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10.3.23 Chris Trostad
Highland Elementary School Principal Chris Trostad from the Crookston School District spoke about a grant that the school received from the NWMAC for a visual art residency and mural last spring. Artist Trey Everett created a mural outside the Student Success Center at Highland Elementary School that included positive words and phrases to encourage and inspire students to be kind and respectful to others. Trey spent the week designing and painting the mural and teaching students about mural work and creativity. Students were given the opportunity to submit words or phrases that are important to them and that compliment the theme. With the guidance of Everett and classroom teachers, students had a chance to imagine and then create a design of their own calligram mural. Throughout the school week students saw the progress of the mural as well as interacting with Trey. Classrooms gathered around the mural for a question and answer time. As a final wrap up, Trey had a workshop on the step by step process of creating various types of indoor and outdoor murals, how students can create their own murals, and the Three Secret Teachings of Creativity: Process not product, non-judgment, being kind to yourself. The school plans to apply for more grants! Listen to hear all about this project and more!
9.19.23 KayDell Super
KayDell Super spoke about the Middle River Community Theatre -- history, what's new, upcoming shows, including the Goosefest Production of Arsenic and Old Lace, and more. Arsenic and Old Lace will be Sept 19-24 during Goosefest in Middle River. Listen to learn more and get over to Middle River to see the show!
9.12.23 Max La Coursiere
Max LaCoursiere spoke about a grant the Oxbow Foundation received from the NWMAC to sponsor Thief River Falls Artist Christine Foster for a Painting Presentation and Workshop at the 2nd Annual Louisville Days Fall Festival. He also provided details about the event itself on September 23. Registration is strongly encouraged for the art workshop (taking place from 1:30 to 3PM on the 23rd). Find the Oxbow Foundation on Facebook by searching The Oxbow at Old Crossing. Listen for details.
9.5.23 Jerry Amiot Pioneer Day
This week’s guest Jerry Amiot spoke about Pioneer Day. This yearly event will be on September 10 and features live music, blacksmithing demonstrations, history, tours, food, and more! The event is sponsored by the Polk County Historical Society and received funding from the NWMAC. Listen for the schedule and other details.
8.29.23 Darcey Engen
Darcey Engen, Co-Founder of Sod House Theater based in Minneapolis, spoke about the theater company and some upcoming shows in our region. Sod House will be putting on their show TABLE in Crookston on September 21 at the Eagles Club and in Hallock on September 23 at Far North Spirits. The NWMAC provided funding for the Hallock show. Darcey spoke about the theater company, the upcoming shows, the cast, and their work to bring theater all over Minnesota. For more information about the show and for tickets visit their website: www.SodHouseTheater.org.
8.22.23 Virgil Benoit
Listen to Virgil Benoit to hear all about about the upcoming AFRAN Chautauqua and French- Canadian/ Metis Festival. The event will take place on August 26 and 27 at the Old Crossing Treaty Park in Huot. There will be live music, storytelling, and other art activities. It’s a great opportunity to learn history, be entertained, experience art, and have some good food. The NWMAC provided funding for this event. Listen for details!
8.15.23 Shannon Christenson
Kittson Central Kindergarten Teacher Shannon Christenson spoke about Camp Art at Kittson Central School in Hallock. The NWMAC has been providing funding to bring in 3 artists for 4 days in the summer to Kittson Central. Camp Art is for students from Kindergarten through 6th grade. This year Camp Art took place the week of August 7 and included Visual Artist Teresa Cox, who led students into the wonderful world of messy art by making plant sculptures; Karla Nweje, who taught dance that explores the movements of insects; and, Jon Lurie who guided the campers to write about waterways. Listen to hear more!
8.8.23 George French
Crookston resident and Associate Professor George French is featured in this week’s podcast. George teaches music at UMC in Crookston and is a church organist. He provided a follow up about his organ workshops and recitals that have been happening throughout our region. George received a grant from the NWMAC to offer the workshops and recitals. Listen to hear all about the grant and how things have been going!
8.1.23 Patsy Heggen
Stephen resident Patsy Heggen spoke about the Summer Music Series organized by Arts on Fifth that takes place in Stephen. Events are usually held on the lawn at Arts on Fifth (but occasionally inside the building). There is no charge to attend. The Downtown Horns are performing this Thursday, Aug 3 at 7 pm and Robby Vee on September 17 at 2 pm. Listen for details!
