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.
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>
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.
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.
FREE Outdoor Immersive Theater Coming to Hallock June 27
Outdoor, Immersive Theater in Hallock June 27
FARM A new immersive outdoor theater experience from Sod House Theater
Celebrate the Return of Summer with Outdoor Theater in Rural Hallock
Far North Spirits — Rural Hallock
2045 220th Avenue, Hallock MN 56728
Saturday, June 27, 2026
Performance begins at 7:00 PM
Food Truck at 6:00 PM
“Each day I go into the fields to see what is growing and what remains to be done. It is always the same thing: nothing is growing, everything needs to be done.”
— The Farmer by W.D. Ehrhart
Sod House Theater, the Minneapolis-based company known for creating immersive, community-engaged performances in rural spaces, announces the summer tour of FARM, a moving theatrical meditation on small family farming in Minnesota, including rural Hallock.
Blending music, dance, storytelling, and large-scale visual imagery, FARM explores the labor, rituals, joys, and uncertainties of agricultural life. Featuring Twin Cities artists alongside local community performers, the production invites audiences to reflect on farming traditions, food accessibility, and Minnesotans’ relationship to the people who grow their food.
Through a series of vivid theatrical vignettes, audiences will encounter scenes of hard work in the fields, family meals, celebrations, storms, dance, and play — culminating in a music-filled “ghost grove” honoring the past, present, and future of farming in Minnesota.
Performed outdoors at working farms and community gathering spaces, FARM offers audiences an immersive journey through the landscapes and stories that shape rural Minnesota.
Ticket information and reservations are available at Sod House Theater Tickets & Information
Audience
Audience members will be guided to four different locations throughout each site during the performance. The experience includes walking and standing, so guests are encouraged to bring:
A lawn chair or blanket
Comfortable walking shoes
An umbrella or weather protection for sun or rain
Parking will be available. In the event of severe weather, performances may be canceled. Cancellation notices will be posted on the Sod House Theater website and emailed to ticket holders. Rain locations may be used.
About Sod House Theater
Founded in 2011 by co-artistic directors Darcey Engen and Luverne Seifert, Sod House Theater is now in its 16th season of collaborating with Minnesota communities to create imaginative, site-specific performance events.
The company has produced acclaimed reimaginings of classics including The Cherry Orchard, The Visit, Peer Gynt, and Urinetown, alongside original productions such as Hoopla Train with Yard Master Yip and His Polkastra and Arla Mae’s Booyah Wagon.
Sod House Theater selects touring works for their relevance to small-town communities and stages them in nontraditional venues that connect deeply to local history and culture.
For more information, visit Sod House Theater Official Website
Created by Darcey Engen and Luverne Seifert
Choreography by Berit Ahlgren
Original Music by Jenna Wyse and Christopher Hepola
Media Contacts: Darcey Engen, 612-281-8998, darcey@sodhousetheater.org
Luverne Seifert, 612-414-2032, luverne@sodhousetheater.org
Danish Folk Music, Songs and Stories May 15 East Grand Forks
East Grand Forks Campbell Library and North Country Fiddle and Dance present:
A Concert of Danish Folk Music, Songs and Stories on
Friday, May 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM
KRISTIAN BUGGE, of Copenhagen, Denmark, (fiddle, vocals) and WB REID, of Seattle, ( guitar ) will take you on an entertaining journey through the traditions of Danish folk music with songs and stories in Danish and English, wild polkas, fiery reels, jigs and lyrical waltzes from every corner of Denmark.
Campbell Library at 422 4th St. NW in East Grand Forks
Artist Reception March 19 in Crookston with Sarah Pester
Please join us for an Artist Reception for
Stardust & Soul: ”It’s in everything”
an exhibit featuring paintings by Sarah Pester
Thursday, March 19 from 6:30 to 8:00 PM
at the
Historic Fournet Building, 101 N Broadway, 2nd Floor in the Atrium
Downtown Crookston
Live Music by Anthony Diaz, Refreshments, Free Event
Exhibit is Open Through Mid-April
Please join us for an artist reception for Stardust & Soul: “it’s in everything,” an exhibit featuring paintings by Sarah Pester at the Historic Fournet Building downtown Crookston. This exhibit includes 41 original pieces of art in oil, watercolor, and mixed media, many of which are for sale. The reception is open to everyone and the public is encouraged to attend. Refreshments will be served.
