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4.29.26 Rebecca Rosenkrans
Roseau Jewelry Artist and Winner of the NW Star Award Becky Rosenkrans talked about receiving the award, creating jewelry, her creative process, her shop, and more!
She received the award on Saturday, April 25 at Warroad RiverPlace in Warroad during the NW Art Exhibit Awards Reception and Program for her jewelry artistry.
Rebecca (or Becky) has been creating one-of-a-kind jewelry for over 30 years since 1994. . Becky handcrafts new pieces of jewelry or recreates old into new with Greek and Italian leather, beads, crafted chain maille, glass, stone, silver, crystal, and vintage goods.
Becky is the owner of Bead Gypsy, a shop in Roseau where handmade goods and original art from over 20 artists are sold. Located in a 1905 former bank building, the store is a haven for artists and arts lovers who live and visit the region. She readily shares her knowledge, creativity, and talents and is a tireless advocate for fellow artists.
Rosenkrans grew up in a creative family , including her mother Frances Karlsson who was a well-known painter from the region. For over 14 years she worked with the court system as a Guardian ad Litem, which was an intense and sad job. She had always loved jewelry and found that creating it helped her relieve stress and worry from that position.
Becky especially enjoys creating the design and repurposing items. She’s made earrings from old, galvanized steel she collected from the old, torn down Roseau grain elevator and vintage cookie tins. She reshapes old silverware to magically transform into beautiful pendants and bracelets. Another example of this is when her husband discovered her mom’s copper boiler buried behind the garage. Becky and her siblings bathed in this boiler as toddlers and later used it to soak their clothes before washing as they grew up. After digging up and cleaning the vessel, Becky flattened it out and created hundreds of pieces of jewelry from it. One of the pieces was on display at Warroad RiverPlace. She admitted, “it was the most fun and creative things that I could do.”
Becky shared advice for aspiring artists. “Just start and let the creativity just flow. Find a mentor. Come and ask me and I’ll help you. Don’t be disappointed if it doesn’t work out. It makes you happy to create something with your own hands.”
The NW Star Award comes with $5,000. Artists can only receive it once as a lifetime achievement award. Funding for the Northwest Star 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.
Congratulations, Becky! Listen to hear their entire conversation.
4.22.26 Samantha Harrill
NW Artist of the Year Samantha Harrill spoke about her introduction to clay and pottery and how she continued and continues the practice. Originally from Red Lake Falls, Samantha is now a gifted ceramic artist who lives in Warroad. She studied Design and Art at Bemidji State University. She creates a variety of functional and decorative pottery pieces.
She shared, “A surprising fact about me is that I’m a bit of a metalhead. After 20-some years, it’s just part of my process — when I sit down at the wheel, that’s what I listen to. There’s a rhythm to both pottery and metal — it can feel intense and even a little chaotic, but also really grounding and almost hypnotic once you get into it.”
Samantha has a downtown studio in Warroad where she creates her pottery. She sells at occasional pop-ups, a local store, vendor shows, and on her website. You can find her at her FB page Northern Spruce Studio or her website www.northernsprucestudio.com.
Samantha is also the Executive Director of Warroad RiverPlace. In that position, she works tirelessly to affirm and bring the arts to northern Minnesota, while advocating for all art mediums, theater, art workshops for children and adults, music, and cultural and celebration events.
Harrill gave this advice to aspiring artists, “Be patient with yourself. It takes time to develop your skills and find your voice, and that’s not something you can rush. You think you need to have everything figured out, but you don’t. Don’t be afraid of mistakes — they’re honestly one of the most important parts of the process. Especially in pottery, things don’t always turn out how you expect, and that’s where a lot of the learning happens. I would also say to stay curious and open to trying new things. Just keep showing up and doing the work.”
Samantha will receive the Artist of the Year award on Saturday, April 25 at our NW Art Exhibit Awards Reception and Program at Warroad RiverPlace. This 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 Samantha and Phil’s conversation to learn more. Congrats, Samantha!
4.1.26 Anthony Diaz
Area guitarist Anthony Diaz has played the guitar for over 30 years and recently finished a project that he received NWMAC funding for. It’s inspired by the book Becoming Nobody. Anthony spoke about the book and the impact it had on him. His project is a radio documentary where he plays bluegrass music with a mandolin, banjo, and guitar. It’s a mixture of storytelling and song (including a narrative; stories between each song). Each song is a different plane of consciousness.
