Arts News
Artist Reception Fri, November 13 for Self-Taught Artists, Self Told Stories folk art exhibit
Artist Reception
Friday, November 13 from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Self-Taught Artists, Self-Told Stories
A folk art exhibit
Everyone is Welcome!
NWMAC Gallery
Northland Community and Technical College
1101 State Highway 1, Thief River Falls
An Artist Reception will be held at the gallery on Friday, November 13 from 5:00 to 6:30 PM for this folk art exhibit. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend this FREE event. Refreshments will be served. There is a basketball game that evening at the college.
Self-Taught Artists, Self-Told Stories: a folk art exhibit is open at our gallery at Northland Community and Technical College, 1101 Highway 1 East in Thief River Falls through November 19. This exhibit includes 110 pieces of folk art, including indigenous beading, acrylic, oil, wood carving, pottery, duck decoys of wood and cork, pen and ink, fiber art, weaving, metal work, lino cut, felted wool, wool and sheep leather, recipes, and music. Some of the indigenous pieces include dentalium shells, white buckskin leather, nylon thread, sweetgrass, mop floral, shell beads, green gems, birchbark, porcupine quills, nylon, brass, and acrylic paint. Twenty-seven artists, most from NW Minnesota with a few submissions from the Missouri Ozarks, contributed to this show. Some pieces of art are available for sale, including Christmas ornaments. One wall is dedicated to Middle River musician and radio host Cathy Erickson and her music career.
What is folk art? Folk art reflects culture, history, and daily life. It embodies the history, heritage, traditions, or identity of a community, region, or country. Pieces are typically created by self-trained artists for everyday use or community performance. They can be utilitarian and/or decorative. Folk art is created with skills and traditional designs that are passed down orally and practically. Examples include duck decoy wood carving, bead work on Native American clothing or jewelry, painting such as rosemaling, music such as mariachi and polka, storytelling of community lore, and Fraktur calligraphy writing.
Roseau Fiber Artist Aliza Novacek-Olson explained, “Folk art is a way of connecting to the past on a deeper level. It helps us understand not only the purpose behind an object, but also the social and cultural practices of the people who made and used it. When I create, I am not simply preserving traditional techniques. I am experiencing, in a small way, a way of life that is no longer part of our everyday world. Working with my hands allows me to slow down and consider how people once created what they needed, using the materials and knowledge available to them. In that process, the past feels a little closer. I submitted these fiber art pieces to highlight the importance of folk art. Through their handmade textures and traditional textile techniques, they evoke the clothing and household goods that might have been created by hand in a log cabin two hundred years ago. I hope they encourage visitors to experience the gallery and connect with this history firsthand.”
Fosston Artist Steph Anderson shared, “I have been knitting ever since my grandmothers taught me to knit more than 50 years ago. More recently I have been deep diving into Norwegian knitting as well as many other Scandinavian handcrafts.” Steph contributed other items for the exhibit including a red and white embroidered pocket. She explained, “Made from a damask napkin, red hand dyed wool yarn, and red bias tape. Before women had pockets sewn into their clothes, they wore their pockets tied or clipped onto their waist. The pockets were sometimes worn above their skirts and sometimes they were worn below their skirts - with a slit in the skirt to access the pocket. These pockets allowed women to decorate their pockets in their individual style. My pocket has a heart in the middle of a red snowflake with vines to coordinate.”
About her quilt in the exhibit, Betsy Saurdiff of Grygla said, “This crazy quilt incorporates fabric scraps, including material from my mother's wedding dress and my grandmother's fanciest Sunday dress. I studied and used many embroidery stitches, fascinated by the different techniques. The tactile feeling of the velours, silks and brocades, combined with the embroidery stitches is inviting to touch and see.”
Lillian Kuznia is a self-taught artist with no formal training. Her son Chris shared, “Painting, in particular, became a source of comfort and a way for her to capture the life around her. As a wife and homemaker raising a family on a farmstead, much of her work was inspired by things she could see and experience firsthand—the landscapes, buildings, animals, seasons, and everyday scenes of rural life. Other paintings came from memory rather than something directly in front of her. She would look back on places and moments that were important to her and recreate them through her art. Her painting of her childhood home is a good example of that—something painted later in life from her memories of growing up there. While she has no formal training, her artwork really reflects a lifetime of observation, memory, rural life, and teaching herself how to put those experiences onto canvas.”
