, shaping both the landscape and the communities that depend upon it. The inclusion of copper elements references the growing focus on copper-nickel mining and the debates surrounding its potential environmental impacts, particularly on Minnesota’s waters and wilderness areas. By combining materials associated with both industries, the work acknowledges the complexity of balancing economic opportunity, cultural heritage, and environmental stewardship. The work invites reflection on the difficult choices facing Minnesota’s mining communities and the landscapes they call home.
