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12.17.25 Brenda Yanok
Brenda Yanok is the community manager of Folk School Warroad. The school opened in 2019 with about 20 events the first year and has grown since. They rely on grant funding from the NWMAC. Their mission is to provide learning experiences in art, culture, local history, traditional crafts and exploration and enjoyment of local natural resources. She provided a background of the history of the school, the concept of folk schools, and what they offer.
What is a folk school? A folk school is a series of classes and programs that bring people together to make things, make music, make stories and learn together. In most folk schools, individual expression and social interaction are developed and supported through classes in music, crafts, nature studies, gardening, cooking, dance, and other expressions of the local culture.
In addition to leading the organization, Brenda teaches quilting and enjoys other art practices including drawing and painting. She spoke about the community aspect of the school and the unexpected connections the attendees make. This year the non-profit has had over 650 attendees, 52 classes, and 29 different instructors. Popular classes include making Ojibwe style snowshoes, fiber arts (weaving and spinning), wood carving, and Native arts classes including beadwork and ribbon skirts. They’ve also offered wine making, journaling, baking, and basket weaving. The school works closely with the historical society and the DNR in their program offerings and utilizes other venues like the local brewery and culture center. They purchased rigid heddle looms that will allow them to offer more weaving opportunities. Their vision for next year includes further developing fiber arts and native arts courses, and offering relief and block printing and more Adirondack snowshoe chair sessions.
Find out more on their website: folkschoolwarroad.org or follow them on FB.
12.10.25 Bao Phi
Bao Phi is the Arts & Culture program officer at the McKnight Foundation.
Bao is also a poet, an author, and a spoken word artist. He’s a two-time Minnesota Grand Slam champion and a National Poetry Slam finalist. Bao shared information about the history of spoken word and his experience and enjoyment of the art. His poetry is included in The Best American Poetry 2006 anthology and published widely elsewhere. And, he’s also a children’s book author. Born in Saigon shortly before the mass exodus of his family and many others to the United States, Bao is a Vietnamese American raised in south Minneapolis.
Prior to McKnight, Bao worked for nearly 23 years at the Loft Literary Center in a few roles, including managing the McKnight Artist Fellowship program in Creative Writing.
Support for individual artists is a focus of the McKnight Foundation’s Arts & Culture program. McKnight Artist & Culture Bearer Fellowships provide $25,000 in unrestricted support for midcareer artists and discipline-specific artistic and professional development opportunities. Bao spoke about the various McKnight Fellowships and the partner organizations that manage them.
In addition to the fellowship program, McKnight provides multiyear general operating funds to artist and culture bearer organizations. Their support includes a focus on greater Minnesota and they support regional arts councils (including the NWMAC) to get arts dollars out to all the counties in the state.
Bao has a unique perspective as a working artist that informs his role as administrator. His advice to applicants is to “Be brief and put your best work forward.”
Listen to this engaging conversation to learn more about Bao and the fellowship program.
11.26.25 Rebecca Rosenkrans
Jeweler Rebecca Rosenkrans and owner of Bead Gypsy in Roseau spoke about how she became a jeweler and how her shop came to be. She creates and sells jewelry from vintage flatware, leather, beads, Chain Maille (a weaving of a jump ring), brass, copper, and other metals, and more. She learned silversmithing from the Milan Village Arts School in Milan, Minnesota. She does take custom orders. The shop sells pottery, rosemaling, books, weavings, knitting, wood carvings, and other items created by 16 area artisans, as well as items from Sweden and other Scandinavian countries. She serves Fika (coffee and treats) every day and they celebrate Scandinavian holidays. Stop into this shop for locally crafted treasures. Find her on Minnesota Bead Gypsy on Facebook. The store is downtown Roseau on Main Ave. Listen to learn more!
11.19.25 Paulette Christianson
Badger artist Paulette Christianson has art in our Traveling Art Exhibit touring the region and the Artists of NW Minnesota Exhibit at our gallery in Thief River Falls. Paulette has led an active life in the arts. She’s worked in commercial art, like advertising via signs, magazines, and newspaper. In fine art she creates what she likes. She’s inspired by nature. She prefers to take a photo and bring it home to capture the image with her painting. She works in pen and ink, pencil, acrylic, and more. Her piece in the Traveling Exhibit is abstract, which she enjoyed creating. Paulette is available for commissions and for school residencies. To aspiring artists she says “Don’t give up .. keep trying.” You can find a listing for Paulette in our Artists of NW Minnesota booklet. Listen to hear more.
11.12.25 Cristeta Boarini
Cristeta Boarini is the Partnerships Program Manager at The Loft in Downtown Minneapolis. She spoke about resources, programs, and classes that the Loft offers virtually (and in person). Writers can find a community to help them grow their writing at the Loft. Learn more at loft.org
She also shared information about the McKnight Fellowship for Writers — the deadline to apply is open until November 30. Awards are for $25,000 and are available for mid-career established artists. Four awards will be given for spoken word and poetry, and one for children’s literature ages 8 and under. Judges change each year so Cristeta recommended that even if you’ve applied in the past, consider applying again. Winners join an elite alumni group. Apply through the loft.org. Eligibility questions can be sent to awards@loft.org.
