Arts News

Portrait Gallery Exhibit is Open Through September
Art Exhibits, Exhibits, NCTC Gallery, News Kristin Eggerling Art Exhibits, Exhibits, NCTC Gallery, News Kristin Eggerling

Portrait Gallery Exhibit is Open Through September

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Announces

The Portrait Gallery

Open Until September 30

Featuring the Artwork of Pamela Edevold, Heidi Danos,

Therese Masters Jacobson, and Jessica Ross

Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Gallery

NCTC in Thief River Falls through September 2024

Artist Reception Sept 18 from 5 to 7 PM with a special presentation by Pamela Edevold at 5:30 PM

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) is pleased to announce the opening of The Portrait Gallery open through September 30. This gallery exhibits 33 portraits in acrylic, watercolor, digital, and colored pencils created by four area artists. Ten of the portraits are of Native American Dancers and 13 are of dogs, cats, chickens and a horse.

You won't want to miss this incredible exhibit open through September at the NWMAC Gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls. Many of the portraits are for sale.

Pamela Edevold is a realist artist specializing in portraiture and figurative painting. In this exhibit she is showcasing ten acrylic paintings featuring local Anishinaabe dancers of all ages, accompanied by their narratives of the cultural and personal meaning of their regalia. Each dancer's narrative consists of information they provided to the artist, and Pamela purposely refrained from undertaking any personal research so she wouldn't be tempted to add or subtract from what was given. All the dancers were extremely generous with sharing their images and information. Photo sessions with the dancers took place during powwows held at the Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shing School and the July Onigum Powwow, and one model traveled from Naytahwaush to Bagley to be interviewed and photographed. Pamela is originally from Grafton, North Dakota and lives in Bagley now. Learn more by attending her presentation during the Artist Reception at 5:30 PM on September 18.

Fosston artist Heidi Danos has four digital portraits in this exhibit. She explained, "Creating helps me shut out the noise, and sometimes even capture it. I enjoy exploring different mediums and don’t foresee myself getting boxed into a single style anytime soon, if ever.”

Therese Masters Jacobson of Alvarado has four watercolor and two acrylic portraits. Therese said, "Since relocating to northern Minnesota at fifty, I’ve continued to enjoy life as a painter, art teacher, and living an artful life in my seventies. I’ve exhibited in both group and solo exhibits in Bemidji, Fosston, Moorhead, Grand Forks, Grand Rapids, Thief River Falls, East Grand Forks, and Crookston. My paintings and drawings are usually water-based acrylics, watercolor, or pen and ink. I paint commissions on request."

Jessica Ross of Thief River Falls has 13 animal portraits in this exhibit. Jessica shared, "My companion portraits take colored pencils to a different level using both fixed and malleable qualities, with loose under tones and detailed markings. Each portrait is unique and being able to commemorate these important family members gives me a sense of pride. I believe our lives are forever changed by their presence."

Watch this video for a virtual tour of the exhibit at youtu.be/sscycjJdSII.

An Artist Reception will be held at the gallery from 5 to 7PM on Wednesday, September 18. Drinks and snacks will be available and there is no cost to attend.

The NWMAC Gallery is located at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls. The gallery hours are Monday-Friday from 8 - 5 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. Summer hours can change. Enter through Door B, which is right next to the gallery. Visitor parking is free.

For more information about this exhibit our website at www.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.

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Traveling Art Exhibit Stops in Warroad
Traveling Exhibit, News, Exhibits Kristin Eggerling Traveling Exhibit, News, Exhibits Kristin Eggerling

Traveling Art Exhibit Stops in Warroad

Traveling Art Exhibit Stops in Warroad

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) sponsors an annual Traveling Art Exhibit, which visits northwest Minnesota communities throughout the year. This exhibit includes 14 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 Warroad Public Library until August 6. Please stop by to see these works of art. Some of these pieces of art are for sale.

