Northwest Minnesota Arts Council News | |
The Latest in Regional Arts Opportunities | |
Exhibits, Grants, Announcements, Events, Trainings, Workshops, & More! | |
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- Annual NW Art Exhibit open through April 30.
- April 18 Artist Reception 3 to 5 PM Art of Addiction.
- April 30 NW Art & Of the Year Awards Reception and Program
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May 1 Grant Application Deadline for organizations.
- May 19 Art Inspired by Art Student Art Exhibit Entries Due
Learn more about these programs, services, and events in this newsletter!
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The Northwest Minnesota
Annual Art Exhibit
Open Through April 30
Legacy Center in Middle River
Reception and Program on April 30
Honoring Exhibit & Of the Year Award Winners
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is pleased to announce the NW Annual Art Exhibit is at the Middle River Legacy Center until April 30.
Adult artists from our 7 county- service region (Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Pennington, Roseau, and Red Lake Falls) have entered 64 pieces of art, including photography, sculpture, drawings, and paintings, into this exhibit and are competing for $2,300.00 in cash awards. Attendees at the exhibit can vote for People’s Choice. Exhibit cash award winners will be chosen while the exhibit is on display by Karen Goulet, a qualified juror. They will be recognized and receive their check at the Artist Reception.
Student art was recently added to the exhibit and is also be eligible for cash awards.
The exhibit is at the Middle River Legacy Center at 335 4th Street, Middle River and will be open for the public to view art and vote for People’s Choice
- Mon-Fri, Now - April 28 during city office hours.
- Tuesday, April 18 until 7:00 PM.
- Sunday, April 30 from 1:00 - 4:00 as the closing day.
There will be a reception and program on April 30 at the Middle River Legacy Center. Mingling, light refreshments, and music will start at 3:00 PM in the cafeteria with the program at 4:00 PM. Of the Year Awards -- the NW Star Award -- Lifetime Achievement, Artist of the Year, and Arts Advocate of the Year will be presented, in addition to exhibit awards. The Exhibit and Reception are open to the public and free to attend. Many pieces of art are for sale and the public is encouraged to shop. Purchases can be marked as sold and picked up on April 30 after the reception. The reception is a wonderful day of celebrating the arts in our region.
Visit our website for more information at www.NWArtsCouncil.org. Funding for these awards is provided by the McKnight Foundation and the Minnesota State Legislature.
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NWMAC Gallery
The Art of Addiction
An Exhibit Featuring the Artwork of
Kate Hammer & Other NW Minnesota Artists
Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Gallery
Northland Community & Technical College
Thief River Falls
Open Until Friday, April 28
Artist Reception April 18 from 3 to 5 PM
There's still time to see our latest exhibit -- The Art of Addiction. This exhibit is open through Monday, May 1 at the NWMAC Gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls.
The exhibit features ceramic art by Roseau Potter Kate Hammer and other pieces of art by NW Minnesota artists around the theme of addiction. Kate Hammer explained, “For me this exhibit symbolizes healing and growth as an artist and a person living in recovery.” Other artists with work in the exhibit are Courtney Olson of Crookston, Mara Hanel of Warren, and Karrie Taie of Roseau.
In addition, there are 9 12 x12 canvas paintings included in the exhibit that were created in a workshop with residents of the Northwestern Apartments transitional living facility in Crookston. Mike Anderson who manages the apartments stated, “For those who have struggled with mental health and substance use problems in their life, recovery is a sometimes long and arduous path. Often it can literally be a life and death struggle. Residents of the Northwestern Apartments (NWA) transitional living facility know that struggle intimately. Many residents come to NWA from inpatient mental health facilities, homeless shelters, substance use programs, and incarceration. Criteria for admission is to have a serious mental illness, and about 3/4 of residents also have a co-occurring substance use disorder. But whether it is stabilizing mental health symptoms, or the daily challenge to stay clean and sober, recovery is the goal of all. Inclusion in this art therapy project, The Art of Addiction, was a great way for residents to “go deeper.” After an initial session with local artist Trey Everett, the residents engaged with supplies and canvas to work on their own creation, with the general theme of addiction and recovery as a guide. Residents spent a week with their art. Many did several art pieces. Some were unable to finish one. Others felt their art was too personal to put on display. The project was captivating – residents were in the community room, sometimes alone, sometimes in groups, at all times of the day and night, working on their art, talking, and healing. One of the keys to recovery is connection, and this project provided that in addition to a personal and therapeutic experience that helped all involved on their healing path.”