There will be live music by Crookston musician Anthony Diaz. Diaz blends jazz, blues, and bluegrass influences into expressive and approachable instrumental guitar music. With over 30 years of playing, he’s less interested in flash and more interested in feel — creating a relaxed atmosphere that invites people to settle in and enjoy the moment. He’ll be playing instrumental jazz and blues as background music to complement the space and the artist being featured.
Sarah shared, “I really love how this collection captures the thread running through everything. Earth, space, and us -- all of it being more connected than we usually realize. I hope these pieces remind people that we aren't just out here on our own but a part of the whole and connected to everything.”
Sarah Faith Pester is an artist and yoga teacher from Crookston. Her work is an expression of her inner world and her connection to something beyond the physical. When she paints, she's exploring the unseen energies and emotions that guide us. Sarah mainly uses oil, acrylic, and watercolor paints to create vibrant pieces, and she also finds joy in crafting crystal-beaded bracelets.
As a yoga teacher and energy practitioner, Sarah's artistic and healing practices are deeply connected. The sense of flow and connection she finds in her work is a direct reflection of the healing and spiritual exploration she shares with others through her business Burnham Creek Healing. Through her paintings, bracelets, yoga, and healing practices she shares a piece of her spiritual journey, inviting others to explore their own inner worlds and find their own sense of peace and connection.
Parking and admission is free. Take the stairs or elevator to the second floor where the gallery is located in the atrium. Exhibit is 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/tzfxVHhhgDM or find it on our website under the exhibits tab at the top of the homepage.
For more information about this exhibit 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 Stardust & Soul Exhibit at the Fournet March 19
Please join us for an Artist Reception for
Stardust & Soul: ”It’s in everything”
an exhibit featuring paintings by Sarah Pester
Thursday, March 19 from 6:30 to 8:00 PM
at the
Historic Fournet Building, 101 N Broadway, 2nd Floor in the Atrium
Downtown Crookston
Exhibit is Open Through Mid-April
Please join us for an artist reception for Stardust & Soul: “it’s in everything,”an exhibit featuring paintings by Sarah Pester at the Historic Fournet Building downtown Crookston. This exhibit includes 41 original pieces of art in oil, watercolor, and mixed media, many of which are for sale. The reception is open to everyone and the public is encouraged to attend. Refreshments will be served.
There will be live music by Crookston musician Anthony Diaz. Diaz blends jazz, blues, and bluegrass influences into expressive and approachable instrumental guitar music. With over 30 years of playing, he’s less interested in flash and more interested in feel — creating a relaxed atmosphere that invites people to settle in and enjoy the moment. He’ll be playing instrumental jazz and blues as background music to complement the space and the artist being featured.
Sarah shared, “I really love how this collection captures the thread running through everything. Earth, space, and us -- all of it being more connected than we usually realize. I hope these pieces remind people that we aren't just out here on our own but a part of the whole and connected to everything.”
Sarah Faith Pester is an artist and yoga teacher from Crookston. Her work is an expression of her inner world and her connection to something beyond the physical. When she paints, she's exploring the unseen energies and emotions that guide us. Sarah mainly uses oil, acrylic, and watercolor paints to create vibrant pieces, and she also finds joy in crafting crystal-beaded bracelets.
As a yoga teacher and energy practitioner, Sarah's artistic and healing practices are deeply connected. The sense of flow and connection she finds in her work is a direct reflection of the healing and spiritual exploration she shares with others through her business Burnham Creek Healing. Through her paintings, bracelets, yoga, and healing practices she shares a piece of her spiritual journey, inviting others to explore their own inner worlds and find their own sense of peace and connection.
Parking and admission is free. Take the stairs or elevator to the second floor where the gallery is located in the atrium. Exhibit is 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/tzfxVHhhgDM or find it on our website under the exhibits tab at the top of the homepage.
For more information about this exhibit 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.
Nov 6 Artist Reception for Artists of NW Minnesota Exhibit
Artist Reception for Artists of Northwest Minnesota Art Exhibit
Thursday, Nov 6 from 6 to 8:30 PM
NWMAC Gallery
Northland Community and Technical College
1101 State Highway 1, Thief River Falls
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 an Artist Reception for the exhibit Artists of Northwest Minnesota will be held on Thursday, November 6 from 6 to 8:30 PMat our gallery at Northland Community and Technical College, 1101 Highway 1 East in Thief River Falls. 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 that evening.