The 2024-2025 Artists and Artwork:

Beau Bakken, Hallock, “Sunday Evening Classy Entertainment” (Acrylic Painting)

Kelly Chisholm, Gary "John Lennon” (Drawing)

Tammy Hansen, Newfolden, “Flower and Feather” (Acrylic Painting)

Denise R. Jenson, Badger, “Found Lying Together” (Photography)

Steve Bernard, Erskine, “Candlelight Dinner” (Oil Painting)

Sarah Solberg, Plummer, “Canyon X” (Photography)

Jessica Lundeen, Thief River Falls “Sunny” (Drawing)

Izzy Swensen, Lancaster, “Purple Iris” (Watercolor Painting) Lancaster School Student Merit

Kerstyn Lindsey, Borup, “Sprinkles” (Ceramic Sculpture) Ada-Borup-West School

Brigitta Novacek, Roseau, “The Pink Cloud Replica” (Acrylic Painting) Roseau High School

Geneva Gartner, Fertile, “Flying Around” (Mosaic) Fertile-Beltrami School

Mary Jane Crane, Red Lake Falls, “Beauty in Self Image” (Drawing) Red Lk Falls School 3rd place

Ava Halvorson, Goodridge, “Sundown in Star Township” (Acrylic Painting) Goodridge School

Kinsley Oslund, Grygla, “Perfect and Deep Love” (Watercolor Painting) Grygla School

The 2024-2025 Traveling Exhibit Schedule*:

May to June 11 Crookston Public Library, Crookston

June 11 to August 6 Warroad Public Library, Warroad

August 6 to September 24 Hallock Public Library, Hallock

September 24 to November 19 Godel Public Library, Warren

November 19 to January 21 Thief River Falls Public Library, Thief River Falls

January 21 to March 4, 2025 Red Lake Falls Public Library, Red Lake Falls

March 4, 2025 to Annual Exhibit TBD Ada Public Library, Ada

*The start and end dates at each location are approximate, depending on weather, venue hours and other circumstances that may occur to prohibit travel. For specific library hours, please contact each location before planning your visit, especially if you are planning on bringing a group.

**Tentatively scheduled

For more information about the Traveling Exhibit or our other exhibits call our office at (218)-745-8886 or contact Trey at treyeverettcreates@gmail.com or NWArtsCouncil@gmail.com.

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NWMAC Exhibit: Awareness: within and without featuring artists Cindy Kolling and Gail Ose
Art Exhibits, NCTC Gallery, Events Kristin Eggerling Art Exhibits, NCTC Gallery, Events Kristin Eggerling

NWMAC Exhibit: Awareness: within and without featuring artists Cindy Kolling and Gail Ose

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Announces

Awareness: within and without

May 30 – July 31

Featuring Artwork by Cindy Kolling and Gail Ose

Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Gallery

NCTC in Thief River Falls through July 2024

Artist Reception Wednesday, July 10 from 6 – 8 PM

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) is pleased to announce the opening of Awareness: within and without. This exhibit features 54 pieces of artwork by Gully Visual Artist Cindy Kolling and Thief River Falls Visual Artist Gail Ose and is open through July at the NWMAC Gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls.

Showcase Specialist Trey Everett shared, “Cindy Kolling is a master at capturing the life cycle of plants through her pen and ink and silkscreen artistry. Gail Ose's visionary and highly symbolic work is a fascinating process as well as mesmerizing to gaze into. This exhibit is a complementary combination of two distinct styles which give careful attention to the form and the formless, what is without and what is within."

Cindy Kolling’s work includes two sets of 12 silkscreen prints of the life cycle of native plants white sage and blazing star plus other work. These are different handprints of one plant in a continuing series originating from pen & ink drawings of Cindy’s that reference her field sketches, artist’s photos, and observation experiences.

No two handprints are alike and there are no more. These original prints may be released as high quality digital reproductions later, as determined by the artist ,but the original handprint is unique and unable to be done the same again. Cindy explained, “I want to make new art that invites viewers to expand their participation in life by developing and sharing appreciation and to consider our local world with fresh insight.”

Cindy continued, “I am not a medium purist and incorporate carefully researched information into the creation of my works, most of which are created in series. Much of what I do involves fine line technical pen drawing. My drawings almost always begin with some kind of in-field observations and sketches; and very often reference my photographs. The drawings are not meant to be technical or even very realistic renderings but do have interpretive accuracy to start with and evolve from there. Many of my drawings are taken further into hand printed pieces. I often work on carefully selected recycled fiber paper with quiet colors of hand-screened inks. My frames are repurposed “thrift store finds”, or custom-made by an area woodworker from reclaimed wood. I like mixing the old and new concepts to create something fresh. It is the result of experimenting with what one has; what one knows, and where one wants to go. The process is a work in progress.”

