By Deb Kroon
Review Staff Writer
Cody’s Henrich’s long list of credentials began with his graduation from Rhode Island School of Design with a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Sculpture, and a Bachelor of Art (B.A.) in Fine Art from Northwestern University. He has had three solo exhibitions in his career so far. He is currently an Adjunct Sculpture Professor at the University of Minnesota. The list goes on. He has been with the Adrian School system since 2014, where among the other hats he wears, he teaches 6-12 grade art. Cody’s love, besides his family – his wife Nicole, and their three children Alexis, Elijah, and Noel; and his art; is for helping further the advancement of students he works with and in this case, artists in different fazes of their career.
Cody and Nicole’s “Coffey Contemporary Arts”, a non-profit exhibition and education facility, is set to open Friday, December 8. Coffey Contemporary Arts is committed to encourage and aid artists to actively work towards individual goals. There will be bi-weekly visits from outside artists, curators and professors, as well as in house lectures and workshops. They will have constant access to Cody as a program mentor. CCA will tailor the experience to meet the need of the individual artist, looking to give guidance and help in every way possible.
Located in downtown Luverne, Cody’s newly renovated 24,000 square foot building, will begin to host artists in residence this weekend. Housed within the building on the upper floor, you will find six bedroom areas for artists to live and work without distraction or intrusion. “Think of it as you would an author who moved up into a cabin in the woods so he could write in peace and quiet,” Cody told me. “Besides the living quarters, the artists will have access twenty-four hours a day to a full wood shop, metal shop, studio and a painting room right inside this building. The Lord Grizzly Gallery is also in house where the resident artists can exhibit their work. We will also host artists from all over the country.”
The first of such artists, Doug Burns, will be holding a public forum on Thursday evening from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. He will be talking about his art that will be on display in the Lord Grizzly Gallery for the next two months. On Friday, from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m., the whole building will be open to the public. You can come and view Doug Burns’ art in the Lord Grizzly Gallery, tour the artist residences on the top floor, and enjoy refreshments.
For the public, the Lord Grizzly Gallery will be open Monday through Wednesday by appointment only, with regular hours on Thursday from 12:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. and Saturdays, 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Be sure to attend the open forum lecture by artist Doug Burns on Thursday evening, and on Friday, take some time to tour this phenomenal new addition to the Luverne business community. Come and go as you want, take ten minutes or stay until the refreshments run out. Cody and Nicole and “Coffey Contemporary Arts” are striving to reach our communities with artistic exploration, education and exhibition. Take advantage of this cultural enhancement opportunity right in the middle of downtown Luverne.
