Artist Spotlight
We regularly feature an artist or artists in our Artist Spotlight Series. Often, they have artwork in our current exhibit.
Please join NWMAC Staff Members Trey Everett and Kristin Eggerling in a live discussion with Kat Allen. Kat is a visual artist, author, and graphic designer from Warroad and is originally from Stephen. Kat designed our recent Artists of NW Minnesota booklet. She is also currently exhibiting work in our Artists of NW Minnesota Exhibit at our gallery at NCTC at 1101 State Hwy 1, Thief River Falls. The exhibit is open until December 24.
An Artist Reception will be held Thursday, November 6 from 6 to 8:30 PM. This exhibit includes work by 19 artists from our region who have a listing in our Artists of NW Minnesota booklet. There are approximately 106 pieces of artwork in this exhibit, many of which are for sale, including charcoal, photography, watercolor, acrylic and oil painting, pen and ink, pastel, collage, mixed media, pottery, glass work, jewelry, sculpture, books and written material, and mosaics.
We'll talk about Kat's art, her background and inspiration, and more!
Please join NWMAC Staff Members Trey Everett and Kristin Eggerling in a live discussion with Samantha Thibert Harrill. Watch the discussion at https://www.youtube.com/live/adNW0BAHZPM?si=nIWijlLQnDXejTJQ
Samantha is a potter from Warroad and is originally from Red Lake Falls. She was recently hired as the Executive Director of Warroad RiverPlace. We spoke with Samantha about her art and Warroad’s RiverPlace.
Samantha is currently exhibiting work in our Artists of NW Minnesota Exhibit at our gallery at NCTC at 1101 State Hwy 1, Thief River Falls. The exhibit is open until November 21.
Meet Samantha at the Artist Reception on Thursday, November 6 from 6 to 8:30 PM at the gallery.
This exhibit includes work by 19 artists from our region who have a listing in our Artists of NW Minnesota booklet. There are approximately 106 pieces of artwork in this exhibit, many of which are for sale, including charcoal, photography, watercolor, acrylic and oil painting, pen and ink, pastel, collage, mixed media, pottery, glass work, jewelry, sculpture, books and written material, and mosaics.
Join NWMAC Staff Trey Everett and Kristin Eggerling in a live discussion with Artist Therese Masters Jacobson. We spoke about Therese's art, her current exhibit, her background, philosophy, and inspiration, and much more! The discussion was live. You can watch the recording at https://www.youtube.com/live/-3oQp8Cfy_g?si=_VjQlM_xmpybD9u6 or at our YouTube page.
Drawn from Observation, An Exhibit featuring Art by Therese Masters Jacobson, is open through Mid-December at the Historic Fournet Building, 101 N Broadway, Downtown Crookston, on the 2nd Floor in the Atrium.
This exhibit includes 29 pieces of art in pen and ink, acrylic, and colored pencil created by Visual Artist Therese Masters Jacobson of Alvarado.
Jacobson explained, “All my artwork begins with observing life: the vegetable and flower gardens we grow, wildlife in our world, my family, children and grandchildren. Subjects vary widely as everything I see around me always has interesting shapes, lines, textures, forms, contrasts, or colors which I imagine drawing or composing. This exhibit features a few of my observations in a variety of mediums drawn first in my mind, then composed on paper or canvas.”
Therese Masters Jacobson has always loved colors. While she studied with professionals at the Chicago Academy of Fine Art and Bemidji State University, she became a self-trained artist through exploration. She is a visual artist who uses standard media, including acrylics, watercolor, pen and ink, and colored pencils, but she says that “no medium is off the table.” She has created portraits by snipping construction paper, and by making collages with torn magazine. Most recently she has been re-purposing sticky address labels to create portraits.
Parking and admission is free. Some pieces are for sale. Take the stairs or elevator to the second floor where the gallery is located in the atrium. Open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4:30 PM.
Watch this video for a virtual tour of the exhibit at https://youtu.be/rXEBWfAczs8 or find it on our website under the exhibits tab at the top of the homepage.
Please let us know if you have questions about the Artist Spotllight or the exhibit.