7.25.23 Eric Mickelson
Eric Mickelson, a school teacher in Goodridge for 31 years, is the perennial emcee at the Freedom Fest. Eric spoke about the schedule of this year’s Freedom Fest 2023. This is the 7th annual event featuring live music and other artists, including watercolor art, ironwork, hand woodburning, and more. It starts on July 28 and goes through the evening of Saturday, July 29 at the Goodridge Veterans Memorial Park. The NWMAC provided funding for this event. Listen for details and attend this fun event!
7.18.23 Carol Ihle
Thief River Zehlian’s member Carol Ihle spoke about the upcoming Zehlian's Art & Wine Walk on Thursday, July 27 in Thief River Falls from 4 to 8PM and a mural that the Zehlians have been a part of.
Everyone is welcome to attend the Art and Wine Walk. The cost is $20. Pre-register online at EventBrite. Same day registration and check in will be at the Carnegie Library in Thief River Falls from 4 to 6 pm on the 27th. Artists are located at businesses throughout Thief River Falls. Attendees can view and purchase art and are provided snacks and wine at each business stop. There will be drawings for door prizes afterwards at the Rusty Nail.
Ihle also spoke about a mental health awareness mural that was recently painted on one of the walls of Tonnabell’s building. There is a mural unveiling on Thursday, July 20 downtown Thief River. The NWMAC provided funding for the mural.
7.11.23 Julie Elick
Roseau Artist Julie Elick spoke about two programs in Roseau. 1) The Riverview Park Concert Series is a weekly series into August. Roseau’s weekly summer event, began way back in 2016 and still continues to provide a showcase both for our high quality local talent, and professional entertainment. Elick is a part of the Roseau Women of Today. This group plays a major role in putting this concert series together, along with the support of local businesses.
There is a concert at the Riverview Park Gazebo, located in downtown Roseau, every Thursday evening at 6:30 pm. Attendees need to bring your own chairs. Food provided by various organizations will be served each night.
Upcoming concerts include:
July 13: Sloughgrass, July 27: Divas Through the Decades, August 3: O’Neil Family Band, August 10: Holy Rocka Rollaz, and August 17: The concert series will wrap up with a Local Talent Showcase and the Relay for Life.
2) Project Write On. Select students from two Roseau Community High School English classes, have for the last 4 years, shared their essays to be published in the local newspaper, The Roseau Times Region. Elick and two highschool teachers, Mrs. Kelsey Didrickson, and Mrs. Katie Laugen are directing this project.
This project instills the arts into the Roseau community by providing a weekly place for students in our area to enhance their writing talents. Currently, copies of the published essays are displayed in the Student Art Exhibit at the NWMAC Gallery at NCTC.
Both of these projects (Write On and The Riverview Park Concert Series) are funded through a Project Grant from the NWMAC. Listen to hear about these projects.
6.20.23 Don Merkens
Norman County Fair President Don Merkens talked about events and shows at the upcoming Norman County Fair. This includes the acts of Magic Joe, Pikadilly (face painting), Studio 4:13 (mosaics) and Whittney Pittman (local performing musical artist). They received grant funds from the NWMAC The Norman County Fair in Ada MN is on June 21-24, 2023. Listen for details.
6.13.23 Misti Koop
Listen to Misti Koop speak about her music, acting, and other performing arts activities (Including a new album she’s working on). She also talked about the summer schedule and program for the Summer Safari Arts Stages, which will be touring a number of NW Minnesota communities. This year they’ll be performing Willy Wonka. To learn more about the Safari shows visit summerartsstages.com.
6.6.23 Shirley Iverson
Shirley Iverson is the owner of Sistas Corner located downtown Crookston. Shirley spoke about upcoming classes (or some former ones, too), what they offer, local art for sale, their search for artists to teach workshops and sell their art, and more. They will even ship art! Listen to learn more!
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!
5.23.23 Bonnie Stewart
Bonnie Stewart of Fosston was awarded the Northwest Arts Advocate of the Year Award recently. She spoke with Pioneer 90.1’s Ron West about the award and her work advocating the arts. She also gave an overview of arts activities in the Fosston area happening this summer. For example, the children’s theater and a number of diverse concerts as part of Music on the Porch. FCLAA.org provides information about a number of the events.