Watch the Artist Spotlight, an online discussion with Kate Hammer here.
You can also take a virtual tour of this entire exhibit at https://youtu.be/QMU-LXZzkEc.
The NWMAC Gallery is located at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls at 1101 State Highway 1. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday from 8:30-5 PM and at other times when events are held at the college. Enter through Door B, which is right next to the gallery. Visitor parking is free.
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The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is Pleased to Announce this Year's
Of the Year Award Winners
Three awards are given each year to recognize artists and arts advocates within our seven-county region who stand out in terms of artistry or volunteerism in the arts. Of the Year Award winners were nominated by area residents.
Of the Year Award Winners include:
Debbie Dahl Aune of Gatzke is the Northwest Artist of the Year for Visual Arts. Aune is a visual artist who works in many mediums. She is the Art Teacher at the Greenbush Middle River Public School, as well as the Greenbush Middle River Art Club Advisor, a frequent art project presenter at the Creativity Festival in Bemidji, and a community ed instructor. She has entered and placed often in the annual NW Minnesota Art Exhibit, including merit, second, first, and People’s Choice awards. Finally, Aune has exhibited her work in many NWMAC themed exhibits, including several solo shows. Last year Debbie was featured on a MPR (Minnesota Public Radio) segment and in a Prairie Mosaic video on Prairie Public Television. Our Artist of the Year award can be given to any discipline artist including visual, performing, or creative writing who are emerging or at a mid-way point in their artistic endeavors. It is a cash award of $500. Congratulations, Debbie!
Bonnie Stewart of Fosston will be awarded the Northwest Arts Advocate of the Year Award. Stewart has been a champion of the arts in Fosston for decades. She serves on the boards of the East Polk Heritage Center, the Pine to Prairie Folk School, the FCLAA, and the Firefly Center for Art and Wellbeing. Through these board positions and volunteering in city-related and other projects, she has led and initiated programming and education efforts, secured artwork for exhibition at the Sorenson Gallery and performing artists at the Fosston Community Library and Arts Center Theatre, written numerous grants and assisted area artists with grant writing. Bonnie’s tireless commitment to the arts has made a tremendous impact in our region. Our Arts Advocate of the Year award is $500 and includes arts from all disciplines.
Cathy Erickson of Middle River will receive the Northwest Star Award. Erickson is a well-known musician and radio show host in the area. She has been entertaining professionally in northwestern Minnesota and beyond, playing old-time music for almost 50 years. Cathy plays the accordion, piano, organ, guitar, and vocals. She also hosts her own radio show Cathy’s Variety Show that airs every Monday night on the Northland Community and Technical radio station KSRQ Pioneer 90.1 FM. The live variety show consists of old-time polkas, waltzes, classic country, bluegrass, gospel, and local artists. Additionally, she hosts two other live weekly radio shows – Country Church and Live from the Farm. In 2022, Cathy received the “Volunteer of the Year'' award from AMPERS, the Association of Minnesota Public and Educational Radio Stations, for the volunteer work she has done in broadcasting and in promoting 90.1 FM community radio and old-time music. The NW Star Award comes with $5,000. Artists can only receive our Northwest Star Award once as a lifetime achievement award.
These awards will be presented on Sunday, April 30 in Middle River at the Middle River Legacy Center. The NW Art Exhibit will be open that day for viewing artwork at 1:00 PM. A reception with light refreshments and music will start at 3:00 PM in the cafeteria with the awards program at 4:00 PM. The exhibit and reception are open to the public and free to attend. The reception is a wonderful day of celebrating the arts in our region. Please join us!
For more information about these awards, see our website at http://www.northwestminnesotaartscouncil.org/
Funding for Northwest Star and Northwest Artist of the Year comes from The McKnight Foundation. Funding for Northwest Arts Advocate of the Year comes from the Minnesota State Legislature.
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Call for Student Art
for an exhibition
Art Inspired by Art
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is announcing a call for student art in the NW Minnesota region. This exhibit is titled Art Inspired by Art and will feature visual art, writing, and music. Consider submitting illustration, watercolor, acrylics, 3-D works of clay, ceramics, or other 3-D mediums. Written works, such as music lyrics and poetry, along with recorded music will also be considered.