Take a virtual walk through of this exhibit at https://youtu.be/faUB5l8dGLE (on the NWMAC YouTube page). The video is also available on our website under the exhibits tab on the top of the homepage.
The NWMAC Gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls is at 1101 State Highway 1, Thief River Falls 56701. The gallery is open during Monday-Friday from 8 – 4:30 PM and at other times when events are held at the college. Please call to make sure the college is open before making a special trip. Hours can change. Enter through Door B, which is right next to the gallery. Visitor parking is free. There is no cost to visit the exhibit.
For more information about this exhibit, visit our website at NWArtsCouncil.org, or if you are an artist interested in exhibiting a body of work with NWMAC, please contact Trey Everett at (218) 280-4917. Please sign up for our e-newsletter on our website home page to see the latest news and grant announcements. Email NWArtsCouncil@gmail.com or call 218-745-8886, ext 1 to reach our office during regular business hours.
Artist Reception for Fresh Voices — Celebrating 30 Years of Photography in Crookston at the Fournet Oct 17
Artist Reception for
Fresh Voices – Celebrating 30 Years of Photography in Crookston
an exhibit featuring photographs by
Crookston Latino Community Members
October 17 at 6:30 – 8:00PM
at the
Historic Fournet Building, 101 N Broadway
Downtown Crookston
2nd Floor in the Atrium
Exhibit is Open Through December
Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend an Artist Reception for Fresh Voices – Celebrating 30 Years of Photography in Crookston an exhibit featuring photographs by Crookston Latino community members at the Historic Fournet Building downtown Crookston. This exhibit includes 16 pieces of art by 14 artists. All are photography and digital work, including portraits, self-portraits, and family portraits.
The Artist Reception will be held at the Fournet on October 17 from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. This event is free and will include light snacks. Shane Mendez of Crookston will be signing and selling his book A Tale of a Tadpole: Trying to Prove You’re Not Broken is Not the Same as Becoming Whole.
About Shane Mendez. Shane Mendez is a former Navy sailor and police officer who rebuilt his life after years of trauma, addiction, and collapse. Now an assistant professor and writer in Crookston, Minnesota, he writes about trauma, survival, and the long path to becoming whole. His memoir follows a climb that does not look heroic or polished. It moves in small, honest steps, each one pushing him closer to the truth he spent years trying to outrun. A Tale of a Tadpole is carved from raw experience and lived consequences. It tells the truth most stories avoid, that healing is messy, uneven, and rarely a straight line. If you have ever carried darkness of your own, you will find pieces of yourself in these pages.
About the exhibit, In Progress Director Kristine Sorenson said, “Having this exhibit at the Fournet provides an opportunity to see Crookston through the lives and experiences of its Latino community. These photographs and stories remind us that Latino families have been part of this community for generations — working, raising families, serving others, and helping shape the place we call home. It is important that these stories are seen, remembered, and recognized as part of Crookston’s history.”
You won't want to miss this event. The exhibit is open through December at the Fournet Building, 101 N Broadway, Downtown Crookston. Parking and admission is free. Take the stairs or elevator to the second floor where the gallery is located in the atrium. Open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4:30 PM.
Watch this video for a virtual tour of the exhibit at https://youtu.be/BqgRLunumAo or find it on our website under the exhibits tab at the top of the homepage.
For more information about this exhibit or if you are an artist interested in exhibiting a body of work with NWMAC, please contact Trey Everett at (218) 280-4917 or email NWArtsCouncil@gmail.com. Please sign up for our e-newsletter on our website home page to see the latest news and grant announcements. Call 218-745-8886, ext 1 to reach our office during regular business hours.
Introduction to Artisan Publishing Oct 15 and 22
Introduction to Artisan Publishing
Two-Week Course // Led by Brendan Stermer
Thurs, Oct 15 & 22 @ 6:30 PM at the Campbell Library in East Grand Forks.
Led by poet and bookmaker Brendan Stermer, this two-week course offers an introduction to the rich history of small press publishing in western Minnesota and a hands-on opportunity to participate in the bookmaking process.
Session 1: History of Publishing in MN
Learn about the history of small press publishing in our region and interact with a variety of handmade books—dating back to the small press boom of the 1970s — produced by western Minnesota artists and publishers.
