DETROIT LAKES — The Washington Square Mall in Detroit Lakes recently opened an artist in residency gallery, and local artist Adam Holzgrove is currently featured.

Holzgrove initially applied for a similar residency program at a mall in Fargo, and when he wasn’t selected for that program, he approached the general manager of the mall in his hometown, Dawn Livdahl.

Livdahl said Washington Square Mall started its artist in residency program a couple of years ago with Anna Lassonde, a well-known artist in the region. Lassonde recently moved out of the mall and into a new studio, so Holzgrove's timing was near perfect.

In the future, Livdahl said, she'd like to get more local artists working from the mall and exhibiting their artwork there.

“We are hoping to get four artists in there,” Livdahl said, adding that she is working with Holzgrove to find additional talent to showcase. “Any artists who are interested can call me at 218-847-1679."

Holzgrove said he's excited for the opportunity to publicly display his artwork, created under the moniker Twisted Metal Designs. And eventually, he'd like to give lessons.

“Having a space to display my art is much better than selling it on the internet,” he said. “These trees take so much time to make and I enjoy meeting the people who are purchasing them.”

The 2009 Detroit Lakes High School graduate had his grand opening this past weekend, April 2-3. Even before the doors opened, he was seeing interest from the public.

“People were looking in the window, knocking and waving or wanting to talk,” Holzgrove said.

Finding peace of mind in his work

Holzgrove's father worked in construction, and as a young boy Holzgrove would often keep himself entertained by finding unused metal wiring and transforming it into rings. Years later, that childhood methodology of passing time proved to be a saving grace to Holzgrove as an adult.

When months of uncertainty followed COVID-19 stay-at-home orders in 2020, he came across a spool of wire in his basement.

“I started twisting and had an idea to make a tree,” he said. “I went with it, and it took a few hours.”

The creation lifted weight from his shoulders and brought peace to his mind. He has been twisting metal ever since.

“I have a mind that gets going way too fast,” he said. “Focusing on my hands and bending wire slows my mind down and I can think.”

Over time, his skills improved and he upped the ante.

“I tried moving from sculpting two-dimensional trees to three-dimensional trees,” he said. “After a couple hundred trees, it worked out.”

The copper and stainless steel wires he initially used took a toll on his fingers — as he wrapped what would become tree trunks and bent the branches and leaves, calluses and cuts developed. So he searched for another kind of wire to use.

“I found dead soft wire,” he said, noting that this kind of wire lends itself to bending with one’s hands. “It comes in many colors, too, and is a good wire.”

As his wire trees evolved into more prominent art displays, Holzgrove began enhancing the pieces with a variety of bases. He visited local thrift stores to collect wood bowls, plant pots, jewelry boxes and picture frames. He also began painting backgrounds to fill out the inside of the frames. He noted that this new hobby of painting has a long way to go, but even adding basic shapes and textures adds to his artwork.

Holzgrove's artist's store hours in the mall are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. on weekdays. Weekend hours were undetermined at press time. Contact Holzgrove at adam_holzgrove@hotmail.com.