Stewart has been a champion of the arts in Fosston since the early 1990s. She has served on the boards of the East Polk Heritage Center, the Pine to Prairie Folk School, and the Firefly Center for Art and Wellbeing. She was instrumental in establishing the City of Fosston’s Art and Culture Commission and continues to serve on it. She is the part-executive director for the Fosston Community Library and Arts Association. Through these positions and volunteering with other projects, she has led and initiated programming and education efforts, secured artwork for exhibition at the Sorenson Gallery and performing artists at the Fosston Community Library and Arts Center Theatre, written numerous grants and assisted area artists with grant writing. Bonnie’s tireless commitment to the arts has made a tremendous impact in our region.
About the impact of the arts Bonnie said, “I think they are one of the most important things that a person can experience. Art is essential to our wellbeing, to how we look at the world and other people. I’m so grateful we have these opportunities in Minnesota. The Legacy funding has been incredibly important. Art is life is my mantra.”
Bonnie spoke about the importance of the arts council, specifically the grants, promoting the arts, and the Traveling Art Exhibit.
Bonnie received the award on Sunday, April 30 in Middle River at the Middle River Legacy Center. 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. Congratulations, Bonnie!
5.16.23 Andrea Halvorson and Carter Lee Johnsrud
Andrea Halvorson and Carter Lee Johnsrud spoke with Pioneer 90.1’s Ron West about their art and winning awards at the NW Art Exhibit.
Andrea is the art teacher at the Goodridge School. Andrea’s art pieces in the exhibit were“Watching Sunset” and a drawing “Carrying Mom to Heaven.” She won a merit award for “Carrying Mom to Heaven.” Carter is Andrea’s student. She won first place and People's Choice for her art “Masking.” She had another mixed media piece in the exhibit “Hidden Beauty.”
Listen to learn more from this art teacher and student!
5.9.22 Cathy Erickson
Cathy Erickson of Middle River recently received the Northwest Star Award. The award was presented to Erickson on Sunday, April 30 in Middle River at the Middle River Legacy Center during the NW Art Exhibit Awards Reception and Program. She spoke with Pioneer 90.1’s Ron West about the award, her musical background, and more!
Erickson is a well-known musician and radio show host in the area. She has been entertaining professionally in northwestern Minnesota and beyond, playing music for almost 50 years. Cathy plays the accordion, piano, organ, guitar, and vocals. She also hosts her own radio show Cathy’s Variety Show on Pioneer 90.1 FM. The live variety show consists of polkas, waltzes, classic country, bluegrass, gospel, and local artists. Additionally, she hosts two other live weekly radio shows – Country Church and Live from the Farm.
The NW Star Award comes with $5,000. Artists can only receive our Northwest Star Award 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. Listen to the podcast for an interesting conversation about Cathy!
4.25.23 Karen Goulet
Karen Goulet recently juried the annual NW Art Exhibit in Middle River. In this podcast she discusses what a Juror does — jurors are “asked to come in and select the most outstanding pieces in an exhibit” and how she jurors an art show. Karen “ looks for authentic voice, creative courage, and then the craft and technical aspects of the art.” She also talked about the Watermark Art Center in Bemidji where she works.
Karen is a practicing artist, poet, community organizer and educator. She is the Project Director of the Miikanan Gallery at the Watermark Art Center in Bemidji, Minnesota. This gallery, dedicated to Indigenous arts, is the first of its kind in the region. It’s supported by the Blandin Foundation and McKnight Foundation. Karen received her BA from The Evergreen State College, MFA in Sculpture from The University of Wisconsin – Madison, and MEd from University of Minnesota Duluth. She grew up in a family of 'makers' and artists. Her mother sewed and knitted and her father was an oil painter and woodworker who also taught her to embroider. Her decision to become an artist occurred when she went to college and met instructors who would become her mentors and supported and encouraged her to go on and pursue a degree that would give her opportunity to stay in the arts for a career. She has lived in interesting places, mostly rural, where she has met many interesting creative people. She believes in the power of art and community and takes opportunities like this to visit new places to see what creative people are doing. Listen to hear more!