10.29.25 Jenn Walz
The founder of Queen City Art Center Jenn Walz of Crookston spoke with Phil McKenzie this week about her accessible arts space in the historic Crookston Times building. Queen City Art Center is a creative hub with multipurpose studio space, retail gallery space, arts classes, and room for parties and events. Jenn has always been passionate about arts. She wants this to be a space for artists to come and receive support. She has a pottery studio in the space, including paint your own pottery. Classes include watercolor, acrylic, Shibori, mosaic, and more with a variety of area artists as teachers. She received a grant earlier this year from the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council for items for her kiln. You can follow Queen City Art Center on Facebook. Listen to hear all the details and stop by the space when you are downtown Crookston!
10.22.25 Megan Sugden
Hallock Photographer Megan Sugden has a photo in our current exhibit Artists of NW Minnesota at our gallery at Northland Community and Technical College. She's also in our artist booklet, has received grants, and submitted work into our annual exhibit (and won an award). Megan's photography includes northern lights and night sky images (Kittson County Skies) and portraits. Megan’s websites are meganphoto.com and kittsoncountyskies.com. Her photos, including family portraits, are often taken on her family farm, which she calls her outdoor studio. She includes unique items as backgrounds in the Northern Lights shots (tractors, old buildings, highway signs, and other spots in Kittson County).
10.15.25 Therese Jacobson
Alvarado Artist Therese Masters Jacobson is currently featured in an exhibit Drawn from Observation at the historic Fournet Building downtown Crookston. Therese spoke about how she got started painting, drawing, and other visual arts and the process of creating art. Drawn from Observation includes 29 pieces in pen and ink, acrylic, and colored pencil featuring nature, peace, her granddaughters, wheat, vegetables, animals, and more. These pieces are all for sale. Much of Therese’s inspiration comes from everyday life. Therese talked about living an artful life and what she observes all around her. Therese has a listing in our Artists of NW Minnesota booklet and has a piece of art in our Artists of NW Minnesota exhibit at our gallery at NCTC. Therese has served on the NWMAC Board of Directors and worked for the NWMAC as the Exhibit Specialist besides being a regular exhibitor. Listen to hear this fun conversation and stop by Therese’s exhibit in Crookston!
10.1.25 Shelley Grove
Shelley Grove is the director of the upcoming Warroad Summer Theatre's dinner theater play Girls Night Out. She's originally from Canada and is on the Warroad Summer Theatre Board, staff at the new Warroad RiverPlace, and is the one-act theater coach. Shelley spoke about the theater space (they also refer to it as a performance hall). The production has been 5 years in the making. Shelley explained that the show is like Clue and that there are 3 different endings. Purchase tickets and learn more at www.warroadsummertheatre.com. The show is Oct 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11. Listen for details and go see the show!
9.17.25 Kari Sundberg
Grygla resident Kari Sundberg worked for over 13 years as the writer and editor of the Grygla Eagle newspaper. During that time she interviewed veterans and featured their stories in the newspaper. She took these stories, edited them, and wrote a book The Things They Carried Home as a way of preserving them. She received a grant from the NWMAC for this project. She’s traveling the region to speak about the book. She has also launched the Northern Neighbor, an online news stand on Facebook and on a website thenorthernneighbor.com.
7.9.25 Carol Ihle and Polly Gustafson
Zehlians Members Carol Ihle and Polly Gustafson spoke about the Zehlians Art & Wine Walk in Thief River Falls on Thursday, July 10 from 4 to 8 PM. The theme this year is Flower Power. Carol and Polly spoke about the Zehlians and the activities of the organization, including the Art & Wine Walk, arts events, murals, and artists in residence. This event involves many volunteers and showcases businesses and artists in the region. You can purchase tickets at the Carnegie that day or beforehand (with a discount) at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/trf-zehlians-art-wine-walk-2025-tickets-1259732075549?aff=ebdssbdestsearch. Listen to learn more!
12.18.24 Sue Gens
Minnesota State Arts Board Executive Director Sue Gens explained the arts systems in Minnesota, specifically the state Arts Board, the regional arts councils, funding for artists, and much more. Sue shares her extensive knowledge about grant programs, resources, opportunities, and how best to utilize the system. Listen to the podcast for details!
12.4.24 John Davis
Warroad RiverPlace Executive Director John Davis spoke with Phil McKenzie about his arts background and the new Warroad arts facility RiverPlace. The space is a multi-purpose facility with an arts classroom, gallery, theater, events center, video wall, exhibit space, and more. Visit warroadriverplace.org to see the schedule of events. Listen to hear all about it!
11.13.24 Jessica Schumacher
Jessica Schumacher is the Executive Director of the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra. She spoke with Phil McKenzie about the orchestra, the music they play, their philosophy, their conductor, schedule and more!
The orchestra has an upcoming concert in East Grand Forks on December 15 at 2:30 pm at the East Grand Forks Performing Arts Center at the high school. The Northern Valley Youth Orchestra will join them. Listen for all the details!