Include a description of the art your work is based on, along with your thought process.
Submissions Due May 19, 2023
Art Inspired by Art will be open June-July
NWMAC Gallery, Northland Community and Technical College
Thief River Falls
Visit
https://northwestminnesotaartscouncil.org/blog/call-for-student-art-art-inspired-by-art or contact Trey Everett at the NWMAC for details.
https://northwestminnesotaartscouncil.org/
218-745-8886
treyeverettcreates@gmail.com
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Let's Talk Art is our weekly radio interview and podcast with Pioneer 90.1's Ron West. | |
Let's Talk Art Podcast
Do you listen to our weekly podcast? If not, you are missing out! We feature artists, arts organizations, and arts events in our region. The podcast begins as a radio interview on Pioneer 90.1 radio. The interviews air on Tuesdays at 3:05pm. Then, we put the interviews on our website so you can listen to them at any time. It's a simple and entertaining way to learn about all the arts happenings in our region and even about some statewide arts organizations and efforts.
Some of the recent podcasts include:
4.11.23 Mara Hanel NWMAC Director Mara Hanel shared information about a number of upcoming arts events, activities, and deadlines, including Of the Year Awards, the Arts Council’s Biennial Planning, an added grant deadline (May 1), the Art of Addiction Exhibit at the NWMAC Gallery at NCTC, and the NW Art Exhibit at the Middle River Legacy Center until April 30. Listen here.
3.14.23 Mark Johnson & Michael Hurley Pioneer 90.1 Station Manager Mark Johnson and Michael Hurley (the son of It Ain’t Easy film writer and director Maury Hurley) spoke about It Ain’t Easy and its interesting history. This was the first feature film that was made entirely in Minnesota. The NWMAC provided a grant to help restore and digitize this film. Listen here.
2.28.23 Eric Mueller McKnight Fellowships in Media Arts Administrator Eric Mueller is at FilmNorth in St. Paul. FilmNorth administers the McKnight Fellowships for Media Artists. This includes filmmakers, screenwriters, and other media artists. The application deadline is March 20. Eric spoke about FilmNorth and the fellowships. Listen here.
2.21.23 Sarah Fossen Minnesota Citizens for the Arts Executive Director Sarah Fossen shared info about MCA, the lobbying arm for the arts in Minnesota. MCA reminds citizens and legislators that the arts are an economic driver throughout the state of Minnesota. MCA also empowers their advocates to tell their arts story. MCA is holding Arts Action Week from March 20-24 (virtual meetings with legislators — please sign up!) On March 21at 2:30, they are holding an in-person rally at the Minnesota State Capitol building. To learn more about MCA and to sign up for Arts Action Week visit their website at artsmn.org. Listen here.
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Traveling Art Exhibit Visits Crookston Public Library
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) sponsors an annual Traveling Art Exhibit, which visits northwest Minnesota communities throughout the year. The exhibit includes 17 original pieces of art by regional adult and student artists, chosen from works submitted for our annual juried exhibit. The exhibit is currently at the Crookston Public Library until April 28. Please stop by to see these works of art as this is the last stop for this traveling exhibit. Some of these pieces of art are for sale.
The 2022-2023 Artists:
Ross Hier, Crookston.
Elizabeth Kitchell-Rockstad, Ada.
Heidi Danos, Fosston.
Stephanie Olson, Thief River Falls.
Alicia Spilde, Karlstad.
Cindy Kolling, Gully.
Jodi Peterson, Ada.
Kate Hammer, Roseau.
Nick Reitzel, Karlstad.
Paulette Christianson, Badger.
Mason Owens, Crookston.
Kinsley Oslund, Grygla.
Emily Balboa, Crookston.
Autumn Ruikka, Thief River Falls.
Carlie Nehrus, Ada.
Lakylie Brobst, Grygla.
Paige Sturre, Thief River Falls.
To read more about the traveling exhibit and to find out the schedule click here.
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Apply Now for an Arts Grant
Additional Deadline is May 1
Arts Grants Funding Available!
Applications are open to nonprofit arts organizations, communities, schools, individuals and other nonprofit organizations. Applications are being accepted from our seven county Minnesota service area including Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake and Roseau counties.
