Artist of the Year Loreen Hanson is featured on this week’s podcast. Loreen received the award from the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council for Visual Arts. This award was presented on Sunday, April 27 at the University of Minnesota in Crookston. She spoke with Phil about her art and more.

With over 76 years of experience, Loreen has worked in numerous mediums, but she prefers to paint with watercolors. She likes the softness of watercolor. Her artwork ranges from images of wildlife, flora, and fauna, still life arrangements, portraits, and paintings of people doing everyday activities -- all of which celebrate life. She has skillfully captured the beauty of the world around her and has demonstrated her exceptional talent and dedication to the arts through her contributions to the art community.

Throughout the years, Hanson has participated in more than 30 art exhibits. She has been an active member of Artists Unlimited for over 40 years. She spoke about the trips they took together and the painting they did on the trips. Although she has not had any formal training, she has always been eager to learn and has sought to improve her work by attending several workshops, skill exchanges with other painters, and pored over books by professional artists. Her dedication to learning and honing her craft has shown through her works of art. Last fall Loreen had an impressive one-woman art show featuring 186 watercolor paintings in Thief River Falls!

Along with her artistic talents, Loreen also remains passionate about promoting the arts and has encouraged young and old alike to participate in it. Hanson gave this advice for aspiring artists, “If you can draw, you can paint. Choose your favorite medium and go for it.”

On the impact of the arts on society, Hanson shared “Art enriches our lives. Not just the artist’s life, but everyone’s. People appreciate art.” 

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. Funding for the Northwest Artist of the Year 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.

Listen to the conversation to learn more!

This week Rena Zapata Bouchard spoke with Phil. Rena will be receiving the Arts Advocate of the Year Award on Sunday, April 27 in Crookston at our Awards Reception and Program.

Rena spoke about how she got involved in Studio 110, what they offer, and being a make-up artist and a photographer. She coordinates all the activities there now.

A certified freelance makeup artist and portrait photographer, Rena is passionate about empowering others and using the arts as a tool for social change. In 2019, she spearheaded the creation of Studio 110, a permanent space dedicated to digital storytelling for youth and adults in Crookston and the surrounding area and has continued in an active leadership role with the organization.

A satellite site since 1996 for Minneapolis organization In Progress, Studio 110 first offered summer programs called Fresh Voices in Crookston. In high school, Rena participated in one of their sessions. Later in 2018, she enrolled her kids, and she joined them to chaperone and never left. There she learned portraiture and has continued to hone her craft.

Studio 110 has become a space for media arts creativity with themes related to breaking stereotypes and acceptance. It is open to everyone. Media arts is art made looking through a lens like photography and video. Rena helps students who identify as persons of color find a welcoming home base at Studio 110. She coordinates media arts workshops, bringing in talented professional artists from across the nation to teach and empower those who come to the downtown Crookston location. She also podcasts and utilizes her makeup artistry in creative projects with the students and offers free family portraits during themed holiday events at Studio 110.

This award will be presented on Sunday, April 27 in Crookston at the University of Minnesota. Everyone is welcome to attend. 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. Our Arts Advocate of the Year award is $500 and includes arts from all disciplines. Funding for this award comes from the Minnesota State Legislature.

Our featured guest this week was Glen Henry, the juror of our NW Art Exhibit in Crookston this year. The exhibit features 128 pieces of art by student and adult artists residing in a seven-county region including Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Pennington, Roseau and Red Lake. The winners will be recognized at the Northwest Minnesota Artist Reception in Crookston on April 27.

Glen Henry is a versatile and accomplished Indigenous artist whose creative journey spans a variety of mediums, including drawing, painting, and graphic design. He is the Director of Exhibitions at Minnesota State University Moorhead.

He received his BA and MFA from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. Throughout his career, Glen has built a distinctive artistic voice, blending traditional techniques with modern digital approaches. His artwork often explores themes of identity, culture, and the complex intersections of the past and present, while using bold, expressive color palettes and innovative design methods. As an Indigenous artist, he incorporates aspects of his culture into his work, allowing for a unique narrative that resonates with both personal and universal experiences.

Glen spoke about what he looks for when he jurors an exhibition, including subject matter, potential, original thought, style, creativity, and skill level. He noticed that this exhibit included a lot of plein air imagery, landscapes, the outdoors, forestry, and animal life. which makes sense given our location. He reads the inspiration for or interpretation of the piece as he judges.

When asked what advice he would give to artists who are considering submitting their work for exhibits, he said “Be confident that you will be finished in time. Be courageous and have perseverance. It takes courage to show your work.”

Currently, MSUM has a BFA exhibition up at the Diederich Art Gallery. Glen spoke about the art program at the school and upcoming exhibits.

The NW Art Exhibit is open until Sunday, April 27.

Crookston Artists Trey Everett and Ross Hier spoke about their background and road to becoming artists. Last summer they painted a mural together in East Grand Forks that featured over 30 species of fish. Trey has also painted a number of murals elsewhere, including some at the Golden Link Senior Center. There’s one in Crookston on the Ace Hardware exterior wall that Ross helped him with. They will be painting a mural in Fosston together this summer.

Trey also spoke about being the Showcase Specialist for the Arts Council and NWMAC exhibits, including the NW Art Exhibit in Crookston at the University of Minnesota and Welcome the Whimsical (there is a call for art right now for 3rd grade on up through adult).