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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!
4.30.25 Loreen Hanson
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!
4.2.24 Randy Larson
Randy Larson lives in Gatzke and is the Northwest Artist of the Year for Music. This award will be presented on Sunday, April 21 at the Kittson County History Museum.
Larson is a talented musician who sings and plays bass guitar, fiddle, mandolin, and lead guitar. He also writes music. Randy was 17 when he and a quartet from high school began The Back Behind the Barn Boys. The Barn Boys, their abridged title, added drums, piano, and guitar after a year. The Barn Boys hit the road full time touring 23 states and 3 provinces. With one 45 record, 2 albums and a CD, Randy and the band played with or fronted many national acts including, Alabama, Gatlin Brothers, Sawyer Brown, Diamond Rio, Charlie Daniels, Kentucky Headhunters, Restless Heart, Reba McEntire, Southern Pacific, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Marshall Tucker, and Nitty Gritty Dirt band.
Randy and the Barn Boys represented Minnesota at the Wrangler Star Search competition in Nashville, Tennessee performing at The Grand Ole Opry. The song “Come on Sunday Morning," written by The Barn Boys, reached #88 on Billboard, #68 on Cashbox, and #2 on the National Indie Charts and stayed on the charts for 8 weeks. The band played at We Fest in Detroit Lakes numerous times.
Randy has played in other bands, as well. He currently performs with Eagle Creek (with his sons and others).
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 learn more and hear some Back Behind the Barn Boys music!
5.30.23 Debbie Dahl Aune
Debbie Dahl Aune is this year’s Artist of the Year for Visual Arts. She spoke with Pioneer 90.1’s Ron West about the award, her art, being an art teacher, receiving awards from the Arts Council and much more.
Aune is a visual artist who works in many mediums. She is the Art Teacher at the Greenbush Middle River Public School, as well as the Greenbush Middle River Art Club Advisor, a frequent art project presenter at the Creativity Festival in Bemidji, and a community ed instructor. She has entered and placed often in the annual NW Minnesota Art Exhibit, receiving merit, second, first, and People’s Choice awards. Finally, Aune has exhibited her work in many NWMAC themed exhibits, including several solo shows. Last year Debbie was featured on a MPR (Minnesota Public Radio) segment and in a Prairie Mosaic video on Prairie Public Television.
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 learn more!
1.10.23 Ross Hier
2022 Artist of the Year Ross Hier is featured in this podcast. Ross resides in Crookston and is a retired wildlife biologist, in addition to being a prolific self-taught visual artist. Nature provides Ross with unlimited subject matter and his painted subjects are wide-ranging. Although birds amaze him most of all, he also enjoys painting landscapes, prairie plants, fish, reptiles and hunting and fishing scenes. Ross works in watercolor and pen and ink. Ross’s work has been featured in solo art exhibits with the NWMAC and in our annual exhibits and traveling exhibits. Please note: we are currently accepting nominations for our Of the Year Awards. Consider nominating a deserving artist or arts advocate for an Of the Year Award.
To learn more about nominations visit: northwestminnesotaartscouncil.org/blog/nominate-area-artists-or-arts-advocates-for-an-of-the-year-award. Nominations are accepted until February 28.
Listen to the podcast to hear more about Ross and our Of the Year Awards!
2.15.22 Connie Nelson
Hallock Artist Connie Nelson spoke with Pioneer 90.1’s Ron West this week. Connie created a mural series of 20 4x8 panels along Highway 75 in Hallock last year with a grant from the NWMAC. Connie received the Artist of the Year Award from the NWMAC last year. Nominations are open for Of the Year Awards, including Artist of the Year, Arts Advocate of the Year, and NW Star Award.