Breaking the Surface
by Catie Miller and Emily Williams-Wheeler
Media: fiberglass; Size: 72 x 36 x 36 inches each;
Date created: 2022
When the City of Moorhead asked for artists to imagine a piece of art that would be central to the community, Catie Miller and Emily Williams-Wheeler teamed up to create something vibrant and iconic, while considering the park location and history. They wanted to bring some color to this park environment with a public art installation of 5 oversized, playful fiberglass beavers with the title, Breaking the Surface. Breaking the Surface explores the metaphor of the beaver as an icon for community. Beavers were chosen because of the proximity and to highlight the ecosystem of the Red River Valley. They also symbolize persistence and hard work, values that define the people of the community of Moorhead. Team oriented beavers create their life from the help and contributions of the colony, building their homes and altering their environments. The installation, along with the impact of the size and color, has drastically changed the environment and interaction people have with the park.
About the Artists
Catie Miller is a potter, illustrator, muralist, and workshop instructor. After earning her degrees from Minnesota State University Moorhead, she has become recognized for creating colorfully illustrated ceramics. She has a passion for drawing and printmaking processes that inform the surfaces of her clay works. She continues to grow her art practice from ceramics to mural projects and public art collaborations. Her artwork has been exhibited and collected both nationally and internationally.
Emily Williams-Wheeler’s artwork is collected worldwide. She has exhibited widely in solo and group shows. Her work is full of color and layers, often with a touch of humor and whimsy. It can found in civic, medical, educational, corporate, and residential installations. She has also created many public art projects for the Fargo-Moorhead region, including a 55′ long mural across the Broadway skyway, large installs of 2D and 3D work in partnership with West Acres, and wraps of her artwork around town.
https://www.catie-miller.com/ https://www.emilywilliamswheeler.com/