Session 2: Hands-On Bookmaking
Learn a few basic bookmaking techniques while assisting with the assembly of a new, limited-edition collection by local poet Casey Fuller. All participants will receive a free signed copy.
This event is made possible in part by a grant provided by the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council through funding from The McKnight Foundation.
Artist Spotlight with Aliza Novacek-Olson and Cathy Forgit on October 28 at 11 AM
Please join NWMAC Staff Kristin Eggerling and Trey Everett in a conversation with Textile Artists Cathy Forgit of Fertile and Aliza Novacek-Olson of Roseau on October 28 at 11 AM. Both artists have work in our current folk art exhibit Self-Taught Artists, Self-Told Stories at the NWMAC Gallery. We’ll talk about folk art, fiber art, art practices, inspiration, techniques, and much more! The discussion will be live on our YouTube and FB pages. Afterwards, you can watch it on our website (A link will be added).
Artist Spotlight with Candace Sam on October 22 at 1 PM
Please join NWMAC Staff Kristin Eggerling and Trey Everett in a conversation with Ojibwe Artist Candace Sam of Crookston on October 22 at 1 PM. Candace has beadwork in our current folk art exhibit Self-Taught Artists, Self-Told Stories at the NWMAC Gallery. In addition to her bead work (included beaded outfits) and jewelry, Candace is a painter. We’ll talk about Candace’s art, her art practices, inspiration, techniques, background, and much more! The discussion will be live on our YouTube and FB pages. If you missed the live discussion, you can watch the recording that will be shared afterwards.
Verse Junction, an evening of poetry and music Oct 8 in East Grand Forks
Verse Junction:
Prairie Sea Flotilla and the The Poetry Bus poetry reading
Thursday, October 8 from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
You are invited to Verse Junction, an evening of poetry and music at the EGF Campbell Library. Verse Junction will feature readings by members of two Upper Midwest poetry collectives: The Poetry Bus (Twin Cities/Central MN) and Prairie Sea Flotilla (Grand Forks/East Grand Forks). The event will also feature a musical interlude by Grand Forks cellist Naomi Welsh.
The Poetry Bus is a group of four poets from the Twin Cities and central Minnesota. Poetry is their vehicle for communicating the sorrow and the sweet of ordinary lives. Since 2024, they have traveled to communities across the state offering free public readings in formal and informal places. Traveling on the bus to EGF will be Sara Dovre Wudali, Athena Kildegaard and Michael Kleber-Diggs.
Prairie Sea Flotilla is a local editorial collective and micropress. They created limited-run handmade books using a combination of digital and letterpress printing technologies. Floating over to the library will be Casey Fuller, Matt Bruflodt, Shilo Previti, Grant McMillan, and Brendan Stermer.
Light refreshments will be served, and books will be available for sale.
Sara Dovre Wudali is a fiscal year 2026 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
In Progress 30th Anniversary Screening Oct 18 at 11 AM
In Progress 30th Anniversary Screening
Sunday, October 18 / 11AM
Grand Theatre
Crookston
The program will bring together stories created across generations and communities, including locally produced works such as The Harvest and Cries of the Children, alongside short films by professional filmmakers from the Twin Cities.
Following the screening, everyone is invited to gather for a community feast at Studio 110.
Date:
Sunday October 18 at 11AM
Location:
Grand Theatre
For more information, email info@in-progress.org or call Rena Bouchard Zapata (218)-277-8774.
North Country Fiddle & Dance Community Folk Dance Oct 10 Everyone Welcome!
North Country Fiddle and Dance Community Folk Dance
Saturday, October 10 from 3:00 to 5:30 PM
with Peggy and Dean Ellingson of Bemidji,
together with the O'Neil Family Band
Bernies Restaurant, 121 DeMers Ave, EGF
Reels, squares, circle mixers, contras and more...
All are welcome, all ages; families, couples, singles
Donations at the door
Coming up:
Saturday, November 14 from 3-5:30
with Sugar on the Roof of Hibbing/Duluth
Find them online at <northcountrydance.org>
Fall Painting Retreat for Women Oct 23-25 with Gail Ose
Fall Painting Retreat for Women Oct 23-25
Gail Ose of Serendipity Art Hub is offering a fall painting retreat at The Lake House at Lake Cameron in Erskine. Reach out to serendipityarthub.com for more information and to sign up.
