What's New in NW Minnesota Arts

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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 Open

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is pleased to announce the NW Annual Art Exhibit is in Thief River Falls until April 27.

Adult artists from our 7 county- service region (Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Pennington, Roseau, and Red Lake Falls) have entered 60 pieces of art, including photography, sculpture, drawings, and paintings, into this exhibit and are competing for $2,300.00 in cash awards. Attendees at the exhibit can vote for People’s Choice. Exhibit cash award winners will be chosen while the exhibit is on display by a qualified juror. They will be recognized and receive their check at the Artist Reception. Student art will be included in the exhibit on April 11 and will also be eligible for cash awards.

The exhibit is at the NWMAC Gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls and will be open for the public to view art during the week from 8:30 am - 5 pm and at other times when events are held at the college. Enter through Door A. Visitor parking is free in the large end lot.

Reception and Program April 27

There will be a reception and program on April 27 at the gallery and cafeteria at NCTC.

Mingling, dessert, and live music begin at 7:00 pm and the program at 7:30 pm in the cafeteria. Of the Year Awards -- the NW Star Award -- Lifetime Achievement, Artist of the Year, and Arts Advocate of the Year will be presented. The Exhibit and Reception are open to the public and free to attend. Many pieces of art are for sale and the public is encouraged to shop. Purchases can be marked as sold and picked up on April 27 at the reception. The reception is a wonderful day of celebrating the arts in our region.

Visit our website for more information at www.NWArtsCouncil.org. Funding for these awards is provided by the McKnight Foundation and the Minnesota State Legislature.

Take a virtual tour of the exhibit!

Or watch a short TikTok video of it.

Read More About This Exhibit

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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.

Art Creation Workshop April 27

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is pleased to announce a FREE Creative Art Session Workshop to create work for an upcoming exhibit – Nature’s Offerings in June and July. The workshop will be held at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls from 4 to 5:30 pm on April 27. RSVPs are required.

Nature’s Offerings is a broad concept. Everything we need as human beings has been given to us by Nature. Food, water, shelter, medicine, resources for creating our homes, our smart phones, and every material object we have ever created or will ever create as human beings. Nature provides natural cycles of the year, warmth and coolness, fire and water, oceans and rivers, and the air we breathe. Nature offers us the natural cycles of the seasons so that we can plant and harvest. All our canning, baking, seasoning, and meals we prepare and eat are ultimately given from Nature.

Besides all the tangible offerings, Nature also provides intangible qualities of healing, rejuvenation, and inspiration. When we spend time by a river, take a walk in the snow, look at a sunset, catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights we receive healing. Nature helps lower blood pressure, calm our anxious minds, cause us to stare in wonder and awe, and brings connection and consolation when we feel alone and distant.

During this free session, attendees will be able to create a 3-dimensional creative piece that represents what "Nature's Offerings" means to them. Participants don't have to consider themselves an artist to join this workshop. Artwork created in the workshop will become part of the gallery exhibit for June and July. Supplies will be provided, but participants are welcome to bring items from nature if they like. Examples include deer antlers, animal skulls or bones, branches, dried fruit, rocks, and dried grasses or flowers. This is a low stress, fun time to create whatever inspires at NO cost.

Space is limited for this free class. RSVPs are required. Sign up by emailing Trey Everett at treyeverettcreates@gmail.com.

Traveling Art Exhibit Visits Red Lake Falls Next

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) sponsors an annual Traveling Art Exhibit, which visits northwest Minnesota communities throughout the year. The exhibit includes 15 original pieces of art create by regional adult and student artists, chosen from works submitted for our annual juried exhibit. The exhibit will open at the Red Lake Falls Library on March 24. Please stop by to see these works of art. See our website for the artists and schedule for the year.

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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Stay Tuned! The NWMAC Gallery exhibit next October/November will be Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). This will be open to adults and students. In September, we will be holding a Day of the Dead Art Workshop for students. This is an opportunity for students to learn about Day of the Dead while creating artwork that will be displayed at the Northwest MN Art Gallery. Attention Teachers!: In addition, an artist is available to come to area classrooms, at no cost, to co-lead an art workshop for your students. More info to come. Contact Trey Everett at treyeverettcreates@gmail.com.

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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!

2022 McKnight Fellowships for Visual Artists Apply by March 25

Each year six $25,000 fellowships in the visual arts category are awarded. The focus of the fellowship program is to connect fellows to national and international visiting critics, participate in a McKnight Discussion Series featuring fellows and invited critics, and work with each fellow to pursue additional professional development opportunities. In addition, the fellows have the opportunity to have their artwork professionally documented, access a range of MCAD facilities, and enjoy discounted MCAD Continuing Education classes. Administered by the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. For more info and to apply visit: www.mcad.edu/mcknight. Or contact Program Director Kerry Morgan at kmorgan@mcad.edu or 612.874.3667.

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. April 14 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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Writers! Mark your calendar for this exciting event. FCLAA has collaborated with Red Shoes Writing for a retreat to be held on April 21 - 23 in Fosston. They are bringing five authors in for workshops, panel discussions, storytelling, and much more! This link will take you to event details! https://kimhruba.com/red-shoes-writing-retreat-fosston/

The next Minne-Mural™ Coloring Art Adventure will be Wednesday (new day) March 23 at 6:30 p.m. This is a free adventure into coloring art tips & techniques with info about the subject content. Contact Cindy at kollingcards.com for more information.