Alumnus artist honors late wife through joint gallery exhibition

Augustana alumnus and artist Brad Widness brought his work, along with the work of his late wife, Ann Kronlokken Widness, to the Eide/Dalrymple Gallery from Sept. 12-Oct. 5. 

Ann Kronlokken Widness passed away in 2022 after fighting stage five breast cancer. With the help of antibiotics, Ann Kronlokken Widness was able to live months in the comfort of her own home, with her husband of 38 years and her son. 

“Bodily, Ann was trashed, but mentally, spiritually, intellectually she was sharp as a whip,” Brad Widness said. “The three of us made it a point to be together. We were together intimately, privately as a family every night – reading to each other and watching our most favorite films.”

Ann Kronlokken Widness was told she had fibrocystic breasts but had no detectable cancer. Out of caution, an ultrasound was scheduled and revealed cancer had advanced into her lymph nodes. Ann Kronlokken Widness had a total mastectomy and was told that summer she would not survive – she endured the illness for four years.

The couple met at Augustana as undergraduates. Brad Widness described his wife as a “Mozart of color and a genius.” The two took a graphic design class where Ann Kronlokken Widness revealed “legitimately beautiful, lyrical, yet corporately tight and polished works,” Brad Widness said.

“Something inside me said I couldn’t live the rest of my life without Ann,” Brad Widness said. “It was a bond that could not be explained.”

Ann Kronlokken Widness was described by her husband to have had a sharp intellect and a quiet demeanor, with a sense of joy and the ability to make people feel at home. 

“Worlds Coming Together: Revelations Over Time” combined 25 years worth of work between the husband and wife. The gallery featured paintings, sketches and geometric and linear drawings.

Brad Widness hosted his homecoming gallery reception to a crowd of students, members of the community and close friends and family on Friday, Oct. 4. After Brad Widness delivered a speech explaining his work and love for his wife, spectators freely roamed the gallery. The room was filled with conversations, embraces and tears.

Senior and art minor Colleen Lawrence was one of many who viewed the exhibit. 

“The gallery was absolutely beautiful,” Lawrence said. “I loved seeing both the contrast of Brad and Ann’s work and how they also complemented each other. I initially skipped past the ‘artist’s statement’ and didn’t realize it was two people at first.” 

Lawrence said she began to recognize differences in the creations, such as Brad Widness sticking with geometric patterns and architecture-inspired drawings, while Ann Kronlokken Widness utilized textiles and motifs such as figures of women and bible verses. 

Ann Kronlokken Widness also worked on wooden panels depicting the life of Christ in the Chapel of Reconciliation as an undergraduate Augustana intern. 

While Brad Widness was in town for the reception, he used his spare time to help students. One group was Lawrence’s graphic design class. 

“He went on and on to us about how we need to find what makes our soul speak, sing and we need to do art,” Lawrence said. “We were all art students in this class, but he told us to not stop doing art for anything. Yes, money is important; don’t be broke, but don’t let depression or sadness get in the way. Don’t let your life stop you.”

Kat Enget, a non-traditional student taking Drawing 101, said her favorite pieces in the gallery were made by Ann Kronlokken Widness, embroideries titled “Roots” and “Two Trees Dialogue,” displayed alongside each other. The weavings featured trees intertwined, one with a muted color scheme and the other vibrant. 

“The only thing I’m upset about with the piece is that I can’t buy it,” Enget said. “I want to take it home with me and frame it.”

Brad Widness had also visited Enget’s art class and taught an exercise about drawing still subjects. He initially told the students to draw for 15 minutes, but they went on for hours.

Whether helping with classes or hosting exhibitions, Brad Widness hopes his art encourages others to create their own work.

“That is the whole ball game behind myself: creating art and being an image maker,” Brad Widness said. “It’s expressing a kind of idea or concept. There are literary means like novels, poems, journaling and even other languages, in my case the visual arts and language of design as it is historically applied.”

Brad Widness believes a sense of home is something that everyone strives for.

“You’ve got to go beneath insecurities to really address deep-seated fears, paranoid things of your full self, which ironically connects you with a much broader community of people,” Brad Widness said. “The only place humans are legitimately scared to explore is trauma. In a nutshell, the creative process allows you to take that interior dive, flaws and vulnerability involved – thus the need for language.”

Brad Widness continues to paint and update his studio website with upcoming shows. Ann Kronlokken Widness’ art can be viewed on the same page.