Woodland Sky Native American Dance Company in Warroad Sept 18
Woodland Sky Native American Dance Company
Friday, September 18 | 6 PM | Free Hosted by the Warroad Native American Education Program. This will be at Warroad River Place.
Experience the captivating storytelling of the Woodland Sky Native American Dance Company through dance, music, movement, and song. Every step, expression, and rhythm shares stories that honor Native history, culture, and traditions, creating a powerful and immersive visual experience that educates and inspires audiences of all ages.
Middle River Goose Fest Live Music Sept 25-27
Middle River Goose Fest Live Music
The Middle River Community Club is excited to announce an incredible lineup of FREE entertainment during Goose Festival weekend. Thanks to the generous support of the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council, you'll enjoy outstanding local and regional talent throughout the weekend.
Friday, September 25
Middle River Sportsmen's Club
Tannis Tyler kicks off the weekend with an evening of great music you won't want to miss!
Saturday, September 26
Morning – Music on the Street
Enjoy the sounds of the "Northland Jazz Band" as they fill downtown Middle River with lively jazz and community spirit.
Afternoon – Music on the Street
An exciting lineup of talented performers takes the stage:
Cathy Erickson – Minnesota Music Hall of Fame inductee
Nathan Bukowski – Our own hometown favorite
Gracie Crocker – A rising new talent bringing excitement to the Goose Festival stage
Keybeat (The Augustines)
Saturday September 26 Evening
Middle River Sportsmen's Club Shed
Back by popular demand... WOODPICKS returns to keep the celebration going with another fantastic evening of music.
Bring your family, invite your friends, stroll through downtown, enjoy the music, and celebrate everything that makes Goose Festival one of northwest Minnesota's favorite traditions.
In Progress Offers Workshops Cinematics I and II
In Progress Offers Workshops
Cinematics I
Saturday & Sunday, August 1 & 2, 1-4 PM
Family Resource Center
1505 Central Avenue NW
East Grand Forks 56721
Cinematics II
Saturday, August 15 & Sunday, August 16, 1-4 PM
Studio 110
Crookston
Join internationally recognized filmmaker Mickies Kiros and local artist Sana Nur in learning the art of video creation. Write stories, and bring them to life using professional video cameras. Cinematics. explores the craft of videography as a powerful tool for storytelling rooted in culture, identity, and lived experience.
All ages are welcomed to join, make movies and share stories with others that reflects personal truth and the power of visual stories.
Workshop Coordinator - Rena Zapata
Please register below. This activity is intended to build belonging through creativity.
Questions can be directed to info@in-progress.org.
If you would like to find out more about In Progress - their history and the artists’ work, please visit their website at: www.in-progress.org
Heritage Days Music Show Aug 8 and 9
East Grand Forks Heritage Days Traditional Music Show
August 8 and 9, 2026
Heritage Village, 219 20th St. NE, East Grand Forks
Saturday- August 8
1:00 PM- Jeremy Kingsbury- bagpiper and historian. Jeremy plays several types of small pipes in the Scottish, French and Irish traditions.
2:00 PM Bob and Gail Johnson - Songs and tunes from Ireland and Appalachia, with guitar, harmonica, recorder, harp and more.
3:00 PM -Vidar Skrede- Norwegian folk music - fiddle, hardanger fiddle, guitar and mandolin.
Sunday- August 9
12:00 PM– O'Neil Family Band- French Canadian, Celtic and Appalachian tunes and songs – fiddle, guitar, banjo, concertina and step dance.
1:00 PM- Vidar Skrede- Norwegian fiddle music
2:00 PM- Bob and Gail Johnson- Celtic and Appalachian songs and tunes
3:00 PM Jeremy Kingsbury- Bagpiper
Chuck Gust, accordionist, will entertain for the Sunday noon dinner in the Beier Bldg.
*This activity is made possible in part by a grant provided by the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council through funding from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the State's general fund.
Other activities on the grounds from 10 AM to 4 PM each day.