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.
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.
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 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.
Sketches of Minnesota Civic Improv Comedy Tour at Firefly Center for Art & Wellbeing Oct 18
Join the Minnesota Humanities Center, Danger Boat Productions, and Firefly Center for Art & Wellbeing for the Sketches of Minnesota civic improv comedy tour on October 18. These free events use laughter and comedy to celebrate Minnesota communities, promote dialogue, bridge divides, and help find ways to work constructively across differences in today’s political environment. Beginning with a catered meal, these gatherings invite audience members to share what makes their town great, what they think people get wrong about it, what local divisions concern them, and what future they imagine. An improv comedy troupe listens in on the conversations, takes everything they heard from residents, and brings it to life on stage through entirely unscripted improv comedy theater.
5:00–6:00 PM: Doors open / Community hour
6:00–7:15 PM: Dinner
7:15–8:00 PM: Performances
8:00–8:30 PM: Talkback
The work of the Minnesota Humanities Center is to create a stronger Minnesota by increasing our understanding of the beauty, wisdom, and stories of its people. Through partnerships, we facilitate the spaces, like Sketches of Minnesota, that seek to build connections and deepen understanding of ourselves and our communities in pursuit of a more just society.
THIS EVENT IS FREE, BUT REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
Firefly Center for Art & Wellbeing, 102 S Kaiser Ave, Fosston, MN 56542
Community Folk Dance with Corner Booth String Band Oct 11
North Country Fiddle and Dance presents a Community Folk Dance with
Corner Booth String Band
Saturday, October 11 from 3 to 5:30 PM
Bernies Restaurant, 121 DeMers, East Grand Forks
Corner Booth String Band, from Fergus Falls, will provide rousing dance tunes on banjo, guitar, bass, and harmonica for reels, simple squares, circle mixers and more.
All dances are taught and easy to learn, all ages are welcome! Everyone is welcome!
Donations at the door.
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.
North Country Fiddle & Dance September Events
North Country Fiddle and Dance September Events
Nordic Fiddle with Vidar Skrede
September 8th, 5:30 PM at the EGF Campbell Library
Vidar Skrede is a performer and composer of Nordic folk music. Originally from western Norway, and currently living in Milwaukee, WI, he is a multi-instrumentalist performing fiddle, Hardanger fiddle, guitar, and mandolin.
Vidar is a leading musician on the Nordic folk music scene and is well known for his own tune creations across the scene.
Community Dance with Eric Lind and Teresa Neby-Lind
Saturday, September 13th, 3 to 5:30 PM at
Bernies Restaurant, 121 DeMers, EGF
Fiddle and banjo duo Eric Lind and Teresa Neby-Lind from the Twin cities, will provide rousing dance tunes for reels, simple squares, circle mixers and more.
All dances are taught and easy to learn, all ages are welcome! Join us!
Donations at the door for both events.
2025 Association of the French of the North’s (AFRAN’s) Chautauqua & Arts Festival at Old Crossing Treaty Park Aug 23 and 24
Association of the French of the North’s (AFRAN’s) Chautauqua & Arts Festival at Old Crossing Treaty Park. This arts event is free and everyone is welcome. Featuring live music, dancing, and more! Huot, MN
East Grand Forks Heritage Days with Live Music and Dancing Aug 8-10
East Grand Forks 2025 Heritage Days with
Live Music and Dancing
August 8, 9, 10
Heritage Village 219 20th Street NE, East Grand Forks
Bandstand Show
Open gate for all events
Friday, August 8 – Bandstand
Classic Swing Band - 6 - 8 PM dance / concert, hotdogs available at concessions, antique car show on grounds.
Saturday, August 9 : Bandstand, Heritage Village Grounds
1 - 2 PM – Peggy and Dean Ellingson, ( Bemidji ) - Light-hearted songs from the 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s - Guitar and Mandolin
2 - 3 PM - Skally Line,- Original songs and stories about Minnesota history and traditional tunes.
3 - 4 PM- O'Neil Family Band - traditional and original songs, tunes, and dancing
Sunday, August 10: Bandstand, Heritage Village Grounds
12 -1 PM – Chuck Gust – accordion
1 - 2 PM – Skally Line - Original songs and stories about Minnesota history and traditional tunes.
