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Northwest Minnesota Arts Council News

The Latest in Regional Arts Opportunities

Exhibits, Grants, Announcements, Events, Trainings, Workshops, & More!

NW Annual Art Exhibit Awards

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“Wave of Money” by Addison Severts of Grygla won 1st place in the student category. She also received People's Choice.

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“Sunny Day” by Beau Bakken won 1st place in the Adult Category

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The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is excited to announce the Northwest Minnesota Art Exhibit Winners. Student and adult artists residing in a seven-county region including Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Pennington, Roseau and Red Lake recently entered into the Northwest Minnesota Art Exhibit and competed for $2,300 in cash awards. The winners were recognized at the Northwest Minnesota Artist Reception in Thief River Falls on April 27.


Exhibit cash award winners were chosen while the exhibit was on display at the NWMAC Gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls from March 8 to April 27 by qualified juror and North Dakota Museum of Art Education Director Matt Anderson. Anderson is from the rural town of Gackle, ND. He earned his BA from Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD, and his MFA from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. He is currently the Director of Education for the North Dakota Museum of Art. He has exhibited his works nationally and internationally and is a part of public and private collections. 


“One of the most rewarding, but also challenging, tasks asked of arts professionals is to jury a show. Within a short time span of a few hours, I’m asked to make many decisions and ultimately conclude, does this work merit an award? I appreciated the artistic conversation between the generations of art makers. Many of the pieces in the student work were highly emotive while the adult work tended to be more contemplative. The visual art conversation in this show also merges into the context of an overall large Conversation of Art that has been happening for hundreds of years. At the end of the day, all of the works are part of that larger dialogue and I hope all the artists continue to invest in their unique creative voice. The jury process is not an exact science, but it is a time-honored method for artists to receive feedback. Again, I can only encourage artists to continue to submit works to shows such as this one.” Anderson said.


Exhibit Awards include:

Adult Winners

1st Place $500 Beau Bakken of Hallock in acrylic painting “Sunny Day”

2nd Place $300 Bert Foster of Thief River Falls in photography “Gooseberry Cataract”

3rd Place $200 Ross Harper Hier of Crookston in painting “Wood Splitter’s Alarm Clock”

Merit $100 Nick Reitzel of Karlstad in painting “Across the Purple Sky”

Merit $100 Sarah Amaral of Fosston in mixed media/other “Record Cape”

Merit $100 Cindy Kolling of Gully in drawing “Looking Pretty Good” 

Merit $100 Paulette Christianson of Badger in drawing “Under the Orange Moon”

Merit $100 Betsy Saurdiff of Grygla in sculpture “Butter Dish” 

People’s Choice $100 Christine Foster of Thief River Falls


Student Winners

1st Place $300 Addison Severts of Grygla in mixed media “Wave of Money”

2nd Place $150 Morgan Chisholm of Ada in sculpture “Teatime in the Spring”

3rd Place $100 Anna Mickolio of Goodridge in drawing “Wilbur”

Merit $50 Kaytlyn Knutson of Red Lake Falls in digital art “A Night on Another Planet”

Merit $50 Valiant Underwood of Ada in painting “Leviathan” 

Merit $50 Lakykie Brobst of Grygla in photography “Hayes Lake Skies”

Merit $50 Paige Sturre of Thief River Falls in drawing “Recognizing the Value”

Merit $50 Mason Owens of Crookston in wood sculpture “Peace in the Roughness”

People’s Choice $50 Addison Severts of Grygla

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Find our a free print edition of our newest booklet Artists of Northwest Minnesota at your local library, from featured artists, or in other public spaces throughout our region. This is the 5th edition of this publication. The directory lists fine craft and visual artists, photographers, writers, and performing artists who answered our call for entries, as well as arts organizations. It's an invaluable resource when you are looking for art and artists in our region.

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Artist of the Year Ross Hier of Crookston, NW Star Awardee LaVonne Forsberg, NWMAC Director Mara Hanel, and Arts Advocate of the Year Phil McKenzie at NCTC in Thief River Falls.

 Of the Year Awardees

 

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. 


Of the Year Award Winners for 2022 include:


Ross Hier of Crookston was awarded the Northwest Artist of the Year Award for Visual Arts. A self-taught artist, he is a watercolor painter and works in pen and ink. Nature provides Hier with unlimited subject matter and his painted subjects are wide-ranging. His watercolors have been exhibited at numerous venues in both the Dakotas and Minnesota, including many NWMAC exhibits. He also makes wooden, working duck decoys and other creations. 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. To read more about Ross click here.


Philip McKenzie of Thief River Falls was awarded the Northwest Arts Advocate of the Year Award. McKenzie is a musician and is active in promoting the arts in our region and statewide. He is the Chair of the Minnesota State Art’s Board, an adjunct oboe faculty at both UND and NDSU, and hosts a weekly radio show – Northern Classics on Pioneer 90.1. He was an executive director of the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra, has served on the board of Thief River Falls Community Theater, and the Greater Grand Forks Sympathy. He has conducted numerous musicals in Thief River Falls. Our Arts Advocate of the Year award is $500 and includes arts from all disciplines. To read more about Phil and the award click here.



LaVonne Forsberg of Thief River Falls received the Northwest Star Award. Forsberg is a Visual Artist known for watercolor paintings and stained glass. For many years, she owned Country Class Arts downtown Thief River Falls, which offered framing services, classes, arts supplies. Forsberg has received awards in past NWMAC exhibits and other statewide exhibits for her art. You can find her stained-glass work throughout our region at 13 churches and at the Carnegie Library in Thief River Falls and her paintings at the University of Minnesota Crookston. She was commissioned by the state of Minnesota to design and paint the Old Mill State Park entrance permit and collector's mug in 200l. This award comes with $5,000. Artists can only receive our Northwest Star Award once as a lifetime achievement award. To read more about LaVonne click here.


