Northwest Minnesota Arts Council News | |
The Latest in Regional Arts Opportunities | |
Exhibits, Grants, Announcements, Events, Trainings, Workshops, & More! | |
|
- May 10 Tending the Creative Soul "All About Murals"
- May 19 Art Inspired by Art Student Art Exhibit Entries Due
- July 20 Art and Spirituality Exhibit Entries Due
Learn more about these programs, services, and events in this newsletter!
| |
 | |
The Northwest Minnesota
Annual Art Reception
Honored Exhibit & Of the Year Award Winners
Student and adult artists residing in our seven-county region including Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Pennington, Roseau and Red Lake entered into the Northwest Minnesota Art Exhibit and competed for $2,300 in cash awards. The exhibit was open in March and April. The art reception and awards program was held on April 30 in Middle River at the Legacy Center. Visitors came from all over to view the art and honor the artists. Funding for these awards is provided by the McKnight Foundation and the Minnesota State Legislature.
Exhibit cash award winners were chosen while the exhibit was on display at the Middle River Legacy Center, 335 4th Street, Middle River by qualified juror and Project Director of the Miikanan Gallery at the Watermark Art Center in Bemidji Karen Goulet. The public voted for People’s Choice.
This “art exhibition was wonderful to jury. It was challenging to make final selections for the art awards, as there were so many interesting and well-made works of art. As a curator and juror, I have criteria in making final decisions that reflect on innovation, content, and advancing craft. Creative courage is what moves arts and artists forward and keeps the arts invigorated. I can say that if there had been two more awards to give in each group this would have been easier for me to do. Art is something that makes the world better.
Rural artists do not always have the same opportunities to be seen as are available in urban areas. The talent I saw in this exhibit reinforces my belief that rural arts are thriving. Whether artists can work full time, or they need to make around other commitments, the quality of the work is so impressive. Juried art exhibitions are subjective to the selection criteria of the juror. Each year is another opportunity to have work recognized and seen. I hope the artists in this exhibit will keep submitting work and seek other venues for their talent to be seen.”
Walk through the exhibit at https://youtu.be/bQGJLtDppB0.
Exhibit Awards include:
Adult Winners
1st Place $500 Jessica Ross of Thief River Falls for painting “Field Work”
2nd Place $300 Betsy Saurdiff of Grygla in Folk/Traditional Fine Craft “Grandma's Quilt”
3rd Place $200 Megan Sugden of Hallock for photography ‘Abandoned Divco Milk Truck’
Merit $100 Dennis Lee of Red Lake Falls in acrylic painting “Old House”
Merit $100 Nancy Vraa of Red Lake Falls in Folk/traditional Fine Craft ‘Country Classic”
Merit $100 Tim Anderson of Goodridge in Folk/Traditional Fine Craft “Let Your Light Shine” (wood bowl)
Merit $100 Debbie Dahl Aune of Gatzke for watercolor painting “Long Shadows”
Merit $100 Andrea Halvorson of Goodridge for drawing “Carrying Mom to Heaven”
People’s Choice $100 Tammy Hansen of Newfolden
Student Winners
1st Place $300 Carter Lee Johnsrud of Goodridge for mixed media “Masking”
2nd Place $150 Andrew Glad of Greenbush for Other Folk Art “Vincent“
3rd Place $100 Geneva Gartner of Fertile in sculpture “Moth”
Merit $50 Quinn Pittman of Greenbush for drawing “Moe”
Merit $50 Ashton Jensrud of Fertile for other typewriter drawing “15” (Boston terrier)
Merit $50 Rhiana Utter of Greenbush for print “Elsa”
Merit $50 Paris Sondreal of Middle River in sculpture Vase Tumbler
Merit $50 Logan Krueger of Fertile for mixed media “Frederick” (burned paper skull)
People’s Choice $50 Carter Lee Johnsrud of Goodridge
Fifteen exhibit pieces of student and adult art were chosen to be included in the Traveling Art Exhibit, which will travel this next year to area libraries. Five exhibit pieces of student art were also chosen to be hung in the hallway of Senator Mark Johnson’s office in St. Paul.
| |
The reception included fantastic catered sushi and fun desserts, dragonfruit fizzy tea, and coffee made with beans roasted in the building.
| |
NW Star Awardee Cathy Erickson played the piano and accordion. Here she is playing a song with her daughter Mary Jo Sturman.
| |
Of the Year Awards -- the NW Star Award -- Lifetime Achievement, Artist of the Year, and Arts Advocate of the Year were presented. Here are Of the Year Awardees with their awards. Arts Advocate of the Year Bonnie Stewart, NW Star Awardee Cathy Erickson, and Artist of the Year Debbie Aune.