2 - 3 PM - Fargo Spelemanslag- Hardanger Fiddle ensemble
3 - 4 PM – O'Neil Family Band - traditional and original songs, tunes, dancing, and dance participation
Stop by the Carnegie Library During the Art & Wine Walk July 10
Heritage Through Image
a photography exhibit
and
Works by Hallock Metal Artist and Painter
Dennis Kinkead
Carnegie Library, 102 Main Ave N, Thief River Falls
Stop by During the Art & Wine Walk on
July 10 from 4 - 8:00 PM
This NWMAC exhibit will be a stop on the Art & Wine Walk in Thief River Falls on July 10. Heritage Through Image, an exhibit open through July. The exhibit includes 22 images (2 images of each subject), along with a 5 x 7 framed narrative for each person that depict traditional practices, customs, and folklore that serves as a visual representation of regional heritage.
For more information about the Art & Wine Walk or to purchase tickets visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/trf-zehlians-art-wine-walk-2025-tickets-1259732075549?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
Photographer Monika Lawrence, formerly of Bemidji now living in Germany, was commissioned to capture the images that reflect traditional practices, customs, and folklore to serve as a visual representation of the heritage of East Polk County. Come and see images and information featuring folk arts such as Hardanger embroidery, Scandinavian desserts and pastries, rosemaling, historical storytelling including stories from Indigenous communities, woodworking, experimental archaeology and textiles, blacksmithing, tractor and vintage car restorations, and more. There’s something for everyone!
Lawrence interviewed and photographed the subjects who are featured in this exhibit. They include Stephenie Anderson, John Balstad, Dustin Carlson, Caleb Curfman, Amy Mulry, Al and Vicky Olson, Jeffrey Olson, Earl Steinbrenner, Lynn Sundrud, Rosayn Watnemo, and Carol Wold.
Hallock Artist Dennis Kinkead will be joining this exhibit with his work on July 10. He is a 2-D and 3-D artist who specializes in sculpture and iron works. He will also be present during the event from 4 to 8 PM that evening.
From boilermaker to grain farmer to customs officer at the US border, Dennis Kinkead’s interests and abilities know no bounds. A native of Aitken, Minnesota, he has always had a passion for learning and new experiences. Inspired and taught by his father-in-law in the late 1990s, Dennis started learning the craft of metalworking. His first large project was a coffee table that he handcrafted entirely on his own, including all the jigs and fixtures. After taking home first prize at the county fair, Dennis knew he had found a new art form to be passionate about. His work progressed over the years, including metal roses, the front railing on his family home, a hall table with matching mirror, and other pieces of household furniture. He soon shifted gears into a more natural and mythical theme including birds, skull heads and dragons. Recently, Dennis signed up for an online art class where he has been honing his drawing and painting skills. Today, his art is distinctly influenced by Asian culture as evidenced by the images of koi fish, blossoming trees, and Chinese and Japanese characters. When asked what inspires his love of Asian imagery, he simply replied, “I just like it.”
Many pieces of Kinkead’s art will be for sale.
The Carnegie Library in Thief River Falls is at 102 Main Ave N. The gallery is open Mondays & Fridays from 10 AM - 2 PM and Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays from 8-11 AM. It will be open when the Chamber of Commerce office is open. You can contact the Chamber of Commerce to see about other possible open hours at trfchamber.com, 218-681-3720, or info@trfchamber.com.
Middle Sister Made: The Inklings of Jill S Levene Exhibit Artist Reception will be July 31 from 7 to 8:30 PM at Historic Fournet Building Downtown Crookston
Middle Sister Made: The Inklings of Jill S Levene
Red River Valley Artist and Printmaker
Artist Reception July 31 from 7 to 8:30 PM
Open Through August at the
Historic Fournet Building
101 N Broadway Downtown Crookston
2nd Floor in the Atrium
An artist reception will be held in honor of Middle Sister Made: The Inklings of Jill S Levene, an exhibit open through August at the Fournet Building, 101 N Broadway in Downtown Crookston. This exhibit includes 29 pieces of art in printmaking, pen and ink, fabric art, and mixed media created by Red River Valley Printmaker and Artist Jill Levene of Tabor. This is the first exhibit that the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council has created in this space.
