Dynamic Voices: A Collection of Work by Women Artists of NW Minnesota
Dynamic Voices:
A Collection of Work by Women Artists of NW Minnesota
Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Gallery
NCTC in Thief River Falls August 8 - September 28
Artist Reception Wednesday, September 28 from 5 to 7pm
NWMAC’s Dynamic Voices Exhibit at NCTC
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) is pleased to announce our exhibit – Dynamic Voices: A Collection of Work by Women Artists of NW Minnesota. The exhibit is open from Monday, August 8 to Wednesday, September 28 at the NWMAC Gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls (1101 State Highway 1, Thief River Falls, MN 56701).
Artists include Connie Nelson of Hallock, Rachel Gustafson of Hallock, Therese Jacobson of Alvarado, Heidi Danos of Fosston, and Stephanie Olson of Thief River Falls. These artists are well-known to the NWMAC. They have exhibited in past NWMAC exhibits, received awards and grants for their art, participated in past workshops, and even served on our board.
Experience the exhibit virtually!
Dynamic Voices Exhibit at NWMAC Gallery at NCTC. Pictured: Art work created by Stephanie Olson and Heidi Danos.
NWMAC Showcase Specialist Trey Everett shared, "I’m excited about this powerful collection of artworks! Each of the five women artists featured in the Dynamic Voices exhibit have their own distinctive style and message. You will experience artwork that is provocative, touching, lighthearted, and mysterious."
According to Artist Therese Jacobson of Alvarado, “Everything is “art” and life is creative. My subjects for this exhibit are horses and natural objects based on photos of my own, or taken by regional photographer Lynne King, of Alvarado, MN. Horses are creatures of grace, beauty, and strength, and have coexisted with humanity for millennia. The wild horses of western North Dakota have ridden into my paintings, as have domesticated horses in various seasons. The easy flowing lines and warm, colorful shapes might be called Modern Realism.
For this exhibit my works are created with acrylic paint and newspaper on canvases, but I have used torn paper, wire, cardboard, found objects, wood, string, and many sorts of objects. My paintings and drawings are usually water-based acrylics, watercolor, or pen and ink. I paint commissions on request.”
About her art in the exhibit, Thief River Falls Artist Stephanie Olson said, “This collection of pieces is meant to be bright, maybe even happy, but not exactly whimsical. Magical but not unfamiliar. Peaceful but not staid.”
Dynamic Voices. Artists include Connie Nelson, Stephanie Olson, Rachel Gustafson, Therese Jacobson, and Heidi Danos.
It’s well known that creating art can be healing. Artist Rachel Gustafson said, “I started painting again during the isolation of the pandemic, using art as therapy.” Gustafson’s work in the exhibit includes watercolor, mixed media, and pastels.
Fosston Artist Heidi Danos further explained, “Creating helps me shut out the noise, and sometimes even capture it. For this exhibit, I chose to focus on the female figure. I enjoy exploring different mediums and don’t foresee myself getting boxed into a single style anytime soon, if ever.”
Finally, Hallock Artist Connie Nelson described her creative process, “I began with crayons and sandcastles, moved on to watercolor, pastels, acrylic, oil, clay, glass. You know, jack of all ... master of none.” Murals have become Connie’s current creative outlet. You can find them in Hallock, Kennedy, and some local farmyards. Connie’s even been known to create popup street art murals. Her work in the exhibit includes acrylic, watercolor, and mixed media.
You won’t want to miss this exhibit! Please join us for a free Artist Reception with the artists on Wednesday, September 28 from 5 to 7 pm at the gallery. Refreshments will be served.
Many pieces of art in this exhibit are for sale. You are welcome to purchase at any time and pick up when the exhibit ends.
Dynamic Voices: A Collection of Work by Women Artists of NW Minnesota
The NWMAC Gallery is located at Northland Community and Technical College, 1101 State Highway 1, Thief River Falls, MN 56701. The 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. Visitor parking is free.
Stay tuned for an online discussion with the artists. You will be able to watch this Artist Spotlight on Facebook Live or YouTube Live. Visit the NWMAC Facebook page or YouTube page for more information. The Artist Spotlight will also be available to view at any time after the live broadcast. Reach out to us with questions.
If you are an artist interested in exhibiting a body of work with NWMAC, please contact Trey Everett at treyeverettcreates@gmail.com. This exhibit is made possible with funding from The McKnight Foundation. 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.
