In the heart of Camden, a neighborhood known for its resilient spirit and creative energy, Camden residents Ramsey and Taylor Sorrells are working in partnership to craft a bold new chapter in the city’s artistic narrative. Their latest endeavor, LASAA—an acronym for Live Action Silent Art Auction—invites the community to engage with art in a manner both intimate and impactful.
Taylor Sorrells is a teacher, and the founder and CEO of Read With Me Minnesota, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to promoting and celebrating diversity in children’s literature by amplifying the voices of local authors and illustrators.
Ramsey Sorrells is a Real Estate Strategist and the Executive Director of the LASAA board, with a mission to curate a meaningful art experience that enriches the community, supports local artists and allows artistic expression to be more accessible to all.
Produced by Studio 42 Minneapolis and presented as the signature fundraiser for Read With Me Minnesota, LASAA transcends the conventions of the traditional art auction. This immersive evening assembles over 60 original works from 19 contemporary artists, offering a dynamic celebration of visual storytelling in service of an equally vital cause: advancing early literacy and expanding representation in children’s literature.
Minneapolis has long been a canvas for collaboration, and this event honors that legacy by merging artistry with advocacy—contributing to a broader vision of inclusion, imagination, and community empowerment.
The Experience
Step into The Hennepin Event Center on August 8 from 5-10 p.m. and prepare for more than just art on a wall. LASAA pairs stunning visuals with live performances, interactive installations, and curated hors d’oeuvres by Main Street Kitchen (also known as The Sandwich Club). From brushstrokes to bold bites, every detail invites guests to reflect, engage, and connect.
“We’ve curated a lineup of creators whose work reflects the spirit of this city—its imagination, its heartbeat, and its hope,” said Ramsey Sorrells. “This event honors what art can do when it’s given space to breathe and belong.”
Tickets & Impact
General admission is $40 online and $42 at the door. Every ticket purchased and every silent bid placed contributes directly to Read With Me MN, a nonprofit launched in February 2025 that has already donated hundreds of books and hosted author events centered on diverse voices and stories.
Taylor Sorrells shares, “We are proud to partner with Studio 42 for LASAA. Every dollar raised helps ensure young readers across Minnesota see themselves in the books they read and know their stories matter.”
Meet the Artists
From emerging teens to seasoned painters and self-taught visionaries, LASAA’s artists bring a rich range of perspectives and styles—from ceramicists and watercolorists to nature photographers and abstract designers. Expect work that’s both deeply personal and universally resonant. Just a few featured artists include:
- Patience Epps, a Minneapolis teen whose work debuted in the MIA’s Teen Perspectives program
- Francesca Miguieles, a classically trained Chilean artist now living and painting in Minneapolis
- Leo Fortune, a neurodivergent queer trans educator whose spiraling designs explore identity and connection
- Ally Moreno, an Indigenous Minnesotan artist whose bold works emerge from deep personal healing
About LASAA
LASAA 2025 builds on the legacy of Studio Forty Two’s previous Worth A King’s Ransom events, but with a more intentional twist. It’s not just about silent bids—it’s about making noise for local art, community engagement, and equity in early education. Here, creativity is currency. And the return is priceless.
Read With Me MN, is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to the mission of promoting and celebrating diversity in children’s literature by amplifying the voices of local authors and illustrators. Read With Me MN works to close the literacy achievement gap by ensuring all children have access to literature that reflects their identities.