There was a great mystery to solve at the Art Incognito event.
At the benefit for Free Arts Minnesota, clues were hidden in the photographs and paintings that covered the walls in the Edward Lentsch Studio in Minneapolis. The fundraiser allowed guests to bid on these works of art without knowing the artist or value. There were some real treasures in the mix, including pieces by artist Alec Soth, who has an exhibit at the Walker; Mark Ulriksen, whose art graces the cover of the New Yorker, and Terrence Payne, who is part of the group show "Flourish" at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
There was no puzzle, however, about the services that Free Arts Minnesota offers: Each week, volunteers do art projects with abused, at-risk and neglected children.
"It's healing young minds through artistic expression," said Kim Witczak, president of the organization. "For the kids, it's not about the end product, it's about the process. There's a therapeutic benefit to it."
Works by kids in Free Arts Minnesota also were on display at Art Incognito. And being in a gallery is a triumph for an artist of any age.