Gail Ose is a visionary artist and founder of Serendipity Art Hub based in Thief River Falls, where she lives on a farm with her husband, LeRoy, and their two Great Pyrenees dogs Carly and Thor. In her studio classroom and workshops, Gail offers painting classes taught from the perspective of Heart, Soul, and Spirit while nurturing authentic, creative expressions regardless of talent or experience. Gail weaves her passion for creativity and spiritual connection into her painting practice and throughout her life and leads others into uncharted areas of their creativity, both inward and outward, to live and create more authentically.

She explained, “I am honored to be paired with Cindy Kolling as one of the showcase artists in this exhibit and very grateful to the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council for supporting me and working with me in my endeavor to bring this dream of mine into the light as an emerging artist. It is my sincere hope that my paintings touch and inspire something inside visitors as they explore their unique images. Each of my portal paintings are sacred acts of allowing myself to be a vehicle for sharing an energetic message and each is infused with symbolic meaning designed to carry a specific energy of intention cohesive to its message. Each of my portal paintings are exercises in communing with spirit to bring forth the unseen realm and bridge it with the visible in the form of a painting. My portal paintings usually have a lot of symbology that usually invites the onlooker into wonderment and curiosity. They usually provoke introspection.”

Watch this video for a virtual tour of the exhibit at youtu.be/Rcys2dLpwlg

An artist reception at the gallery will be held at Northland Community and Technical College on Wednesday, July 10 from 6 – 8 PM. Everyone is welcome to join us for this free event. 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.

The NWMAC Gallery is located at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls. The gallery hours are Monday-Friday from 8 -5 PM and at other times when events are held at the college. Please check to make sure the college is open before making a special trip to see the exhibit. Summer hours can change. Enter through Door B, which is right next to the gallery. Visitor parking is free.

If you are an artist interested in exhibiting a body of work with NWMAC, please contact Trey Everett at (218) 745-8886 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.

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NW Art Exhibit Winners Announced and Presented
News, Annual Exhibit, Exhibits Kristin Eggerling News, Annual Exhibit, Exhibits Kristin Eggerling

NW Art Exhibit Winners Announced and Presented

Northwest Minnesota Art Exhibit Winners Announced

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is excited to announce the Northwest Minnesota Art Exhibit Winners. Student and adult artists residing in a seven-county region including Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Pennington, Roseau and Red Lake recently entered the Northwest Minnesota Art Exhibit and competed for $2,300 in cash awards. The winners were recognized at the Northwest Minnesota Artist Reception in Lake Bronson on April 21.

Exhibit cash award winners were chosen while the exhibit was on display at the Kittson County History Museum in Lake Bronson by qualified juror and Grand Forks Artist Pat Danielson.

Danielson has been an active, well known visual artist for decades and is a member of the River Forks Watercolor Society and of Arts for Vets. She has a B.S. in Education from the University of Missouri in Columbia. Of the exhibit, she said, “What a pleasure it was to see the rich display of art at NWMAC’s show at Lake Bronson! As this year’s juror, I viewed each piece several times. While technique is important, I looked for art that surprised with its original idea, showed clear intention, was well executed and presented, and especially that drew me back to learn more about it.

This exhibit showed a wide variety of media — paintings, ceramics, fiber arts, sculpture, photography, fused glass, mosaic, assemblages, digital art — in many sizes and many shapes! Some of the treasures offered were small works and made no less impact than large ones. Congratulations to all the artists who entered this exhibit. Art is a community where everyone can participate. I hope you will continue to show your work, learn from one another, and support each other. You all win — with or without prizes awarded.”

Walk through the exhibit at https://youtu.be/EeSvf3_tVVg.

Exhibit Awards include:

Adults:

1st $500 Andy Hall of Climax for photography “Backlit Milkweed”

2nd $300 Irene Bertils of Crookston for watercolor painting “Warm Summer Evening “

3rd $200 Aliza Novacek-Olson of Roseau for folk/traditional wool “Solitary Qoshmas”

Merit $100 Michael McColl of Lengby in drawing “You're Getting Very Sleepy”

Merit $100 Betsy Saurdiff of Grygla for folk/ traditional porcelain “Pitcher”

Merit $100 Elizabeth Kitchell-Rockstad of Ada in mixed media “No Constraints”

Merit $100 Sara Jo Trangsrud of Thief River Falls in sculpture “Bursting Out”

Merit $100 Gail Ose of Thief River Falls for fused glass “The Dreams We Hold Sacred”

People’s Choice $100 Debbie Aune of Gatzke

Students:

1st $300 Brigitta Novacek of Roseau in acrylic painting “Valorous”

2nd $150 Anita Foster of Thief River Falls for mixed media “Ruth”

3rd $100 Mary Jane Crane of Red Lake Falls for drawing “Beauty in Self-Image”

Merit $50 Kyleigh Halvorson of Fosston for drawing “Iris”

Merit $50 Kaytlyn Knutson of Red Lake Falls for digital art “Orion”

Merit $50 Mason Grivno of Felton for sculpture “German Wirehaired Pointer”

Merit $50 Mahli Holter of Red Lake Falls for mixed media “Almagations”

Merit $50 Izzy Swenson of Lancaster for painting “Purple Iris”

People’s Choice $50 Dana Brown of Lancaster

Fourteen 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. Watch for the schedule to be announced and for it to arrive in your community. Five exhibit pieces of student art were also chosen to be hung in the hallway of Senator Mark Johnson’s office in St. Paul. These students and their work include Lydia Christianson of Fertile “Omaha Jellyfish,” Kyleigh Halvorson of Fosston “Iris,” Carter Lee Johnsrud of Goodridge “A Broken Heart,” Dana Brown of Lancaster, (Kittson Central) “Jesse and Walt,” and Melody Voeltz, of Lancaster “Barred Owl.”

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Artist Spotlight with Jeanne O’Neil and Erin O’Neil on March 28
Artist Spotlight, Events, 2024 Kristin Eggerling Artist Spotlight, Events, 2024 Kristin Eggerling

Artist Spotlight with Jeanne O’Neil and Erin O’Neil on March 28

Watch our Artist Spotlight with Jeanne O’Neil and Erin O’Neil here. This was live on Thursday, March 28 at 10:30 AM on our Facebook and YouTube pages.

NWMAC Staff Trey Everett and Kristin Eggerling spoke with Artists Jeanne O'Neil and Erin O'Neil. They talked about their music and the current exhibit Fiddle Tunes, Fiber Folk & Prairie Prints Featuring Jeanne Griffin O’Neil and Erin Jeanne O’Neil at the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Gallery at NCTC in Thief River Falls through April 2024. They even played some tunes for the broadcast. Again, watch the recording here.

Jeanne O’Neil explained, “The focus of this show is the celebration of Erin's recently completed book, Twenty of Plenty, in which twenty of her original fiddle tunes are transcribed. We are both folk musicians and visual artists, and it is fitting to bring these forms of artistic expression together, as the tunes and art are both inspired by the rural landscapes we live in.”

The newest prints in this show come from a series of sketches made over the past summers on Jeanne’s land. “Walking the fields and pathways every day, year after year, the colors, contrasts, textures and lines of trees, grasses, sky, river are impressed in my mind, creating an accumulated knowledge of these places. The making of each print creates a deeper knowing and a stronger connection to that knowing.”

Jeanne’s daughter Erin O’Neil created the Twenty of Plenty tune book. This was an effort with a grant from the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council to get some of her tune compositions transcribed so that they could be introduced into wider circles of musicians. The descriptions and illustration throughout the book offer insight into the meaning of the compositions. The cultural influences for these tunes include French Canadian, Irish, Scandinavian, Scottish traditional fiddle music, New England Contra Dance music, Old Time Appalachian music, and Metis fiddle tunes.

Erin also has Rag Folk pieces in this exhibit. The Rag Folk represent preservation of what has been used in everyday life and creating new lives out of old scraps and rags. Erin started creating these pieces with a passion for recycling and reducing waste and a desire to connect with others.

Jeanne and Erin both play in the O’Neil Family Band. Erin plays the fiddle and feet, while Jeanne plays the banjo and concertina. The band holds many community dances in our region.

An artist reception at the gallery will be held at Northland Community and Technical College on Wednesday, April 24 at 6 PM. Everyone is welcome to join us for this free event. The O'Neil Family Band will be performing and 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.Please join us for the conversation! Let us know if you have questions!

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Artist Spotlight with Andy Hall Monday, January 22 at 10 AM
Artist Spotlight, Events, 2024 Kristin Eggerling Artist Spotlight, Events, 2024 Kristin Eggerling

Artist Spotlight with Andy Hall Monday, January 22 at 10 AM

Watch our Artist Spotlight with Andy Hall. This was live on Monday, January 22 at 10 AM on our Facebook and YouTube pages. You can watch the discussion at this link https://streamyard.com/pjh6xzyyt6mj

NWMAC staff Trey and Kristin spoke with Andy Hall for an Artist Spotlight to highlight the Pulled in Many Directions Photography by Andy Hall Exhibit. We talked about what influences him artistically, his photography, his subject matter, the exhibit, his technique, photography tips, how to purchase his art, and much more. Pulled in Many Directions Photography by Andy Hall is open until February 26. Let us know if you have questions!

