Arts News
Cohort of Artists Added to NWMAC’s Teaching Artist Roster
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is Excited to Announce 14 New Artists Available for Residencies
Fourteen area artists recently completed the Northwest Minnesota Art Council’s teaching artist training and are available for school and community residencies. Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is proud to now promote a roster of 23 local artists trained in our Teaching Artist Roster Program (TARP).
This new cohort of artists include visual artists Alyssa Aune of Gatzke, Beau Bakken of Hallock, Trey Everett of Crookston, Amy Fuglestad of Crookston, Samantha Harrill of Warroad, Jill Levene of Warren, Caylie Nicholson of Hallock, Gail Ose of Thief River Falls, Jodi Peterson of Moorhead who teaches in Ada, Jessica Ross of Fisher, Mandy Smestad of East Grand Forks, and Acacia Winters of Thief River Falls; and performing artists Eden Johnson of Lake Bronson and Megan Maloney of Thief River Falls.
They join Kristin Eggerling of Hallock, Christine Foster of Thief River Falls, Janet Johnson of Roseau, Jolene Juhl of Greenbush, Cindy Kolling of Gully, Misti Koop of East Grand Forks, Aliza Novacek-Olson of Roseau, Stephanie Olson of Thief River Falls, and Elizabeth Rockstad of Ada.
Residences and multi-day workshops offered are in ceramics, storytelling, writing, visual arts, violin, self-portraits, watercolor or acrylic painting, mural painting, creative expression, glass fusing, encaustic art, mixed media, collaborative design and technical theater, performing arts, textiles, mosaic, printmaking, and more.
To view the roster and learn more about the artists (including how to contact them) visit our website at:
https://northwestminnesotaartscouncil.org/tarp-artists. Or click on Artists at the top of our website and then click on Teaching Artists List.
The Teaching Artist Roster Program (TARP) is designed to support artists (visual, performing, writing, media, fine art) in refining and developing skills for conducting collaborative, in-depth arts learning experiences in organizations, community settings, and schools. Artists applied and a cohort was selected to participate in this training. Artists interested in being added to the roster can apply this Fall to be in the next group going through the mainly online training of seven sessions.
These artists learned valuable skills and tools to best teach their creative practice. The training helped them to expand the ways they apply their craft, belong to a network of fellow teaching artists who serve as resources, mentors and peers, and employ strategies that contribute to success as a teaching artist.
Schools and festivals can apply for funding to sponsor these local artists to come into their school for residencies or to their festival for a workshop experience over a couple days. Artists on the roster have created a residency plan with lesson plans, materials list, and other documents that take most of the work out of applying.
Schools can apply for an Artist Residency grant of $3,000 as early as this fall through our on-line grant system. The Login to create a user and start an application is in the upper right corner of our website.To apply, schools fill out an application showing interest in funding, then requests are made with add-on forms within the on-line grant software for specific project funding requests. Each residency requires a minimum 10% cash match. Funding for residency activities comes from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in Minnesota. School residencies are first come, first served grants to school districts in our seven-county area. You will need to contact the artist directly to schedule the residency.
Festivals within our seven county service area can apply for our July 31, October 31, February 28 or April 30 deadlines to include artists in what they are offering the public with grant funding in the arts. There is a minimum 10% cash match.
Please contact Northwest Minnesota Arts Council in Warren with any questions about this TARP program, to receive a flyer in the mail with the artists available, or to receive grant funding to bring one of these teaching artists into your school or festival. The NWMAC phone number is 218-745-8886 ext 1 and email is director@nwartscouncil.org.
Artists of NW Minnesota Exhibit is Open
Artists of Northwest Minnesota Art Exhibit
NWMAC Gallery
Northland Community and Technical College
1101 State Highway 1, Thief River Falls
Open Until Mid-December
Artist Reception will be held Thursday, November 6 from 6 to 8:30 PM
Experience a showcase of works created by talented individuals from throughout our region, including visual and written works
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) is pleased to announce our latest exhibit – Artists of Northwest Minnesota at our gallery at Northland Community and Technical College, 1101 Highway 1 East in Thief River Falls. This exhibit includes work by 19 artists from our region who have a listing in our Artists of NW Minnesota booklet. The exhibit will run from now until mid-December. There are approximately 106 pieces of artwork in this exhibit, many of which are for sale, including charcoal, photography, watercolor, acrylic and oil painting, pen and ink, pastel, collage, mixed media, pottery, glass work, jewelry, sculpture, books and written material, and mosaics.
