Amy Egenberger is an artist, educator and co-active life coach living in Minneapolis. To connect life experience and spiritual journey, she uses found objects and textiles to assemble small art dolls, each accompanied by a unique original poem. In other art forms, Amy creates collage, makes jewelry and paints with acyclic color to scribe prayerful text on canvas.

Amy began making art dolls in 1996. Inspired and encouraged by Minnesota doll artist, Barb Kobe, the act of making dolls became an expression of her Self and an expansion of her creativity. Looking at each doll, as unique as it is, is a bit like looking into the mirror.

The dolls displayed in this exhibit have personal meaning for the artist. Mirth embodies the loving energy of our Mother Earth, warmly embracing us despite our human foibles.  The Washer Woman is made entirely from an old cotton laundry bag that had been past from generation to generation. Laundered countless times, she represents a legacy cleansed and transfigured into something worth keeping. Box-o-Angels: 4 La Gloria serves as a whimsical reminder to call upon spiritual guidance that is at the ready to assist our life on Earth, no matter how small or large the task at hand, if only we open the box.

Bio
An educator for over twenty years, Amy Egenberger now works as a professional life coach and teaching consultant. She founded her own business called Spirit Out!, and specializes in helping artistic entrepreneurs, creative educators, and people ready to shift into the joyful flow of creative action. She is now facilitating Artist’s Way groups for those seeking to unblock their own natural creativity.

 Amy made her first doll fourteen years ago. Then on September 12, 2001, reminded how very precious time is, she decided to stop making excuses for not doing more of what she loves to do: creating. Amy committed herself to the making of a spirit doll and the writing of a poem every day for a full year. This 365 Doll-Poetry Collection was exhibited most recently at Homewood Studios in North Minneapolis in February of 2009.

Choosing Alis Olsen has her mentor eight years ago was a wise move. During the two-year mentorship program offered through The Women’s Art Registry of Minnesota, and still today, Olsen’s guidance, support and example have been instrumental in helping Amy get her art out into the world. Now Amy meets monthly with a circle of artists, including Alis, and volunteers to curate art exhibitions for the Northside Arts Collective.