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Artist Spotlight with Stephanie Olson Saturday, November 4
2023, Artist Spotlight, Events Kristin Eggerling 2023, Artist Spotlight, Events Kristin Eggerling

Artist Spotlight with Stephanie Olson Saturday, November 4

Watch our Artist Spotlight with Stephanie Olson here or on our Facebook or YouTube pages. This was live on Saturday, November 4 at 11 AM.

NWMAC staff Trey and Kristin spoke with Stephanie Olson for an Artist Spotlight to highlight the Figures of Ghosts and Dreams Exhibit. We spoke with Stephanie about her what influences her artistically, her art, the exhibit, her writing background, and much more. Figures of Ghosts and Dreams: The Artwork of Stephanie Olson is open until November 29. Let us know if you have questions!

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Traveling Art Exhibit is in Warren
Traveling Exhibit, Events, 2023 Kristin Eggerling Traveling Exhibit, Events, 2023 Kristin Eggerling

Traveling Art Exhibit is in Warren

Traveling Art Exhibit Visits Godel Public Library in Warren

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) sponsors an annual Traveling Art Exhibit, which visits northwest Minnesota communities throughout the year. This exhibit includes 15 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 Godel Public Library until November 28. Please stop by to see these works of art. Some of these pieces of art are for sale.

The 2023-2024 Artists and Artwork:

Ross Hier, Crookston, “Beach Ridge Bouquet” (Watercolor Painting)

Tim Anderson, Goodridge, “Let Your Light Shine” Wood Bowl (Folk/Traditional Fine Craft) Merit

Nancy Vraa, Red Lake Falls, “Country Classic” Hat and Mitten Set (Folk/Traditional Fine Craft) Merit

Lillian Ramsey, Thief River Falls, “Queen Mouse” (Acrylic Painting)

Kathy Panek, Goodridge, “Night Taxi” (Acrylic Painting on canvas board)

Jodi M Smith, East Grand Forks, “Swirls of Light “(Photography)

Dennis Lee, Red Lake Falls, “Old House” (Acrylic Painting) Merit

Madilyn Crompton, Borup, “Hang Time” (Digital Photo) Student Ada-Borup-West School

Makaela Longoria, Ada, “You Have My Heart“(Ceramic Sculpture) Student Ada-Borup-West

Emma Gunderson, Crookston, “Go on a Trip” (Acrylic Painting), Student Crookston School

Kaydence Skibicki, Fertile, Untitled (Silk Screen Print), Student Fertile-Beltrami School

Carter Lee Johnsrud, Goodridge, “Masking” (Mixed Media Graphite Pencil) Student Goodridge School (1st Place and People’s Choice)

Quinn Pittman, Greenbush, “Moe” (Pen Drawing), Student Greenbush-Middle River School Merit

Rhiana Utter, Greenbush, “Elsa” (Linoleum Print) Student Greenbush-Middle River School Merit

Maryjane Crane, Red Lake Falls, “Time” (Acrylic Painting), Student Red Lake Falls School

The 2022-2022 Traveling Exhibit Schedule*:

June to July 11 Thief River Falls Public Library, Thief River Falls

July 11 to August 29 Roseau Public Library, Roseau

August 29 to October 10 Hallock Public Library, Hallock

October 10 to November 28, Godel Public Library, Warren

November 28 to January 16 Fertile Public Library, Fertile

January 16 to February 27, 2024 Campbell Public Library, East Grand Forks

February 27 to March 26, 2024 Ada Public Library, Ada

March 26 to April TBD 2024** Red Lake Falls Public Library, Red Lake Falls

*The start and end dates at each location are approximate, depending on weather, venue hours and other circumstances that may occur to prohibit travel. For specific library hours, please contact each location before planning your visit, especially if you are planning on bringing a group.

**Tentatively scheduled

For more information about the Traveling Exhibit call our office at (218)-745-8886 or contact Trey at treyeverettcreates@gmail.com or NWArtsCouncil@gmail.com.

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