Artists featured in the exhibit include Kat Allen of Warroad, Beau Bakken of Hallock, Rock Bakken of Hallock, Debbie Dahl Aune of Gatzke, Paulette Christianson of Badger, Ross Harper Hier of Crookston, Kristin Eggerling of Hallock, Trey Everett of Crookston, Christine Foster of Thief River Falls, Therese Jacobson of Alvarado, Jesscia Lundeen of Thief River Falls, Cindy Kolling of Gully, Elizabeth Kitchell-Rockstad of Ada, Gail Ose of Thief River Falls, Jodi Peterson of Ada and Moorhead, Ivy Bailie of Fosston, Megan Sugden of Hallock, Betsy Saurdiff of Goodridge, and Samantha Thibert of Warroad.
Gully Artist Cindy Kolling shared, “This exhibit is an energy-filled composite of sample works from many Northwest Minnesota artists. It is a wonderful celebration of the varied and growing art that continues to develop in this area. It’s worth making a point to see this exhilarating exhibit!”
Photographer Megan Sugden of Hallock said, “I'm honored to have my acrylic photograph "Abandoned Divco Milk Truck" included in this exhibit. Through my lens, I aim to capture the quiet magic of the night sky, inspiring viewers to see the world from a new perspective and showcase how light and darkness can exist together to create a truly unique work of art.”
Alvarado Artist Therese Jacobson explained that her piece “Uncle Marty” is a portrait of her brother and that it, “illustrates his character as a radio host and musician on "the Left Coast," and also his compassionate heart toward others.” She went on to say that this exhibit, “is an opportunity for folks to see full-sized creative pieces by artists of Northwest Minnesota, to get a better sense of the depth of their works.”
Jessica Ross of Thief River Falls stated, “This exhibit features a wonderful collection of works from local artists. The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council does an incredible job of showcasing the artwork that we create. This exhibit reflects the minds behind the music, visual, and written art in our area. I encourage everyone to come see not only this exhibit but future exhibits as well. Many of the artists have beautiful work for sale. Supporting local artists enriches our communities which is what we aim to do with our art. I cannot thank this community enough for supporting me as an artist and enabling me to keep painting the beauty I see on my adventures in this life.”
Finally, Artist Kat Allen who designed the booklet and is participating in this showcase described the exhibit as "An illustrious and instinct-driven showcase of regional artists. The diverse collection includes familiar styles of exceptional skill and craft, as well as unique works created in response to the current political landscape and the effects on all of us."
Take a virtual walk through of this exhibit at https://youtu.be/cDKoo0en7lY (on the NWMAC YouTube page). The video is also available on our website under the exhibits tab on the top of the homepage.
An Artist Reception will be held at the gallery on Thursday, November 6 from 6 to 8:30 PM. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend this FREE event. Refreshments will be served. The Northland Community Band will perform at the college at 7 PM.
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 – 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. Hours can change. Enter through Door B, which is right next to the gallery. Visitor parking is free.
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.
Exhibits in 2016
Exhibits at the NWMAC Gallery at the River Walk Gallery in 2016 included: Irene Bertils, Crookston - Drawings (January – February 2016), Ron Woolever, Roseau – Photography (March – April 2016 ), Karlee Westrem, East Grand Forks – Acrylic Paintings (May 2016), Joe Wavra, Red Lake Falls – Carvings and Chainsaw Sculptures (June 2016), Beau Bakken, Hallock – Paintings (July 2016), Jodi Peterson, Norman County - Glassworks (August 2016), Jean Honl, Roseau Rosemaling (September 2016), Thief River Falls Area Community Theater Costumes and Posters (October 2016), Creative Artworks of Crookston (November – December 2016), and Dale Mackowick, Fertile. Oil Painting (December 2016).