In Progress Artist Jeremy Gardner Offers Art of Music July 25 & 26 in East Grand Forks
The Art of Music
Saturday, July 25 & Sunday, July 26 1-4PM
Family Resource Center
East Grand Forks
Begin your music-making journey by uncovering your unique creative voice. Through playful experimentation and guided exploration, In Progress artist Jeremy Gardner helps participants tap into their curiosities, interests, and talents in the world of digital music. Participants will have the opportunity to learn song creation, beat making and sound engineering, depending on participant interest.
Dates:
Saturday & Sunday, July 25 & 26 / 1-4PM
Location:
Family Resource Center
1505 Central Avenue NW
East Grand Forks MN. 56721
Please register below. This activity is intended to build belonging through creativity.
Questions can be directed to info@in-progress.org.
Artist Spotlight with Denise Jenson on July 31 at 11 AM
Please join NWMAC Staff Kristin Eggerling and Trey Everett in a conversation with Photographer Denise Jenson of Badger that took place on Friday, July 31. Denise has work in the current NWMAC Gallery exhibit The Great State of Minnesota. She's also been a regular entrant in our annual and other exhibits. Learn about how Denise became a photographer, composition, and much more! Denise shared this quote by Thomas Merton, “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” If you missed the live discussion on our Facebook or YouTube page you can watch the recording at https://www.youtube.com/live/Rj6mzeodGCY?si=h8sDOwhSlTsVSfAa.
2026 Northwoods Art & Book Festival Aug 8 in Hackensack
The 2026 Northwoods Art & Book Festival is in Hackensack on Saturday, August 8, 2026 from 9 AM to 3 PM. There’s a long list of featured authors. Jackpine Writers will be there and Talking Stick books will be available for purchase.
Free Grant Writing Session Wednesday, July 15 at 2:00 PM RSVP Today
We offer grant writing training sessions two weeks before each grant deadline. This training is Wednesday, July 15 at 2:00 PM. This can be virtual or in person. You must RSVP to attend. Please let us know if you are interested by calling 218-745-8886, ext 1 or email director@nwartscouncil.org. You can take advantage of the opportunity to come into our office and work on your grant in our grant writing space!
Dollipops Greenbush Concert Friday, July 10
Count Down Is On!!!
The Dollipops are coming to Greenbush!
Friday, July 10, 2026
Outdoor Stage at Legion Park – Greenbush, MN
6:00–7:00 p.m.
FREE for all ages
Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, family, and friends for this exciting community event!
This event is made possible through funding from the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council and is hosted by Lil' Chompers Childcare Center.
Artist Reception Iron and Feathers Thursday, August 13 from 6:00 to 7:30 PM with Ross Hier & Beau Bakken
Artist Reception for
Iron and Feathers: Art of the Northwest
an exhibit featuring paintings by Ross Hier and Beau Bakken
Open Through August 13 — Exhibit will Close after the Reception
at the
Historic Fournet Building, 101 N Broadway
Downtown Crookston
2nd Floor in the Atrium
Artist Reception Thursday, August 13 from 6 to 7:30 PM
Violin Music by Eden Johnson of Lake Bronson
Please join the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) for an artist reception for Iron and Feathers: Art of the Northwest an exhibit featuring paintings by Ross Hier and Beau Bakken at the Historic Fournet Building downtown Crookston. This exhibit includes 35 original pieces of art in watercolor on paper and acrylic on canvas, most of which are for sale.
The Artist Reception will be on Thursday, August 13 from 6 to 7:30 PM. Refreshments will be served. Live music will be provided by Violinist Eden Johnson of Lake Bronson. Everyone is welcome to attend this FREE event. The exhibit will close after the reception.
Artist Beau Bakken. Beau Bakken of Hallock has been professionally creating art by commission since 2008. Beau has been a consistent entrant into NWMAC’s exhibits and won 1st place in the annual NW Minnesota Art Exhibit in 2011, 2014, and 2022, and given a People’s Choice award in 2025. He won the Artist of the Year in 2016. Beau was the featured artist in the Around the Farm exhibit at our gallery in Thief River Falls. His work consists of large outdoor murals, outdoor business signs, indoor murals, and indoor wall hangings and paintings. About his 8 pieces of work in the exhibit, Beau said, “My paintings in this exhibit are captures of the Red River Valley, painted with the hope that fellow citizens of the valley would find them relatable.”
