When the Moon Was Home: Inside the Exhibit
By Emma Geary - November 28, 2023
All images shot by Ami Diep
Grief has a funny way of manifesting itself, especially in a culture like ours where it’s not often discussed or celebrated, but instead something to push away. So, what does it look like to channel your emotions, creativity, and artistic expression into an ode to the most important man in your life? Tyler Hoffart decided to find out.
After Tyler’s father was killed suddenly by a drunk driver in 2022, he knew he needed to use his creativity to honor his father’s legacy. With a life insurance payment and a poem he’d written years before, he collaborated with Marah Harings and Nick Smith to create a stunning collection of multimedia works, including ethereal hand-felted wool coats, monumental sculpture furniture, a 350 lb sculpted butcher block suspended from the ceiling, and other commanding statement pieces.
He remembers his father through art, but also is reminded daily through time in his home studio and the everchanging Midwestern seasons that, “We are his love living.”
Nestled on the cozy cobblestone street of St. Anthony Main, the Three Circle Shop trio of Northeast Minneapolis hosts their exhibit, WHEN THE MOON WAS HOME, a powerful multi-media display with the Minneapolis skyline and Mississippi River as a backdrop, offering a celestial blend of emotions and artistic expressions.
Each piece features three circles somewhere within the structure, which creates a unique way to explore and interact with the work as you wander through the gallery.
WTMWH is a rocketship of feeling, and the energy is palpable from the moment you walk through the door. Their Instagram bio reads, “Call your grandmother,” as a cheeky reminder to keep in touch with your loved ones, especially beyond this holiday season. Seeing the beauty that came from such pain was a stark reminder for me of the many ways a life-altering loss can bring forth a new, regenerative kind of energy, and the pure joy that surrounds this space is a testament to life after loss.
The trio told me about a collective moment that was shared at the opening party, sharing how, “the room was packed like we’d never felt. Everyone ate and drank the most glorious concoctions. At the end of the night, we shared a moment, and we all cried together. That did something real. Together, we opened a kind of portal. It is undeniable and you can feel it in the space now.”
Each piece has a stunning balance of delicacy and durability, with sculptures that would make for a dreamy kitchen butcher block, or a stained glass mosaic piece from Ashley Mary that catches the afternoon light in a way I can only describe as magic.
The far wall of the exhibit includes a collage of photos, articles, and handwriting from Tyler’s father, memorializing his legacy as an outdoorsman, husband, father, and, as Tyler puts it, “budding grandfather.” When you visit, ask him to tell you the story of the owl. It will give you chills.
Trust us, you'll be thinking about this one for a while.
The gallery is open for a few more days! Click below to learn more about the artists and their work, and ways you can support the incredible things they do.
The Details:
Visit the exhibit daily through December 2, 2023
Address:
Cunningham on St. Anthony Main (beside Aster Cafe)
201 SE Main Street
Closing Party + Artist Talk:
Saturday, Dec 2nd 5p - 1a, including an artist talk from 7-8pm, food and drinks, music, interactive art play, and more.
Emma Geary
Emma is the one writing it all down. She's been with LAB since 2021 and is finishing her MFA in Creative Writing in her spare time. Her favorite color right now is cobalt blue.
