Winner of the 2025 People’s Choice Award:
“American Mink” by Natalija Walbridge
In this vibrant fabric collage, Natalija Walbridge captures a fleeting moment of wild elegance—a sleek American mink slipping through the lily pads and tangled branches of a wetland shoreline. Rich textures and layers of hand-cut fabric create a sense of movement as the mink bounds across a log, water droplets trailing from its paws. The lush, saturated colors evoke the dense vegetation and reflective surface of the St. Louis River estuary, a place the artist frequently explores by kayak. Inspired by the wildlife of Hearding Island and the surrounding wetlands, Natalija’s work invites viewers to pause and appreciate the vitality of these often-overlooked ecosystems. Her careful attention to detail brings the scene to life, celebrating the untamed beauty that exists just beyond her backyard.
Listen to an interview with Natalija about how she achieves this unique fabric collage look, the inspiration of the natural world, and her love of the little details:
About the Annual Member Show
The DAI Annual Member Show (AMS) showcases a diverse range of artistic expressions and mediums. From vibrant paintings and drawings to photography, ceramics, and fiber art, this group exhibition features approximately 250 unique pieces, celebrating the immense talent and creativity of the DAI member artists.
During the reception, guests vote for the People’s Choice Award, which is announced and awarded the same evening. This event also serves as our Annual Members meeting where DAI members may vote on the Board of Director officers and welcome new members.