Recently, Anthony played for the Stardust & Soul artist reception at the Fournet Building in Crookston and he will be playing at the Artist Reception for the Good Vibrations exhibit (on April 16) at the NWMAC Gallery at NCTC in Thief River Falls. He is also featured in that exhibit.
You can find the radio documentary on Apple music, Spotify and YouTube (search Anthony Diaz Planes of Consciousness). Listen to this interesting conversation to learn more!
2.5.25 Beau Bakken
Hallock Artist Beau Bakken spoke about his art, the background of and his work in the current exhibit Around the Farm, his artistic influences, painting murals, and more. He continues to think about what his high school art teacher Kay Rosengren told him,“Paint what you see and not what you think you see.” He is the featured artist in the current NWMAC Gallery exhibit Around the Farm. Listen to hear more.
10.17.23 Stephanie Olson
Thief River Falls Artist and Goodridge English Teacher Stephanie Olson is the featured artist in our current exhibit -- Figures of Ghosts and Dreams: The Artwork of Stephanie Olson. She spoke about the artwork, the exhibit, the Artist Reception on Wednesday, October 17, her inspiration, and more! Listen for details and attend the Artist Reception at NCTC on Oct 17 from 6 to 8 PM (there will be live art, live fiddle music, snacks, and drinks!)
2.7.23 Christine Foster
Thief River Falls Artist Christine Foster spoke with Pioneer 90.1 Ron West for this podcast. Christine is a visual artist and the Art Teacher at Northland Community and Technical College. She and her husband Bert Foster have an exhibit at the NWMAC gallery at NCTC right now -- Northern Exposure: Paintbrush and Camera until March 3. Christine spoke about painting plein air, capturing the landscape of northern Minnesota, how painting light mesmerizes her, teaching art, and receiving grants from the NWMAC. You can view the exhibit virtually at https://youtu.be/n3BEnrQlPBs. Listen to the podcast to learn more!
1.17.23 Janet Johnson
Featured on this podcast is Roseau Artist Janet Johnson. Janet has pottery at the Bead Gypsy in Roseau and she shared info about many of the other artists with work there, too. There are weavers and quality knitters, Julene Juhl from Greenbush is a glass artist and Jean Honl has rosemaling. It’s a great destination store, and the coffee is always on!
Janet is a former teacher. Recently, Janet's personal pottery has been hampered by the lack of a kiln and other commitments, but she's developed some fun pieces that have been popular, like her egg separators and thumb spoons. She received a grant in 2014 to purchase a wheel, supplies, and an old manual kiln for $500 and she just received another grant to purchase a new kiln (since her old one died — she's worn it out developing her craft and expanding her business.
Janet is a TARP (Teaching Artist Roster Program) artist. She took our free training that teaches artists numerous tools to help artists secure residencies and offer them successfully. Janet is a wonderful teacher and talented artist. She’s also on our enhanced artist listing. We are so fortunate to have her in our region. Listen to hear more!
8.16.22 Heidi Danos
Fosston Artist Heidi Danos is featured on this week’s podcast. A number of pieces of her art are included in NWMAC’s Dynamic Voices exhibit at NCTC. These artworks depict the female figure and were created with watercolor, acrylic, oil, and other mediums. The exhibit is open until September 28. In addition, Heidi has a piece of art in the Traveling Art Exhibit. Finally, Heidi is also organizing an art sale, featuring numerous artists, on behalf of the Arts & Culture Commission in Fosston for September 9 (2-5:30 pm) -10th (9am-3pm). Heritage Days and Forged in Fosston will also be happening. Stop by the Dynamic Voices Exhibit and visit Fosston on September 9 and 10! Listen for details!
6.28.22 Debbie Dahl Aune
Visual Artist Debbie Aune is featured on this week’s podcast. She spoke with Pioneer 90.1’s Ron West about her artwork in the current exhibit Nature’s Offerings and what inspired her. She also talked about being an art teacher, writing grants, and being an artist. Listen to hear all about it and stop by the exhibit to see the artwork!