Thermal

Meditations on Climate Change


Set in the ornate ballroom of the Turnblad Mansion, Thermal is a multidisciplinary installation of form, movement, and sound centered on Earth’s changing environment.

A sprawling sculptural paper artwork by artist Kim Heidkamp spills from the ballroom stage across the floor like a creature of Norse mythology asleep in the landscape. Composer Joshua Clausen and choreographer Mathew Janczewski of ARENA Dances activate Kim’s work with an immersive performance that invites viewers to slow down and appreciate the natural surrounds while simultaneously delivering a sense of urgency to act, and anxiety to what might happen next.

Kim Heidkamp’s paper installation will be on-view at ASI for the duration of the exhibition, accompanied by recorded performances. Live ticketed performances featuring the trio Rachel Clark, Dustin Haug, and José A. Luis took place throughout February 25-March 19 as part of a month-long premiere of this immersive work.

About the Artists

Kim Heidkamp is a fine artist based in Minneapolis. After working in communications for seven years, the urge to create led Heidkamp to abandon her day job and focus on her art. Her delicate paper sculptures create a moment of meditative stillness, capturing a pause in what seems to be a living, moving creature or a growing natural landscape.

ARENA Dances is a contemporary dance company performing the work of Mathew Janczewski. The work is abstract in form, giving shape to emotions, exploring the depths and the limits of what drives us as humans to connect, to break away, to survive. ARENA incorporates a highly kinetic style of movement, a sweeping physicality that takes in a broad range of feelings and the posturings we may make to protect ourselves in the world.

Joshua Clausen’s compositions have been described by Public Radio International as “powerful” and “poignant.” They frequently fuse strong rhythmic textures and intricate patterning with narratives from history, mass culture and current events. Clausen is a 2018-2019 McKnight Composer Fellow.

Exhibition Supporters

Thermal is produced by the American Swedish Institute, Kim Heidkamp, ARENA DANCES, and Joshua Clausen, with support from The McKnight Foundation, Martin Patrick 3, Paikka, Olson & Nesvold Engineers, P.S.C., and the Minnesota State Arts Board. The exhibition is presented with support from ASI’s members and donors.

Minnesota artist activities are made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.