Arts News
NW Star Award is Given to Betsy Saurdiff
The NW Star Award is Given to Betsy Saurdiff
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is excited to announce that Betsy Saurdiff of Grygla received the Northwest Star Award. The award was presented to Saurdiff on Sunday, April 21 in Lake Bronson at the Kittson County History Museum during the NW Art Exhibit Awards Reception and Program.
Saurdiff is a well-known and accomplished potter in the area. She is a retired visual arts and German instructor in the Grygla and Goodridge School districts. Currently, she substitute teaches, works part-time at the Grygla Library, and teaches art classes in her community.
In 2023, three pieces of Betsy’s pottery were selected for the “It’s Only Clay National Competition and Exhibition” at the Watermark Center in Bemidji. One of the pieces "Brown Antler Bowl" won the Harlow Purchase Award. She has been named Teacher of the Year three times and has been awarded numerous grants for her art and equipment.
Former student and current art teacher Tausha Sieverts shared, “Mrs. Saurdiff is not just a great artist, she is an amazing person all around. She cares deeply about her family and community. Mrs. Saurdiff is willing to go above and beyond to help whoever and wherever needed. She stays involved in our school and community by holding community education classes, attending school events, subbing at our area schools, and even mentors [me] with ceramics.”
The well-known quote by Pablo Picasso – “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life” resonates with Betsy. She reflected about the impact of the arts on society. “Without art we could live, but it wouldn’t be quite so precious.”
Goodridge Superintendent Tom Loberg explained that Betsy’s “unending passion of teaching art to others, mentoring area artists and art teachers, and her continuing pursuits to create art that serves as the inspiration to others has had a profound impact on our students, schools, communities, and the arts community in our region.” He went on, “In my opinion, Mrs. Saurdiff’s contributions to the area arts community are the definition of a lifetime achievement in art. Despite her retirement as art teacher, nothing has changed. She continues to educate, mentor, create, and inspire.”
Betsy has advice for aspiring artists. “Make use of the arts council. There is money available for you and people who can help you write your grants if needed.” She also said, “Work really, really hard. Don’t just dream about it. Every day do something. There’s no substitute for hard work.”
According to former student (and current art teacher) Andrea Halvorson, “Betsy is an exceptional artist both personally and professionally. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Betsy since I was middle school age. She has had a profound impact on me. Having her as an art teacher helped mold me into the artist I am today. As a teacher, Betsy always saw potential in all her students, even if they didn’t think they had talent. She did this by showing patience, providing guidance, as well as challenging students to keep reaching to their highest potential.”
She went on, “Betsy gives back to the community by teaching others. She holds community education pottery classes for people of all ages and levels. Betsy has taught me so much about art, even learning about the other artists in the area, as well as resources and people. She does this to educate others and knowing there is more out there for artists. This is huge when living in a small rural community where resources in the arts are so limited. She is always encouraging and teaching people about what is out there offered to them.”
Betsy wanted to say thank you to the arts council for all the support over the many years. “I wouldn’t be the potter I am without them.”
The NW Star Award comes with $5,000. Artists can only receive it once as a lifetime achievement award. Funding for the Northwest Star comes from The McKnight Foundation. 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.
Congratulations, Betsy!
Nominate for Of the Year Awards — Applications Open
Want to Honor a Deserving Arts Advocate or Artist?
Nominations are Open for Of the Year Awards
Northwest Artist of the Year $500
Northwest Arts Advocate of the Year $500
Northwest Star Award for $5,000
Applications are open for nominations for the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Of the YearAwards. Three awards are given each year to recognize artists and arts advocates within our region who stand out in terms of artistry or volunteerism in the arts. Often people serve in both roles.
Our Arts Advocate of the Year award honors someone who is a voice and advocate for arts within the community, local school, or our region. Arts includes all disciplines. It comes with $500 and often goes to a local leader who lives in the area where the artist reception will be held. However, anyone is eligible to be nominated.
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 to use however they see fit.
Artists can only receive our Northwest Star Award once, as a lifetime achievement award. This award is for $5,000 and can be a wonderful gift to those who have chosen a hard career path related to artistic expression.
Our deadline for nominations is February 29. Please consider nominating someone who you view as a deserving candidate from our seven-county service area in northwestern Minnesota. Persons who believe their nominee would qualify for this award and have questions should contact the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council office at (218) 745-8886, ext 1 or email director@NWArtsCouncil.org for more information. The nomination form is on our website in the grant software. Login and click on Apply and follow the directions. For more information, visit this page on our website:
https://northwestminnesotaartscouncil.org/nominations-for-of-the-year-awards
Or download this document to learn about the information needed for the nomination. Awards will be presented at the NW Art Exhibit reception at the Kittson County History Museum in Lake Bronson on Sunday, April 21, 2024. 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.
Start your nomination here.
LaVonne Forsberg NW Star Artist of the Year
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is pleased to announce that LaVonne Forsberg of Thief River Falls has been selected as the 2022 Northwest Minnesota Star Artist of the Year for her lifetime achievement in art. Forsberg received her award at a program in Thief River Falls on April 27.
Originally from Goodridge, Forsberg, a visual artist, is known for her watercolors and stained glass. Forsberg began her painting career when she took a Rosemaling course through her homemaker’s club. She then branched into acrylics, watercolor, and stained glass and made art her life’s work. For many years, she owned Country Class Arts downtown Thief River Falls, which offered framing services, classes, and arts supplies.
Forsberg has received awards in past NWMAC art exhibits and other statewide exhibits for her art. You can find her stained-glass at the Carnegie Library in Thief River Falls (chandeliers), 13 area churches, the local hospital, and her paintings in the Kiehle Building on the campus at the University of Minnesota Crookston. She was commissioned by the state of Minnesota to design and paint the Old Mill State Park entrance permit and collector's mug in 200l.
Thief River Falls resident Faye Auchenpaugh said, “Imagine Faith Lutheran in Goodridge or Redeemer Lutheran in Thief River Falls without their phenomenal stained-glass windows that LaVonne created. Or the stained-glass chandeliers at the Carnegie in Thief River Falls. We are so fortunate to have an artist of LaVonne’s caliber in our community.”
According to Fellow Artist and NWMAC Board Member Therese Masters Jacobson, “LaVonne Forsberg is a superb candidate for this lifetime achievement award. She has participated in NWMAC exhibits frequently, often being selected for the highest awards. Her paintings and stained-glass pieces demonstrate the highest excellence and mastery. LaVonne has been the featured artist in the NWMAC Gallery, and her name is well known throughout northwest Minnesota for her fine artwork, and charisma.”
Asked about the impact of art, Forsberg said, “The arts help people learn in different ways.” She went on to explain that as someone who is dyslexic, she found reading challenging. Sewing, painting, and creating stained-glass allows her to visualize things and imagine how things are put together.
As for advice for aspiring artists, she shared, “Determination and pay attention to details. Always be looking at things: Shape (how was it made?), unique (how is it different?), and color (how do the colors come together or contrast?).”
The Northwest Star Artist Award is given each year to recognize artists within our seven-county region who stand out in terms of artistry. Of the Year Award winners are nominated by area residents. This award comes with $5,000. Artists can only receive our Northwest Star Award once, as a lifetime achievement award. Funding for the Northwest Star comes from the McKnight Foundation.
Congratulations LaVonne Forsberg on winning the Northwest Star Award!