Artist Ross Hier. Ross H. Hier attended the University of Minnesota earning a BS in Wildlife Management and had a 35-year career with the Section of Wildlife in the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. His time was spent researching mallards, ring-necked ducks, and the Lesser scaup, as well as managing wildlife management areas in Polk and Red Lake Counties. Nature has excited him for as long as he can remember and his creative need to express this love led him to watercolor painting. He shared, “Northwest Minnesota is such a diverse piece of geography … native grasslands, the Aspen Parklands and transition zone between prairie and forest landscapes interspersed with agricultural tracts. The ancient Lake Agassiz beach lines are quite profound on the east side of the Red River Valley and serve as linear maps for migrant birds where substantial grasslands and wetlands serve as stop-over areas for birds moving further north. The diversity of nature in northwest Minnesota is amazing. Nature has always been a force that triggers my creative thought process. I love painting with watercolors for their elusive nature and spontaneity.”
Ross continued, “It’s an honor to exhibit in the town I have long resided in and to share this exhibit with the outstanding artist, Beau Bakken. His work never ceases to amaze me. This exhibit presents the viewers with two different artists who use different painting mediums and rather different styles. I hope the exhibit brings viewers much joy and thankfulness as we celebrate the premier region of Minnesota through art. Thanks to the Northwest Arts Council and especially Exhibit Specialist Trey Everett.” Twenty-seven works in the exhibit were created by Ross.
You can find both Ross and Beau in our most recent Artists of NW Minnesota booklet.
Musician Eden Johnson lives in Lake Bronson with her husband and their three daughters. Depending on the day one might find Eden either accompanying her local Lutheran church, watching musicals with her family, reading, giving violin lessons, or practicing on one of her instruments. While her main focus and passion is the violin, Eden also sings, plays the piano, and is currently learning the harp. The violin Eden plays once belonged to her great grandmother. Eden recently completed the NWMAC Teaching Artist Training and is available for residencies and workshops.
You won't want to miss this exhibit open through August 13 at the Fournet Building, 101 N Broadway, Downtown Crookston. Parking and admission is free. Take the stairs or elevator to the second floor where the gallery is located in the atrium. Open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4:30 PM.
Watch this video for a virtual tour of the exhibit at https://youtu.be/emdN39orEZE or find it on our website under the exhibits tab at the top of the homepage.
For more information about this exhibit, visit our website at NWArtsCouncil.org, or if you are an artist interested in exhibiting a body of work with NWMAC, please contact Trey Everett at (218) 280-4917 or email NWArtsCouncil@gmail.com. Please sign up for our e-newsletter on our website home page to see the latest news and grant announcements. Email director@NWArtsCouncil.org or call 218-745-8886 to reach our office during regular business hours.
Artist Reception for Great State of Minnesota Exhibit June 30 6:30 - 8 PM
An Artist Reception for
The Great State of Minnesota
an exhibit reflecting
What Minnesota Means to Me
Tuesday, June 30 from 6:30 to 8 PM
The Exhibit is Open Through August 28 at the
NWMAC Gallery
Northland Community and Technical College
1101 State Highway 1, Thief River Falls
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) is pleased to announce an Artist Reception for The Great State of Minnesota at our gallery at Northland Community and Technical College, 1101 Highway 1 East in Thief River Falls. This exhibit includes 51 pieces, including pen and ink, oil, mixed media, photography, acrylic, screen print, fiber art, poetry, ceramic, block print, watercolor, charcoal, and paper mache by 30 area artists, and will run until August 28.
The Artist Reception will be held on Tuesday, June 30 from 6:30 to 8 PM at the gallery. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. Refreshments will be served. The play Frozen will be performed at 7 PM that evening in the NCTC theater.
Minnesota received a lot of attention lately because of the ICE surge of 3,000 officers in January, large civil protests in freezing winter weather, and famous musicians like Bruce Springsteen writing songs about this historical moment in Minnesota. Because of this, the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is highlighting our state in this exhibit. We asked artists what does Minnesota mean to you?