Nonprofits and government organizations can apply for one arts project at a time. Upcoming grants deadlines for these are March 1. Grants are between $500 and $10,000. Funding sources for these grants are Clean Water, Land and Legacy funds and general allocation funds from the State of Minnesota.
Organizational arts activities funded through these two very important grant opportunities include festivals, community theatre projects, folk music entertainment, sponsorship of visual demonstrations, creative writing workshops and many other activities that improve the quality of life of people in our communities. This is a great way to bring arts experiences to your community.
Schools in our seven-county region can also apply now for an Artist Residency grant of $2,600 plus an additional $400 if the residency needs supplies. Our teaching artist roster online is a great resource to view artists available to teach in our area. Go to our www.NorthwestMinnesotaArtsCouncil.org website and click teaching artist roster on the left navigation bar. Another resource to view artists available to enhance curriculum is COMPAS.
Also available on a first come-first served basis are Quick Turn Around Grants for $500. These grants can be used for missed gigs and income due to the pandemic. Use the Quick Turn Around application in the Individual Artist grants. See our website for more information and to apply!
To learn more about these grant programs and start an application visit www.NorthwestMinnesotaArtsCouncil.org. The grant application process is completely online and NWMAC's Director Mara Hanel can help walk you through the process of using the grants portal to get accustomed to it. Please contact her at director@NWArtsCouncil.org or call 218-745-8886.
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Saturday, April 29 from 7:30 to 10 pm
North Country Fiddle and Dance will be hosting a Spring Dance from 7:30 to 10:00 pm.
Live music featuring
Tickwoods String Band of Fergus Falls.
Caller: Jeanne O'Neil
East Grand Forks Senior Center 538 Rhinehart Dr. S.E., East Grand Forks
All ages -singles, couples, families
Reels, squares, circle mixers and more...
all dances are taught and easy to learn!
Donations at the door
To learn more find them online at northcountrydance.org
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Registration is NOW OPEN for the Art Camp June 5-9 and Drama Camp August 7-11 at Frost Fire Park.
Use this link to download all the forms you need to register. https://frostfirepark.org/encore-camp
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FCLAA is sponsoring
The Wildwoods
April 22 7pm, Fosston
The Wildwoods are an enchanting Folk/Americana trio based in Lincoln, Nebraska. Their songwriting has been praised by Past Magazine as "focused and charmingly human.” The Wildwoods delicate melodies and descriptive lyrics come from nature, love, experiences from the road, and growing up in Nebraska.Tickets available at fclaa.org
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Sista's Corner Downtown Crookston offers art workshops and classes a few times a month, in addition to selling art and handcrafted items by regional and other artists. A couple of the upcoming classes include: Trey Everett will lead a workshop focused on Healing Through Art.
⇢ Befriending Your Shadow on Tuesday, April 25, 6-8 PM. $25: Reach out to Sista's Corner or Trey to sign up.
-->March 23 ~ Courtney Olson Artist $35 Painting Flowers
Sistas Corner, 121 N Main St, Downtown Crookston, Open Thursday/Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 10am - 3pm
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Please join Courtney Olson at Andy Hall's Sweetlight Gallery Downtown Crookston for an opening reception of 'Flowers That Dance'
Thursday May 4 | 5-8pm
Free & Open to the public (all ages welcome)
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Northwoods Writer's Conference is June 20-25 in Bemidji. They are accepting applications for the workshops, in-person and virtual auditor tracks, and a new Virtual Writers Group. This year's faculty is Aimee Nezhukumatathil (Hybrid Poetry & Prose), Ross Gay (Poetry), Keetje Kuipers (Poetry), Lia Purpura (Creative Nonfiction), Will Weaver (Fiction), and Diane Wilson (Memoir to Fiction). And, Heid E. Erdrich and Sun Yung Shin are visiting writers. https://www.northwoodswriters.org/.
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Northwest Minnesota Arts Council
is on the Radio!
Tune in on Tuesdays
at 3:05pm to
Pioneer 90.1FM
as Ron West talks Art
with our latest guest!
Would you like to be featured on our radio program?
Email Kristin Eggerling
The podcast of the interviews on our website. This is a great way to promote your art! Listen here!
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