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Anna Kaiser
artist and graphic designer

Erik Christenson
artist and graphic designer

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Erik Christenson and Anna Kaiser met at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design during their freshman year.

“We were taking an observation drawing class together,” Anna said. “I was drawing a skull, and  Erik told me it looked like Skeletor from He-Man.”

Flash forward seven years and the newly engaged couple are living and working as graphic designers – Erik at Menomonie’s Big Dot of Happiness, Anna at Documation in Eau Claire. Each totes an impressive résumé. They’ve both done design work for Nickelodeon, Anna has illustrated for children’s and coloring books, and Erik has designed for Picture Window Books and Urban Threads – not to mention they’ve each also had works featured on the cover of Volume One.

“Erik likes to do a lot of monsters and creatures,” said Anna. “Whereas I do more nature and animals.”

“Though a lot of people say our 2D styles look similar,” Erik added, “I think it’s the target market for our work, and the way we think.”

Working in a shared space probably doesn’t hurt, either. The duo has transformed their upstairs into a studio – they each have their own side – for their freelance work.

“The whole upstairs is dedicated to the studio,” Anna said. “It helps us get into a mindset, and focus on our art.”

Though many artists prefer to work alone, the couple said they enjoy having the shared space because working together helps push them to create.

“We feel comfortable critiquing each other,” Anna said. “We don’t get frustrated with each other because we know it helps.”

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Aurora Krajnikconde
actor

Adam Krajnikconde
actor

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Adam and Aurora Krajnikconde know a thing or two about chemistry on the stage.

They’ve played John and Abigail Adams in 1776, the teenage lovers Rolfe and Liesl in The Sound of Music, and Prince Charming and Cinderella in the Disney classic Cinderella.

Oh, and they’re married in real life, too.

The duo, which has been married for five years now, originally met as college freshmen. “We were both music majors, so we met through classes,” Aurora said. “But we didn’t start hanging out until we started doing Cabaret.”

Though they have a natural affinity for playing the part of a couple onstage, they don’t always get to play their spouse’s love interest.

“We’ve both acted opposite other actors, and it’s fine because we’re friends with our co-workers,” Aurora said. “So it’s not too awkward, and we don’t get jealous.”

Aurora is a choir teacher in Osseo-Fairchild, and Adam is a private practice music therapist, though they try to do a couple theater shows a year, whether onstage or off.

“If one of us isn’t in the show, we’ll help out in the tech crew,” Aurora explained.

Though some may find it taxing, being married to someone who can and will correct your mistakes, the twosome enjoys being in a relationship with someone who understands their craft.

“We both really welcome criticism,” Adam said. “We aren’t afraid to ask each other questions like ‘Is this accent working for me?’ We can say things like, ‘Fix that, that’s stupid,’ and know the other person appreciates the input.”

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Sue Orfield
musician

Randy Sinz
musician

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“There’s a general unspoken rule in the music industry that you don’t date someone you’re in a band with,” Sue Orfield said. “We’ve flagrantly broken that rule. A couple times.”

I’ll say. Orfield and Randy Sinz are in a whopping seven bands together.

Sinz plays bass (upright or electric) and/or sings in: Sue Orfield Band, Randy and Sue, Catyas Trio, Rada Dada, Acousti Hoo, Code Blue, Deep Water Reunion, and Ranger Rudy and the Swinging Wingtips. Orfield, a saxophonist, plays in all the same bands with the exception of Ranger Rudy and the Swinging Wingtips, on top of The Butanes, The Icons, and The Tiptons Saxophone Quartet. 

The pair shared a chance meeting in 2004 while going to the same club, but it wasn’t until the following summer that they started playing in Rada Dada, and another two years before they became a couple.  Though the twosome shares a house and similar résumés, they don’t get to spend as much time together as they’d like. Orfield does a lot of traveling with The Tiptons (she’s now on a month-long tour in Europe) and teaches music lessons in the evenings, while Sinz spends his days as a stock broker for the Stifel Nicholaus investment firm.

“It’s true what they say, absence does make the heart grow fonder,” Orfield said.

“Though a couple times, when she’s gone to Europe, I’ll fly over and make sure she’s really there,” Sinz joked.

For the duo, music hasn’t just been the foundation of their relationship, but an element that strengthens it. They said they share a common belief that you shouldn’t talk while listening to music, whether it’s at a show or in the car.

“It’s not like we’re ignoring each other,” Orfield said. “We both love to listen to music, and we each understand that about each other.

“It’s a big love triangle,” Randy explained. “The music, Sue and I.”