The Steadfast Allstars

The Steadfast Allstars' Arts on Chicago Project »

The Steadfast Allstars is a joyful collective of Minneapolis based artists: Catherine A. Palmer, Kim Whiteford, Christi Furnas, and Clarence Reed.

Catherine A. Palmer is an abstract painter who has shown throughout the Twin Cities for over 20 years. Her compositions are energizing with a bold use of color and texture. She has taught acrylic painting workshops at the University of New Mexico, Aldrich Arts Collective, Fallout Urban Arts Initiative, and Open Easel.

Kim Whiteford has worked as a childcare provider and for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation. For the last five years she has focused her energy on her artwork, which consists of abstract designs on paper, canvas and on found objects. She plays with light, contrast and color with mesmerizing compositions that seem to come off the surface.

Christi Furnas is a figurative oil painter and advocate for artists with disabilities. She works at Spectrum ArtWorks as a Peer Support Specialist at RESOURCE. There, she provides career support for a group of artists with a mental illness who live as professional artists, and she facilitates an open art studio. In 2013, Christi worked with VSA Minnesota on the Disability Mural Project as an organizer and workshop facilitator. She was awarded the 2014 VSA Emerging Artist Grant through the Jerome Foundation. Christi is also a an alum of Creative Community Leadership Institute.

Clarence Reed is a multi-disciplinary artist focused on photography and time lapse video production. He was was a finalist in the ReMAX Neighborhood Film Festival competition in 2012. Clarence is best known for shooting on a skateboard, capturing the streetscapes and street life in Minneapolis from a unique and fluid prospective. Additionally, Clarence has extensive experience documenting musicians at their gigs. He has shown at Soo Visual Arts Center, Regla De Oro and elsewhere.

Artist Statement

Art has brought meaning and joy to our lives, and we are inspired to create the opportunity for others. Watching our peers grow as artists and community members, we can’t help but see the connection that art has to building self esteem, healing, happiness, and in the process, friendships. Community. Each of us love art and have worked hard to create what we feel is beautiful and what is essential for our identities. Our reward is in helping others have the chance to do the same.