Minnesota evokes many feelings and meanings to different people. Maybe it's blueberry picking, cabin life, morel or deer hunting, walleye fishing, or the land of 10,000 lakes; the power of community, snowflakes and cold, or pine trees; terms like Minnesota Nice, You betcha or Uff da; foods like wild rice, hot dishes, or lefse. Our sports teams including the Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, The Wild, Loons, and Lynx;
Icons such as Mary Tyler Moore, Prince, and Bob Dylan; Or our state symbols like the Rusty Patched Bumblebee(state bee), Monarch (state butterfly), Lady’s Slipper (state flower) or the Honeycrisp Apple (state fruit), or Agate (the state gemstone).
Jessica Ross shared, “Minnesota is my home as well as home to the many little living things that inspire my artwork. This show will be a great composition of Minnesota through the eyes of local artists. I entered my piece because I like viewers to stop and think about the small things in life that we tend to overlook at times. It just takes a moment to pause and be reminded of the beauty in this world. My artwork “Minnesota’s Ladies” focuses on small moments of wonder within Minnesota forests.”
Acacia Winters explained, “Being a transplant to the state of Minnesota has been challenging but incredibly rewarding. I love how amazing this state is geographically. Its vast landscapes and rocky superior shores mixed with the epicness of the Twin Cities always means there is something to do and explore. The things that keep me here are the wonderful people and communities I’ve been invited into and helped create. This has made this state into my home. People should visit to see the incredible talent of artists in northern Minnesota.”
Therese Masters Jacobson said, “Minnesotans emphasize kindness, empathy, and prosocial behavior, or in other words, they are nice. Minnesota has long been a refuge and haven for many people, like my childhood family who visited each summer from Illinois. A change during my adult life brought me back to Minnesota—a place to belong.”
Finally, Debbie Dahl Aune said,” My Gramma Esther Dahl picked blueberries with me until she was 82. Living in northern Minnesota we found the true peace of God as we trekked around Beltrami Forest, the Mud Lake Refuge and the McDonaugh Swamp. Still today, I find the outdoors to be my favorite distraction from the political and economic uncertainties of the day. Today, I still get out to the forests, however, you'll find me painting Plein Air as well as picking.”
Original art in the Great State of Minnesota exhibit, including Prowling Past the Pines by Warroad Artist Shelly Grove. She explained that “even though I was born in Canada I call Minnesota my home. Since deer hunting is a big part of living in northern Minnesota it seemed appropriate to submit this piece. I gravitate towards pointillism and this pose worked up so well. The pine trees really add character. Can’t you just hear the wind howl when you look at this?”
As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary this summer, visit our exhibit to see the art created about Minnesota. Artists were encouraged to reflect on Minnesota as the Northstar State, our Minnesota State Flag, our Great Seal of Minnesota, and our state symbols. Minnesota’s motto is L'Etoile du Nord = Star of the North, which refers to Polaris, the North Star, that remains in the same spot in the night sky, representing stability and direction. Our flag symbolizes the state's natural resources, identity, and future. It features a light blue field (water/sky), a dark blue shape (state outline/night sky), and a white 8-point "North Star" representing our motto and the state's northern location. The 8-point star also represents guidance, hope, and its northern position, while also honoring diverse cultural heritage, including Native American designs, Nordic patterns, and barn quilts, and echoing the star on the Capitol’s rotunda. It’s a multicultural symbol, often appearing like four “M”s for Minnesota and resembling a snowflake, connecting to the state’s climate and indigenous artistry. The Great Seal of Minnesota features a common loon (our state bird), the North Star, wild rice, Norway pines (state tree), and stylized water, with the Dakota phrase "Mni Sóta Makoce" -- "Land where the waters reflect the skies."
Take a virtual walk through of this exhibit at https://youtu.be/X3M3S9H95GI (on the NWMAC YouTube page). The video is also available on our website under the exhibits tab on the top of the homepage.
The NWMAC Gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls is at 1101 State Highway 1, Thief River Falls 56701. The gallery is open during Monday-Friday from 8 – 4:30 PM and at other times when events are held at the college. Please call to make sure the college is open before making a special trip. Hours can change, especially during the summer. Enter through Door B, which is right next to the gallery. Visitor parking is free.
For more information about this exhibit or if you are an artist interested in exhibiting a body of work with NWMAC, please contact Trey Everett at (218) 280-4917 or email NWArtsCouncil@gmail.com. Please sign up for our e-newsletter on our website home page to see the latest news and grant announcements. Email director@NWArtsCouncil.org or call 218-745-8886 to reach our office during regular business hours.