Therese is also featured in our Artists of NW Minnesota booklet and has work in our Artists of NW Minnesota Exhibit at our gallery at Northland Community and Technical College. There will be an Artist Reception on Thursday, Nov 6 from 6 to 8:30 PM at the gallery. The Artists of NW Minnesota exhibit includes work by 19 artists from our region who have a listing in our Artists of NW Minnesota booklet. There are approximately 106 pieces of artwork in this exhibit, many of which are for sale, including charcoal, photography, watercolor, acrylic and oil painting, pen and ink, pastel, collage, mixed media, pottery, glass work, jewelry, sculpture, books and written material, and mosaics.
An Artist Spotlight with Karlstad Artist Alicia Spilde was held on Thursday, August 7 at 11:30 AM.
NWMAC Staff Kristin Eggerling and Trey Everett spoke with Karlstad Artist Alicia Spilde on Thursday, August 7 at 11:30 AM. We discussed Spilde and her art. She has been a frequent entrant in the NW Art exhibits and currently has a piece in the Traveling Art Exhibit and the Welcome to the Whimsical Exhibit. The conversation was live on our Facebook and YouTube channels. Watch the discussion at https://youtube.com/live/Fn0oj2WasPc
Artist Spotlight with Jill Levene July 28 at 10 am
Listen to NWMAC Staff Kristin Eggerling and Trey Everett in a conversation with Red River Valley Artist and Printmaker Jill Levene. Levene’s work is featured in our exhibit Middle Sister Made: The Inklings of Jill S Leven” at the Historic Fournet Building Downtown Crookston, 101 N Broadway. We talked about her art, the exhibit, her inspiration, artistic practice, and much more! The exhibit is open until August 5 on the 2nd floor Atrium. The conversation was live on our Facebook and YouTube channels. You can watch it at https://www.youtube.com/live/8O-ymys7s8o?si=1Kgw_nbZ10o3XBZU
NWMAC Staff Kristin Eggerling and Trey Everett spoke with Photographer Monika Lawrence on Wednesday, June 11 at 9 AM. The conversation took place live on our Facebook and YouTube channels. Watch the conversation at https://www.youtube.com/live/AqjlnFYt9Yg?si=guyIC1yAMru6nora
Lawrence created our exhibit Heritage Through Image, a photography exhibit at the Carnegie Library in Thief River Falls. The conversation included the exhibit, Monika’s inspiration, body of work, those who she featured in the exhibit, and much more!
The exhibit Heritage Through Image is open into July. This exhibit includes 22 images that depict traditional practices, customs and folklore that serves a visual representation of regional heritage. Photographer Monika Lawrence, formerly of Bemidji now living in Germany, was commissioned to capture the images that feature individuals practicing the heritage, art, culture, and talents of our region.
This exhibit will be a stop on the Art & Wine Walk in Thief River Falls on July 10 from 4 to 8 PM. You can purchase a ticket or find out more information about the Art & Wine Walk at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/trf-zehlians-art-wine-walk-2025-tickets-1259732075549?aff=ebdssbdestsearch. (This exhibit itself is free to enter).Please let us know if you have questions about the Artist Spotlight.
NWMAC Staff Kristin Eggerling and Trey Everett spoke with Hallock Artist Beau Bakken on Friday, March 8 at 1 PM. The conversation took place live on our Facebook and YouTube channels. The recording is available here or https://streamyard.com/amvj6cujmaay.
Bakken is the featured artist in the current NWMAC Gallery Exhibit at NCTC in Thief River Falls — Around the Farm. The conversation included the exhibit, Beau’s inspiration, body of work, commissions, his murals, and much more!
The exhibit Around the Farm is open until April 25 at the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Gallery at NCTC in Thief River Falls. This exhibit includes 27 pieces of art created by 15 artists in acrylic, watercolor, pen and ink, photography, ceramic, and mixed media. Beau Bakken, the featured artist, has twelve 2' X 3' acrylic on canvas paintings of tractors, elevators, trucks and farmers from NW Minnesota. Many of the pieces are for sale.
Beau Bakken of Hallock explained, “Ten years ago or so I was working on a farm and found visual inspiration from my boss’s farm trucks. They were decades old, rusty, and full of battle scars. But at the turn of a key, their engines fired and were ready for the day’s work. I filed away in the back of my brain to paint a picture of at least one of these modern workhorses. I’m good for packing away more ideas than I ever have time to put into reality, so this inspiration sat dormant for almost a decade. But over the last year or two, I’ve finally leaned into painting pictures of trucks, tractors, and machinery and quite enjoyed it. Most have been painted from personal photos but also from generous photograph lenders. I never took a photo of the 1960-something green Ford truck that first inspired me, but a photo recently was given to me of my former boss pouring grain out of the old Ford’s back gate. The painting titled, “Ron and the Ford” was a meaningful capstone for me and this farm art project in many ways. Ron Petersen, now with Jesus, was a great boss, farmer, and man of God. If I continue painting farm related pictures, I hope to find more ways to depict farmers along with their machinery.”