| | |
Some of the award winners | |
1st place in the adult category is Jessica Ross's painting "Field Work" | |
1st place and People's Choice in the student category is "Masking" by Carter Lee Johnsrud. | |
2nd Place in the student category. Andrew Glad of Greenbush for Other Folk Art “Vincent“ | |
|
Betsy Saurdiff with 2nd place piece “Grandma’s Quilt”
| |
Dennis Lee of Red Lake Falls with merit winning acrylic painting “Old House” | |
|
Andrea Halvorson of Goodridge won a merit award for drawing “Carrying Mom to Heaven”
| |
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. 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. Read more about Debbie and the award here. | |
Bonnie Stewart of Fosston 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. 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, and written numerous grants. 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. Read more about Bonnie and the award here. | |
Cathy Erickson of Middle River received 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 on the Northland Community and Technical radio station KSRQ Pioneer 90.1 FM. 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. The NW Star Award comes with $5,000. Artists can only receive our Northwest Star Award once as a lifetime achievement award. Read more about Cathy and the award here. | |
|
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
| |
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:
4.25.23 Karen Goulet NW Art Exhibit Juror Karen Goulet discussed what a Juror does — jurors are “asked to come in and select the most outstanding pieces in an exhibit” and how she jurors an art show. This “art exhibition was wonderful to jury. It was challenging to make final selections for the art awards, as there were so many interesting and well-made works of art. As a curator and juror, I have criteria in making final decisions that reflect on innovation, content, and advancing craft. Creative courage is what moves arts and artists forward and keeps the arts invigorated. Rural artists do not always have the same opportunities to be seen as are available in urban areas. The talent I saw in this exhibit reinforces my belief that rural arts are thriving. Juried art exhibitions are subjective to the selection criteria of the juror. Each year is another opportunity to have work recognized and seen. I hope the artists in this exhibit will keep submitting work and seek other venues for their talent to be seen
Karen is a practicing artist, poet, community organizer and educator. She is the Project Director of the Miikanan Gallery at the Watermark Art Center in Bemidji. This gallery, dedicated to Indigenous arts, is the first of its kind in the region. Listen here to hear about the exhibit and more.
4.18.23 Kate Hammer and Mike Anderson.The focus of this podcast is our Art of Addiction Exhibit. Artist Kate Hammer of Roseau spoke about her pottery or ceramics and the NWMAC exhibit Art of Addiction. The bulk of the exhibit features Kate’s works on the topic of addiction. Her work in the exhibit included vases, platters, postcards, tiles, acrylic paintings, and more. Some of these works are for sale.
Mike Anderson manages the Northwestern Apartments transitional living facility in Crookston. Residents at NW Apartments created artwork for the Art of Addiction exhibit — 9 12 x12 canvas paintings are included in the exhibit that were created in a workshop with the residents. Mike 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. Criteria for admission is to have a serious mental illness, and about 3/4 of residents also have a co-occurring substance use disorder. 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. 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.” Listen here.
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.
| | |
|
|
|
Traveling Art Exhibit Will Visit Area Libraries
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) sponsors an annual Traveling Art Exhibit, which visits northwest Minnesota communities throughout the year. The exhibit includes 15 original pieces of art by regional adult and student artists, chosen from works submitted for our annual juried exhibit. The exhibit will begin its tour through NW Minnesota communities shortly. Stay tuned for more information.
| | | |
|
Wednesday, May 10 from 5 to 6 pm
Wednesday, May 10 is our next Tending the Creative Soul. Our topic is "All About Murals." Have you created murals? Are you curious about how murals are made? Do you have advice, questions, thoughts, etc. about murals? Are you a business, city, or a non-profit curious about having a mural painted on your building but don't know how to make this happen?
Please join the Zoom conversation this Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:00 PM. Reach out to Trey with questions or for a zoom invite.
| |
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
|
Stephen 2023 Concert Series
- Sun, June 4, 2 PM Jay Tescher, Cowboy Storyteller and musical guest Dale Price at west bldg of OHTM grounds
- Thurs, June 29, 7 PM Holy Rocka Rollaz
- Sat, July 15, 11 AM-1 PM Alissa Allery, Caricature Artist on lawn of the Art Center
- Thurs, July 27 7 PM David Keiski,Roy Orbison impersonator
- Thurs, August 3, 7 PM - Downtown Horns
- Sun, Sept 17, 7 PM - Robby Vee & his Rock-n-Roll Caravan in Art Center
| |
For more info visit TRFACT.org.
| |
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.
| |
Stop by Andy Hall's Sweetlight Gallery Downtown Crookston to see Courtney Olson's 'Flowers That Dance'
| |
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/.
| |
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!
| | | | |