These awards were presented on Wednesday, April 27 in Thief River Falls at Northland Community and Technical College. Congratulations to our awardees!


Funding for Northwest Star and Northwest Artist of the Year comes from The McKnight Foundation. Funding for Northwest Arts Advocate of the Year comes from the Minnesota State Legislature.

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Stay Tuned for the Traveling Art Exhibit -- it could travel to your community soon


The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) sponsors an annual Traveling Art Exhibit, which visits northwest Minnesota communities throughout the year. The exhibit includes original pieces of art create by regional adult and student artists, chosen from works submitted for our annual juried exhibit. The exhibit will begin its journey in Hallock.

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Arts Legacy Grant Deadline Added. Apply by May 1!

An additional deadline has been added for Arts Legacy Grants. Applications are open and due May 1. Grants are awarded to nonprofit arts organizations, communities, schools, individuals, and other nonprofit organizations. Applications are being accepted from our 7 county Minnesota service area. Arts Legacy Grants is a main category for funding artistic activity. Funding can be used for arts projects, equipment, general support, public art projects and arts events in northwest Minnesota. See our website for more info!

Learn More
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Join our board! Would you like to be more involved in the arts in northwest Minnesota? Consider becoming an Arts Council Board Member! The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council has openings for representatives from , Pennington and Norman. We are also looking for three at-large members who can be from any of our seven counties of Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau.


The Arts Council meets five times a year usually in Warren or virtually and reviews and approves arts grants and arts policy and arts services for seven counties in Minnesota.


For more information and to receive a nomination form for yourself or a friend, contact Mara Hanel, NWMAC, at 218-745-8886; or email her at director@nwartscouncil.org. Visit our website here to learn more and for the nomination form.

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Attention Community Theater Groups

Fast*Fest 2022

Minnesota Association of Community Theatre’s (MACT) biennial festival of 20-minute plays, Fast*Fest, will be held August 19 (welcome social) and August 20 (workshops, performances and social) in Faribault. Workshops and performances will be at the Paradise Center for the Arts. The deadline for registering your theatre to present a show is June 20th.

Visit their website for more information and to sign up.

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COVID Relief for MN Arts & Culture Organizations


Over 1,400 Minnesota nonprofit arts and culture organizations would qualify for COVID relief funding if SF2551/HF2637 passes.


Does your organization qualify for the proposed $100 million COVID relief bill?


Do you have questions about your ability to qualify for these grants if the bill passes? 


Sign-Up and attend the MCA COVID Relief Info sessions April 29 or May 2 to ask questions and get more information about potentially qualifying for this funding!

 

Click the link to register April 29 here or May 2: here

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Attention Writers, Poets, Spoken Word Artists or Rappers!

Are you interested in sharing your writings or work in spoken word opportunities? We may be offering a chance to share your creative gifts with our region. Let us know! Email Kristin here with questions or to express your interest!

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Textile Center Outreach

Teaching Artist Roster Zoom


The Textile Center would like to invite you to join us for an online informational session via Zoom! They’ll provide information about the Outreach Program, what it means to be a part of the Outreach Teaching Artist Roster, hear from current instructors, and answer any questions you may have. This session is meant to provide information for anyone who is interested in being considered for the Outreach Teaching Artist Roster, in the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota locations!

 

They’re holding a zoom session. Register with the link below:

 

May 3rd, 5:00 PM

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://textilecentermn-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwvfuGgpz0tGdAbJAOqSbrF47B5asVwUQ9v

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The Minnesota State Arts Board has posted guidelines and application forms for the FY 2023 Creative Support for Individuals grant program. The program offers flexible support for Minnesota artists and culture bearers. 

This grant program provides support to help individual artists and culture bearers sustain their creative practices and meaningfully engage with their communities in a time of transition. Application deadlines are May 6 and July 15, 2022. 

Please visit the Creative Support for Individuals Web page to learn more.  

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Join other creatives in our region for Tending the Creative Soul. It's a friendly informal gathering online. May 12 from 5 to 6pm will be our next gathering. If you are interested and not on the Tending the Creative Soul email list, email Trey at treyeverettcreates@gmail.com and he'll add you to the list.


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Fiddlers on the Green, sponsored by North Country Fiddle and Dance

May 14th   11:00 to 3:00 

East Grand Forks Heritage Village    219 20th St. N.E.

Featuring concerts by: 

11:00 -  The O'Neil Family Band, from East Grand Forks 

12:30 - Leatherwood, from Bemidji

2:00 - Alex Conwell, from Grand Forks 


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Northwest Minnesota Arts Council 

is on the Radio! 


Listen to these recent Let's Talk Art interviews:



Mara Hanel 4.26.22 NWMAC Happenings

Mark Albers 4.19.22 Minnesota Citizens for the Arts

Devon Tucker 4.12.22 Sacred Heart Band Instructor

Sue Gens 4.5.22 Minnesota State Arts Board

Bonnie Stewart 3.29.22 FCLAA

Desdamona 3.22.22 Spoken Word



Tune in on Tuesdays 

at 3:05pm to 

Pioneer 90.1FM 

as Ron West talks Art 

with our latest guest!


 Would you like to be featured on our radio program? 


Email Kristin Eggerling


The podcast of the interviews on our website. This is a great way to promote your art! Listen here!

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