Watch this video for a virtual tour of the exhibit at https://youtu.be/NoQwejK5jmI
The NWMAC Gallery is located at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls. The gallery hours are Monday-Friday from 8 -5 PM and at other times when events are held at the college. Please check to make sure the college is open before making a special trip to see the exhibit. Summer hours can change. Enter through Door B, which is right next to the gallery.
Please let us know if you have questions about the Artist Spotlight.
NWMAC Staff Kristin Eggerling and Trey Everett spoke with artist Shawna Grapentine on Tuesday, November 6. The conversation took place live on our Facebook and YouTube channels. If you missed the live broadcast, you can listen to the recording is available here or https://streamyard.com/i9dtngjp6baj.
Shawna Grapentine along with artists Joan Kauppi, Candace Same, and Therese Masters Jacobson are featured in the current NWMAC Gallery Exhibit at NCTC in Thief River Falls — Immersed in Color, Inspired by Culutre. The conversation touched on the exhibit, her process and inspiration, her art, what she offers, classes that she teaches, and much more!
You can reach Shawna or find out more information on her website moonandbackcustomarts.com. You can also meet her at the Artist Reception on Thursday, November 21 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Gallery.
The exhibit is open through November 21 at the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Gallery at NCTC in Thief River Falls. This colorful exhibit features 29 pieces of art in acrylic, watercolor, beading, collage, and an award-winning hockey stick design.
The NWMAC Gallery is located at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls. The gallery hours are Monday-Friday from 8 -5 PM and at other times when events are held at the college. Please check to make sure the college is open before making a special trip to see the exhibit. Summer hours can change. Enter through Door B, which is right next to the gallery.
Please let us know if you have questions about the Artist Spotlight.
NWMAC Staff Kristin Eggerling and Trey Everett spoke with artist Pamela Edevold. The conversation took place live on our Facebook and YouTube channels. If you missed the live event, you can listen to the recording of the conversation is available here.
Pamela Edevold along with artists Jessica Lundeen, Heidi Danos, and Therese Masters Jacobson are featured in the current NWMAC Gallery Exhibit at NCTC in Thief River Falls — The Portrait Gallery. The conversation touched on Edevold's work in the exhibit, how it came to be, mediums she works in, her philosophy and much more!
The exhibit The Portrait Gallery is open through September at the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Gallery at NCTC in Thief River Falls. This exhibit features 33 portraits in acrylic, watercolor, digital, and colored pencils. Portraits include Native American Dancers, parents, animals, and others.
The NWMAC Gallery is located at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls. The gallery hours are Monday-Friday from 8 -5 PM and at other times when events are held at the college. Please check to make sure the college is open before making a special trip to see the exhibit. Enter through Door B, which is right next to the gallery.
Please let us know if you have questions about the Artist Spotlight.
NWMAC Staff Kristin Eggerling and Trey Everett spoke with regional artists Jessica Lundeen, Therese Masters Jacobson, and Heidi Danos on Wednesday, September 4 at 2 PM.. The conversation took place live on our Facebook and YouTube channels. If you missed the live event, you can listen to the recording of the conversation is available here.
These artists along with Pamela Edevold are featured in the current NWMAC Gallery Exhibit at NCTC in Thief River Falls — The Portrait Gallery. The conversation touched on the exhibit, the inspiration of the artists, their body of work, how they market themselves, their philosophy and much more!
The exhibit The Portrait Gallery is open through September at the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Gallery at NCTC in Thief River Falls. This exhibit features 33 portraits in acrylic, watercolor, digital, and colored pencils. Portraits include Native American Dancers, parents, animals, and others.
The NWMAC Gallery is located at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls. The gallery hours are Monday-Friday from 8 -5 PM and at other times when events are held at the college. Please check to make sure the college is open before making a special trip to see the exhibit. Enter through Door B, which is right next to the gallery.
Please let us know if you have questions about the Artist Spotlight.