The reception will be Thursday, July 31 from 7 to 8:30 PM. There will be refreshments and live music. Some of the art is for sale. Everyone is welcome to attend this free event.
NWMAC Showcase Specialist Trey Everett shared, “I first encountered Jill’s artwork at the Tettegouche State Park as our family was on vacation along the North Shore. I was immediately taken by her pen and ink skills. Jill is a versatile and accomplished artist flowing with creativity and inspiration. Her new exhibit at the Fournet Building in Crookston will pull you into another world of wonder and hope.”
Artist Jill Levene explained, “Gainfully retired from commercial graphic design, I now enjoy the freedom to integrate my world travels with natural history and the environment to create my “Inklings”— pen and ink renderings of people, non-human animals, and natural settings. In 2011, I was introduced to New England’s remarkable Folly Cove Fabric Designers of the mid-20th Century. This discovery inspired me in a new direction—block carving and printing on fabric using originally-designed, hand-carved linoleum blocks based on my Inklings. Added to this is my interest in repurposing various types of fiber-based food packaging, such as tea and gum wrappers, by incorporating fragments of these colorful containers onto the Inklings foundation. The combination of Inklings, block printing on fabric, and kitchen-based art led me to my current focus on functional art — hand-printed usable cloth pieces including dishtowels, bandanas, infant swaddles, aprons, and garden flags — anything fabric — with the goal of creating art that is both functional and perpetual, as well as beautiful and one-of-a-kind for the culinarian and collector alike: ‘Hand-printed. One at a time, every time.’”
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/XB96nngkHhUor find it on our website under the exhibits tab at the top of the homepage.
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.
Welcome the Whimsical Exhibit Artist Reception is June 26 from 6 to 8 PM
Welcome the Whimsical
An Exhibit Featuring Your Imagination
Artist Reception June 26 from 6 to 8 PM
NWMAC Gallery
Northland Community and Technical College
1101 State Highway 1, Thief River Falls
Welcome the Whimsical, a fun exhibit open May 21 – August 15 at the NWMAC Gallery at NCTC in Thief River Falls is having an artist reception on June26 from 6 to 8 PM. This exhibit includes 103 pieces of art created by 70 artists in acrylic, oil, watercolor, pen and ink, fiber art, printmaking, colored pencil, photography, ceramics, written material, marker, and mixed media. Some of the art is for sale.
Twenty-six adult and 44 student artists from throughout the region -- Lake Bronson, Thief River Falls, Hallock, East Grand Forks, Badger, Williams, Karlstad, Roseau, Crookston, Gatzke, Warroad, Lancaster, Gully, Red Lake Falls, Ada, Fertile, and Warren, contributed to this showcase with 55 adult pieces and 48 student pieces of art.
Welcome the Whimsical features other worldly experiences. Think playful, unusual, odd, quaint, imagination, or fanciful art.
Take a virtual walk through of the exhibit here.
Karlstad Artist Alicia Spilde shared, “I hope you enjoy my sense of humor. Sometimes I feel like my art style doesn’t belong in an exhibit. I am an untrained artist who often makes pieces that may look a bit messy and not done in the best techniques. Lately, I’ve been leaning into the folky-ness of my style, inspired by folk artists of the past. We all have a message to share through our artwork, whether it is fine art or not.”
Artist Debbie Aune said, “I am a collector of weird and wonderful stuff and have been since I was a kid. About 15 years ago I was going through an exhausting stage in life trying to juggle work, family, and my own aspirations. During one of my daily walks, I found this mask shape, hairy piece of truck thread and envisioned dolls. It transformed into a ‘Tired Doll.’ It was coincidental that the medium matched my disposition at the time.”
Finally, Aliza Novacek-Olson explained, “Traditional techniques and functional purpose are the foundation of my work with textiles. Every once in a while, a different side of me shows itself in my art. The result is a piece that turns out mythical, a bit ugly, and sometimes . . . strangely cute. The theme of this exhibition is a perfect opportunity for my curious little wooly creatures to show themselves and see if they can make you smile.”
You won't want to miss this interesting exhibit open through August 15 at the NWMAC Gallery at NCTC in Thief River Falls. There will be an Artist Reception on June 26 from 6 to 8 PM at the gallery. This event is free and open to all and held in conjunction with a community play Seussical Kids being held in the college theater at 7 PM that evening. Light snacks will be served.
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.